Sources of Insurance After a Rental Car Accident
When you are hit by a rental car, what may have been a normal car accident now becomes an abnormal situation. Your likely sources of recovery – the driver and the driver’s insurance – suddenly become a mystery. Now you have to wonder how you are going to recover any money to pay the costs of your injuries, vehicle damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you were injured in an accident caused by a rental car, there may be multiple sources of insurance – you will just have to dig for them. It is best to contact an experienced Florida personal injury attorney to help you determine potential sources of recovery after an accident caused by a driver in a rental vehicle.
The Rental Car Company
One of the most common sources of insurance coverage is through the rental car company. Under Florida law, rental car companies are supposed to make sure every driver has the minimum amount of auto insurance required by law. If a driver does not have personal insurance that covers rental vehicles, he or she should have purchased insurance through the rental business.
If you are in an accident with a rental vehicle, immediately ask for the rental car company’s information and any insurance information the driver has.
The Booking Company
Many people book rental cars through third-party websites like Expedia and not directly with the rental business. These third-party websites will often offer their own insurance coverage, which means you will need that specific information to make a third-party claim.
After being in an accident with a rental car, ask if the driver purchased insurance and if so, where? You may have to ask who the driver paid directly, for instance, whether he or she paid the rental business or paid on a third-party booking site. This can guide you toward the proper insurance provider or at least give you the correct business to contact regarding the accident.
A Credit Card
There are many perks to using a credit card, one of which may be insurance for accidents in rental vehicles purchased with that card. You should ask the driver if he or she used a credit card to rent the vehicle and if so, was there auto insurance through that credit provider?
The Driver’s Personal Auto Insurance
If the driver did not purchase insurance through the rental or booking companies, then he or she should have a personal auto insurance policy. You should always ask for the driver’s personal insurance information after an accident, even if that insurer will not be the primary coverage for the accident. If no other insurance is available or the other insurance policy limits are too small, you will need to file a third-party claim with the driver’s insurance.
We Are Here To Help
If you were in an auto accident caused by someone in a rental vehicle, contact or call the experienced personal injury attorneys of Oldham & Smith right away. We are eager to assist you with your case.
