Whether you are on vacation or business, the option to rent a vehicle definitely makes your trip much easier than having to depend on public transportation or other transportation modes for getting around the area you are visiting. However, whenever someone is in a vehicle, there is always the risk of being involved in a car accident and suffering injuries. If it happens to you, do you know what to do after a rental car crash?
Steps After a Crash
Some of the steps you need to take if you are in a car accident with your rental vehicle are the same as if you were in a crash in your own vehicle. You will want to ensure that any passengers and the other driver are okay. If needed, call for medical assistance. You also want to contact the local law enforcement of the town or city you are in to report the accident. The accident police report could assist you in any accident claims you file. If you are physically able to, make sure to get the names of any witnesses and take photos of the accident scene.
Once the police have been notified, you will also need to contact the car rental company which you obtained the vehicle from. The contact phone number should be in the paperwork you were given when you picked up the vehicle. There may also be a sticker somewhere in the vehicle itself, such as on a visor or in the glove compartment. The rental company will explain what their procedure is.
Although most rental car companies offer rental insurance, many drivers choose to not take that option and instead rely on their own vehicle insurance policy to cover them. Contacting your own insurance company, even if the other driver was at fault, is also a necessary step.
Contact a Virginia Car Accident Law Firm
Because rental car crashes can be complex due to the car insurance factor, it is also important to contact a Virginia car accident attorney to make sure you receive whatever damages you may be entitled to from the accident.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another party, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney to find out what legal options you may have. The legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has almost 40 years of experience advocating for injured victims and their families and will help you get the financial compensation you deserve.
Each attorney at our firm is a skilled negotiator, but each one also has extensive experience in litigation should the insurance company fail to negotiate in good faith, like a $30,000 jury award for one client who suffered a whiplash injury in a chain reaction accident.
Call our office today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
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