Massachusetts Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Law Blog
If You Have A Car Accident While Driving A Rental
From time to time many of us may need to rent a car. Whether it be through U-Haul, Avis, Hertz, Zipcar, or another company, the car rental business is alive and well. Even though rideshares through Uber and Lyft have skyrocketed in popularity, renting a car can still be become necessary for all of us.
Perhaps your own vehicle is being repaired or you must travel for work so you need to rent a car at the airport. The car rental business is still very relevant and necessary for all of us. But what happens if you are involved in a car accident while driving a rental car?
These accidents can be caused by a variety of reasons. Frequently they are due to the driver not being familiar with driving in a new area, or driving a car he has never driven before, or a combination of the two. Of course these accidents can also be caused by general distraction or other forms of negligence.
Insurance law basically works the same way whether you are driving your own car, or a rental car. If you own a car in Massachusetts your car insurance will extend to the rental vehicle. That is why you don’t need to worry about buying car insurance through the rental company at the time you rent the vehicle.
If you are involved in an accident you should call the police, and get the full contact, as well as insurance information for the driver of the other vehicle. Be sure to also photograph the scene of the crash as well as the damage, if any, to the vehicles involved in the crash.
Be sure to report the accident to your car rental company, as well as your own car insurance company. Regardless if you were or were not responsible for causing the crash, you will be entitled to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for any medical bills you sustain. If you were not at fault, and you were injured in the crash, you can file a claim and lawsuit against the other driver for your pain and suffering as well as other damages. His insurance company will be the one paying you, and not him personally.
Boston Car Rental Accident Attorneys
If you have been involved either as a driver or passenger in an accident involving a rental vehicle, I encourage you to contact us today for your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your rights.