Visiting California is the perfect opportunity to cruise along the coast and enjoy the beautiful weather in a rental car, but what happens if you end up in a serious accident in a rental car? You should contact your own car insurance company after you reach out to the rental car company. You will need to notify your insurer if you waived the insurance provided by the rental car company.
You will also want to ask some questions of your car insurance, such as:
- Who is responsible for filing a report with local law enforcement if this is not already done?
- What is my deductible?
- Are collision and comprehensive coverage on my policy in addition to liability coverage?
When renting a car through a dealership or online, an agent might have offered you multiple different options to insure the car. Some of those policies may overlap with the coverage that you have on your own personal insurance company.
However, if you choose to waive the insurance options with the vehicle, you will need to provide proof of car insurance. Personal accident insurance may cover any injuries that a passenger or driver sustained.
Liability coverage provides for medical expenses or property damage fees other passengers have because of the accident and a collision damage waiver means that the rental company will usually forgive any cost to replace or repair the vehicle if it is stolen or damaged. There are exceptions, however, if the accident is associated with reckless driving or was caused by someone who’s not permitted to drive it.
Make sure that you consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Francisco as soon as possible after you’ve been hurt in a rental car. This can create many complex legal issues and working with an attorney is important to protect your rights.