Many travelers may opt to rent a car while on vacation, traveling for business, or for any other reason. However, while many people are on vacation or away from their homes, the thought of being involved in an accident will seldom cross their minds. However, a car accident can happen to anyone at any time while out on the road. Therefore, it is essential to understand what steps to take should you be involved in a car accident while driving a rental car in North Carolina.
Have you been involved in a car collision while driving a rental car in North Carolina? Contact the experienced North Carolina personal injury attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters,’ at (800) 529-0804 or contact us online to receive your free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our attorneys have provided car accident injury victims in North Carolina with favorable outcomes for over 65 years.
If you are involved in a rental car accident, your own car insurance may cover the car collision, depending on the coverage that you hold at the time of the accident. Liability and comprehensive car insurance will typically extend to a rental vehicle. However, you should contact your car insurer to ensure that you will be covered through your policy. You should also keep in mind that the coverage will be based upon the value of your car, and often when traveling, renters opt to choose newer, more expensive vehicles. As a result, personal auto insurance may not be adequate to cover rental cars whose value far exceeds your own personal vehicle. If this scenario applies to you, you may want to consider buying additional insurance to cover the gap.
Alternatively, many car rental companies will offer purchasable insurance separate from your own personal car insurance. Rental car companies may offer the following forms of rental car insurance:
Liability insurance is mandatory in 48/50 states in the U.S. It will be required unless you live in New Hampshire or Virginia. Supplementary liability insurance may be available in addition to the liability coverage you already carry. As mentioned previously, this may be beneficial if you plan on driving a high-value vehicle. In addition, supplemental liability insurance might cover property damage and medical expenses that others may sustain due to your accident if you were found to be at fault.
Similar to PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance, personal accident coverage insurance will cover medical expenses you may incur if you are injured in a rental vehicle and will likely be available from your rental car company.
Many times rental car companies will offer personal property insurance that will cover the loss of your personal property. Personal property may be lost or stolen from a rental vehicle during your travels. However, homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance may also cover this type of loss. Refer to your specific coverage and policies to see if your property is protected if taken from a rental vehicle.
While not considered insurance, you may be offered a form of protection from the car rental agency known as loss damage or collision damage waiver. This waiver means the car insurance company will be responsible for any vehicle damage or theft.
It is possible that your credit card company may offer supplemental car insurance coverage that may cover losses not covered by existing insurance. Reach out to your credit card company to see what type of rental coverage they may have.
In addition to considering supplemental car insurance coverages, after renting a vehicle, you should inspect the car to ensure that another driver has not damaged it prior to obtaining the car. It is a mistake just to take the vehicle, as you could be held liable for damages that occurred prior to you receiving the car. Instead, thoroughly inspect the vehicle before driving away from the rental lot.
If you have been involved in a car collision while driving, take the following steps:
If you have been involved in a car accident while driving a rental car, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer right away after receiving medical assistance. Contact the law office of Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters’, today by calling (800) 529-0804 or contacting us online. We are here to assist you with your legal concerns. The attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson have represented hundreds of North Carolina car accident victims and have helped them to receive the best possible outcome for their personal injury claims. If we take your case, you will owe us nothing until we win.