Car owners don’t usually rent a car on a
regular basis. Though debatable, it is perceived that risk or probability of an
accident in a rented car is slightly higher than that in an owned car. This is
because you are not familiar with the car as well and possibly the locality
where you are driving. It could also be because you know it is not really your
car you are not as careful when operating it.
If you happen to be involved in an accident while driving a rented car, you have to be
aware of a few unique issues or you may be needing some Chicago, IL accident
lawyers when you would rather not have to need them.
To begin with, obtain medical attention
for any person/s who has suffered even minor injuries. Call the police to
report the accident, exchange insurance as well as contact information with all
persons involved, and note the names and contact information of any witnesses
to the accident. If you cannot do this, then perhaps a passenger of yours can. If
you are alone and injured, you will have to wait for the police report.
However, the car you are driving belongs
to a rental car company, so you must inform them too of the accident. Go
through the rental documents for any instructions on reporting an accident and
obtaining roadside help. Follow all the instructions you get from your rental
car company, and ensure that you do so or you may find yourself liable for any
damage to the car.
Insurance
and a Rental Car Accident
North Western Illinois accident
attorneys say that drivers in general naturally assume that their vehicle
insurance policy can offer coverage if they are involved an accident. However,
that is not always the case. Go through the details of your insurance policy
and make certain that rental car coverage isn’t specifically excluded and that
you have sufficient coverage.
You should be aware of the two types of
vehicle insurance coverage. One is liability coverage that pays for any
injuries
that you cause to others in a vehicle accident, and any car damage caused due
to the crash. The other is collision coverage that applies to any damage that
you caused to your car. This will cover the cost to get your car repaired or
replaced.
“Collision
Damage Waiver”
The rental car company will ask you
whether you have car insurance of your own before you drive off. Irrespective
of your reply the company will provide you with a “collision damage waiver”, an
additional coverage at an extra cost. This type of waiver applies only to any
damage occurred to the rental car. This means that the cost of fixing or replacing
the car will be borne by the rental car company although it doesn’t apply to
any injuries caused which Chicago, IL accident lawyers are well aware of.
Rare Moments when the Rental Car Company becomes Liable
It is important to remember that in most
of rental car accidents, the rental car company cannot be held liable. However,
there can be a few exceptions to this rule. In fact, the company has to bear
some/all liability for the accident in case they failed to maintain the car
properly or was aware of some risky defect related to the car that could cause
an accident and still rented it to you but these issues are highly unlikely.
Under the above circumstances, if you
are involved in an accident while driving a rented car, make sure to hire a
Chicago accident lawyer to represent you. Your New Year’s resolution, or any of
them, was certainly not to get into a car wreck driving any type of car but you
know that life does not always work out how we expect it to. This is where this
website (http://accident.usattorneys.com/illinois/)
comes into the picture. You may not want to be in the situation but this website will help you find the legal help you need to help you navigate this
2016 possible legal storm.
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