How to Handle Rental Car Accidents in Palm Beach Gardens

Rental car accidents are difficult to deal with, especially in a place like Palm Beach Gardens. Knowing your rights and duties can save you legally and financially. This blog is here to help you in managing these circumstances well.

What Happens When You Get into an Accident With a Rental Car?

Many drivers have this question: what happens when you collide with a rented car? In Florida, if an accident involves a rental vehicle, the same legal rules must be followed as in all other accidents. This would mean stopping at the place where it happened, looking for any injuries, and sharing details with the other driver involved, and contacting law enforcement. Besides obeying legal requirements, you must inform the car rental service regarding the incident and collaborate with them on any further investigation.

What Steps to Take After a Car Accident With a Rental Car

Understanding the proper measures to pursue after a car accident with a rental vehicle is very important. These are some of the first steps you should take:

• Examine for Hurts: Ensure that all individuals included are secure and request health assistance if necessary.
• Inform the Police: You must inform the police about the accident because a proper report is crucial for settling insurance claims.
• Gather Information: Obtain all parties’ names, contact information, and insurance details.
• Capture the Scene: You should take pictures of all vehicle damage, the place of the accident, and any visible injuries.
• Inform the Leasing Firm: Contact the car leasing business and tell them about this incident, then obey what they ask you to do.

Following these steps will assist in providing the required paperwork to lodge a claim and safeguard against any responsibility.

Who Pays for the Damage to a Rental Car After an Accident?

Usually, people worry about who will handle the payment for a rental car’s damage after an accident. In Florida, insurance coverage is generally determined by what kind of insurance coverage you have. If you bought additional insurance for your rented car from the rental car company, like a collision damage waiver, then most or all repair expenses would be handled by the policy from the company that provided the rental vehicle. On the other hand, if you did not select insurance coverage at the time of the rental, then coverage from your private car insurance policy depending on your coverages, may cover any damages. But, if both of these conditions do not apply to you, then there is a possibility that you will be personally responsible for the expenses.

How Does Rental Car Insurance Work?

Understanding how rental car insurance works may assist you in making knowledgeable choices before renting a vehicle. Rental car businesses provide various kinds of insurance:

• Damage Protection Agreement (DPA): This type of insurance safeguards the rented vehicle during an accident. It is generally suggested that you prevent paying charges directly from your pocket.
• Liability Coverage: This policy covers damages you might cause to other vehicles or property.
• Personal Accident Insurance: It gives medical protection for you and your passengers if injuries happen.

Personal Effects Coverage: Protects your belongings in case of theft from the rental vehicle

If you have your car insurance policy, it might apply to rental automobiles, too, depending on the specifics of your coverage. Credit card firms sometimes provide supplementary protection if their card is used to settle the rental payment.

Do you need advice on law after an accident in a rented car in Palm Beach Gardens? Contact us at  SS & W Law for support. We have knowledgeable auto accident lawyers who can assist you in understanding your rights and pursuing the compensation that you are worthy of.