What If I Was in a Car Accident With a Rental Car?

Being involved in a rental car accident is not much different than one in your vehicle. Immediately following an accident, the initial steps are the same:

• Safely pull off the road to assess damages.
• Determine whether any individuals were injured in the accident.
• Call 911 or local authorities for assistance and to file a police report.
• Take photos of any vehicle damage.
• Exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers involved.

Once the initial shock wears off, the next step is to contact the rental car’s roadside assistance to report the incident. Although the experience will vary by company, they want basic information about the incident and whether to set up tow services if the vehicle is no longer drivable.

What Kind of Coverage Do I Have?

To determine how damages will be covered, you must examine your auto insurance policy and the rental company’s. For instance, your personal insurance may cover collision and liability or medical expenses, depending on your policy.

When it comes to coverage through a rental car company, there are additional policies you can purchase when reserving a vehicle. Rental car agencies typically charge an additional fee per day for the various types of coverage, including:

• Damage waiver: This is not insurance, but it waives your responsibility for all or part of the cost of vehicle damage, loss, or theft. In some cases, this may be identical to the coverage provided by your personal insurance policy, so be sure to check beforehand, as it may not be necessary.
• Personal effects coverage: As the name implies, this additional charge covers the renter’s personal items, additional drivers, or others traveling in the vehicle. Similar to a damage waiver, a personal insurance policy may already cover this, so be sure to inquire whether it is necessary prior to purchasing.
• Supplemental liability protection: This grants the renter and other authorized drivers additional protection against liability.
• Roadside assistance protection: This protects the insured against lost keys, lockouts, fuel outages, and roadside assistance requested during the rental period.  

What Coverage Do Credit Card Companies Offer?

As credit card companies continue to look for perks to entice customers to sign up, travel benefits rank among some of the most popular benefits. While some credit card companies require that the entire rental be booked through the credit card to activate rental insurance, some only require a portion or a down payment via the credit card.

While it may be tempting to assume all coverage is the same, it is important to determine whether your credit card company is offering primary or secondary rental insurance.

In the case of primary insurance, your personal insurance policy is not affected in the event of an accident. Instead, the credit card company’s insurance policy oversees damage, theft, and towing claims.

If the credit card coverage is secondary, it acts as a supplement to a personal insurance policy, filling the gaps to provide the necessary coverage.

To determine which coverage a credit card company offers, contact them directly.  

What If My Employer Rented the Vehicle?

If you rent a vehicle through an employer, there will be an extra layer in determining who will pay for damages, but the steps are the same. The best way to handle this is to report the incident to your employer for assistance through the proper channels.

The Macon Car Accident Lawyers at Childers & McCain, LLC Will Provide Legal Help

There is never an ideal time to be involved in a crash, but the Macon car accident lawyers at Childers & McCain, LLC can set you on the right path to finding answers regarding rental car insurance, accidents, and handling these situations appropriately. For a free consultation, fill out our online form or call 478-254-2007. Located in Macon, Georgia, we serve clients in Savannah, Albany, Atlanta, Bibb County, Chatham County, Columbus, Crawford County, Oglethorpe, and Peach County.