Rental Car Accident and Injury Lawyer

If you are over 21 years old, then you have probably been on a trip somewhere that required somebody in your group to rent a car. It could be a trip to Disneyland or a family ski trip to Lake Tahoe, but for millions of Americans who go on a vacation each year, they will need a rental car to get from the airport to their final destination.

It can be very confusing when you go to physically pick up your rental car and the agent suddenly offers you 50 types of “additional insurance” that you probably don’t even need. The problem is that all of this happens when you’re in a hurry and trying to get to your vacation destination.

Always plan and decide what type of rental car insurance you need (or don’t need) at least a week in advance to save yourself the hassle. Accidents happen every day in California involving rental cars, so it’s best to be prepared for what could happen.

With so many young drivers 그리고 uninsured motorists on the road, driving in California is a dangerous thing to do. If you have been injured in a rental car accident (as a passenger, a driver, or as another driver hit by a rental car), then contact DK Law today for a FREE consultation.

How Can I Get Coverage to Cover Rental Car Accidents

If you get into an accident in a rental car, several scenarios are likely to unfold regarding car insurance.

• Regular car insurance – Personal car insurance will typically cover you when you are driving a rental car for personal use. This means that any insurance policy you have for your own vehicle will also apply to your rental car. This would allow your liability insurance to extend to your rental car and cover the costs of damages or injuries, up to the policy limits.
• Coverage from your credit card – When you pay for a rental car with your credit card (especially American Express), you might have some protection through the credit card company. Most credit card companies do offer at least collision coverage for rental cars, but it’s wise to figure this out with your credit card company well ahead of time.
• Coverage from the rental car company – The majority (if not all) rental car companies will try to sell you insurance as an add-on (at an additional cost). Your best bet is to plan and not just deal with all the insurance options when you are at the counter paying for your car.

What Is Supplemental Insurance?

When you rent a car, more than likely, the rental company will offer you a variety of insurance-like coverages. Most states do not require customers to accept supplemental insurance because many renters already have coverage through their own personal policies.

Below are the three most common types:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – a waiver of all parts of the cost if the rental car is stolen or damaged during the time you are renting it
• Supplemental Liability Protection (SLP) – this is used to protect the driver from lawsuits by victims of accidents that involved the rental car itself
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) – This would provide medical, ambulance, and death benefits for the renter and passengers in the rental car.

Common Injuries From a Rental Car Accident

We have helped hundreds of people who were injured in a rental car accident, and most of the time, those victims suffered from the common injuries we see in all motor vehicle accidents.

Many factors can affect the type of injuries you might suffer, including speed, whether you were wearing a seatbelt, and the type of vehicle you were in.

The reality is that if you are injured in a rental car accident, you should always seek medical attention immediately, as the saying goes, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Below is a list of the most common injuries we see:

• Head injury
• 골절상
• 부당한 사망
• Back and neck injury
• 편타성 손상:
• Concussion
• Cuts and bruises
• 사지 절단

Rental Car Insurance If You’re Paying For The Rental

When you physically go to rent a car, if you are paying out of pocket, you’ll be asked to obtain rental car insurance. Typically, customers will deny it because they believe they are covered under their own car insurance.

If this is the case, then the driver’s personal insurance will cover them if they cause an accident, but only up to their policy limits. The problem is that not all insurance companies cover rental cars or trucks, and in cases where a driver doesn’t have comprehensive or collision coverage, they might not be covered.

In these situations, special (additional) rental car coverage would have to be purchased.

Dealing With The Insurance Companies

If you’ve ever purchased car insurance, you already know that dealing with insurance companies can be frustrating. And if you’ve been injured in a rental car accident, that frustration is likely to grow.

While insurance agents may seem friendly at first, remember that their primary job is to protect the company’s bottom line—not your health or financial recovery. Insurance companies are in the business of collecting premiums, not paying large settlements. When a serious injury claim is involved, they will often do everything they can to minimize what they owe.

Below are some of the methods they use:

• Calling the victim soon after he or she sustains an injury. Often the same day. While this may seem helpful, the goal is to catch you off guard before you’ve had time to consult an attorney.
• Asking for a recorded statement. Never give a recorded statement without legal advice. Anything you say can be twisted and used to weaken your case.
• Asking for a signed medical authorization. This gives them access to your entire medical history, not just accident-related records. Decline this request and speak with a lawyer.
• Offering a fast settlement in return for a verbal or written release of a claim. If an insurance company can get you to agree to a settlement verbally or in writing, it can settle your claim without paying out a large amount. While this tactic works for the insurer, it keeps you from obtaining the money you need to adequately cover the costs of your accident.
• Claiming the insured is partly at fault for the collision, thereby denying liability. Insurance companies also dispute the costs of medical bills and hinder your settlement, hoping you will agree to a lower payout.

Why Contact DK Law

You never want to battle the insurance companies by yourself. If you have been injured in a rental car accident, then you’ll want to contact a top rental car accident injury lawyer like Daniel Kim.

The insurance companies try to come across as friendly and helpful, but once they know you have been injured and will be filing a claim, suddenly they won’t be as nice. The attorneys at DK Law have years of experience helping rental car accident victims across California.

Call us for a free consultation today and get answers.