What happens if you crash a rental car? If you get in an accident in a rental car in Illinois, various parties may be liable for damages. However, the circumstances will vary depending on the nature of the accident and the parties involved.
Injured in a car accident involving a rental car? You may recover compensation from liable parties with the help of the rental car attorneys at Ankin Law. Call us at 312-600-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
Liability in Rental Car Accidents
Different parties could be liable for damages resulting from rental car accidents in Illinois, depending on the situation.
Generally, if a rental car company has a liability insurance policy, the company won’t be liable for damages resulting from an accident involving its vehicles unless it failed to properly maintain the vehicles and a resulting mechanical malfunction caused the accident. In most cases, the rental car driver’s insurance would cover the damages if he or she caused the accident.
To prove liability, you will need plenty of evidence to show how either a driver or rental car companies engaged in negligent behavior to cause the accident.
Are You Required to Have Rental Car Insurance in Illinois?
You don’t need to have rental car insurance in Illinois. However, many rental car drivers opt for insurance coverage for added protection. In fact, drivers may need to get rental car insurance if they don’t have other types of auto insurance coverage, as it can provide more protection in the event of an accident.
Steps to Take After a Rental Car Accident
If you get into a rental car accident, there are steps to take to recover from injuries and build your case. These steps are similar to those you would take in any other type of vehicle accident.
1. Move to a Safe Area and Check for Injuries
The first step is to try to move the vehicle to a safe spot, if possible. You should also check yourself and others for injuries. If you notice anyone has sustained injuries in the accident, call emergency services. You will need to report an accident to the police if anyone sustains injuries or if property damage exceeds $1,500.
If anyone has sustained injuries, they should remain still until an ambulance arrives and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) can assess their condition.
2. Have the Police Create a Report
When police arrive at the scene of the accident, they will begin drafting a police report that details the events of the accident. When speaking with police, be as honest and open as possible and give all relevant details, as this could help ensure the police report aligns with your narrative and memory of events. Police reports are among the most crucial pieces of evidence in vehicle accident cases.
3. Gather as Much Evidence as Possible
To help you prove liability and the damages sustained from a rental car accident, you’ll need to collect as much evidence as you can. You might ask, “What evidence is needed for a car accident injury claim?”
There are many pieces of evidence that are associated with these types of accidents, such as:
- Photos of the accident scene, injuries, and property damage
- Medical records from treatment
- Police reports
- Proof of lost income or lost earning capacity
- Witness statements
- Receipts for damaged property repairs or replacements
If you don’t have access to this information, a rental car lawyer can help with recovering it when building a case against a rental car company or another liable party.
Get as much information as you can from everyone involved in the accident. This information includes the names, contact details, insurance information, license plate numbers, and license numbers of all drivers involved, along with contact information from witnesses who saw the accident.
4. Call the Rental Car Company
Another critical step is to contact the rental car company whose vehicle was involved in the accident. You should call this company before reaching out to your own insurance provider.
The rental car company will ask you for information, including evidence you were able to gather at the scene of the accident or shortly after.
5. Seek Medical Care as Soon as Possible
Even if you sustain seemingly minor injuries with minor symptoms, seek professional medical attention as soon as you can following the accident.
Medical records are essential pieces of evidence in any car accident case. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you can begin the recovery process, and the easier it will be to link the accident to your injuries.
6. Get in Touch With an Attorney
Reach out to an attorney with experience handling cases involving rental car accidents. The right attorney will determine what options are available to you when it comes to filing a claim or lawsuit, gather evidence that may support your case, and determine liability.
You can also ask a rental car attorney various questions, such as, “How do car insurance companies investigate accident claims?” and “How much compensation can I recover?”
Car accident attorneys will sit with you in a free consultation to discuss a case. If the attorney decides to handle your case, he or she can begin collecting and organizing evidence, calculate all compensation, and help you negotiate with insurers and other parties to reach a favorable settlement.
Insurers are never on your side after a car accident. Insurance companies want to avoid massive payouts, which is why they often work to deny or minimize claims, especially when a lot of money is at stake. Rental car attorneys could help you negotiate with insurers to pursue the full amount your case is worth, and continually make counteroffers throughout negotiations.
Even if an attorney decides not to handle your case, he or she could provide some guidance and advice to help you proceed with a claim.
What Are the Legal Implications of Crashing a Rental Car in Illinois?
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), one recent year saw 298,347 motor vehicle accidents. Many of these accidents involve rental cars every year, making drivers, rental car companies, or others liable for injuries and other damages.
Different parties could be legally liable for rental car accidents. While drivers are typically liable for negligent behavior leading to an accident, rental car companies may be responsible if they failed to maintain their vehicles. For instance, a rental car company may not have taken a vehicle in for mandatory routine maintenance, leading to a faulty part that contributes to an accident.
Ultimately, a lawyer could help you determine who was at fault for the accident and what kind of options you have when it comes to recovering compensation.
Hiring a Lawyer for a Rental Car Accident Case
Following an accident involving a rental car, you might ask, “Do I need a lawyer to sue a rental car company?” In short, it’s in your best interest to have an attorney by your side if you wish to proceed with a claim or lawsuit against a rental car company.
If a rental car company is liable for an accident and resulting damages, you will need plenty of evidence to support your argument. Big rental car companies have plenty of resources to defend themselves in these cases, which can make it particularly tough to sue them for damages, even if you have a valid lawsuit.
An attorney with experience dealing with these types of cases can determine what your case needs to succeed, collecting evidence to support your argument, including maintenance records and other forms of documentation that may show the company is liable for damages. Your attorney can also conduct negotiations, fighting for the total amount of compensation for all damages resulting from the accident.
In the end, you can save a lot more time and money by hiring a rental car attorney to handle your case instead of going it alone. An attorney will assess your case in a free initial consultation and determine whether it is worth taking on, only charging a contingency fee if and when you get a settlement. In turn, you can focus on making a full medical recovery knowing that a reliable lawyer is behind you.
To get started on a car accident case involving a rental car company, contact us at Ankin Law to discuss your case with one of our Chicago rental car attorneys today.
