When
you end up in any kind of car
accident, you will want to make sure everyone is safe and
assess the damages. Car accidents are all too common these days and many of us
can get caught out. But today we are going to focus on some things to bear
in mind if you end up in a car accident in a rental.
Assess the Situation
If
you are in a car accident one of the first, and most important things to do is
to get everyone to safety. But do not move those who are in a lot of pain, this
could lead to more injury if incorrectly moved. When everyone is as safe as
they can be. Scan the area to see if any property has been damaged or if
anything large in the area has the potential to fall.
Be
sure to contact the emergency services and your legal representative. Having
legal aid in this situation is incredibly important. They can advise you on how
to proceed with your claims to insurers down the line.
Make sure you have the right coverage
When
renting a car there are different types of cover to consider. After your
accident, it would be smart to double-check what kind of coverage you have. If
you bought collision insurance (also known as a collision damage waiver
(CDW) from the rental company and the accident was your fault, this collision
insurance will cover you. Unless of course, the accident happened because of
reckless driving on your part or any other breach of the rental agreement.
Be
sure to double-check your personal terms and conditions for your agreement. Do
not forget that this kind of insurance does not cover medical and property
expenses though. You will have to rely on your own personal medical/property
insurance policies for support with that. Again, we recommend that you talk to
your lawyer when building a case to take to your insurers so you can recover
the money you deserve in your case.
Have the right information at hand
After
a car accident you will want to make sure you get the right information from the
appropriate parties. Talk to witnesses and the other parties involved in the
car accident. Get their accounts of the event and gather their details. Trade
phone numbers, number plates and home addresses. Be sure to do this if there
are multiple vehicles involved.
To
make your account of the event even more accurate, it would help your lawyer if
you gathered some additional information as well such as the date and time of
the accident. The weather conditions when the accident took place. Any damages
to vehicles and/or property. And lastly, any injuries sustained by drivers,
passengers and pedestrians.
With
all this information at hand, and with the rental company and lawyer informed
you can start to make your claims. Having an experienced
car accident lawyer in Los Angeles (or in whichever State you live in), can help you fight for the correct
amount of money owed to you. Keeping in close contact with your lawyer can help
you better understand how to work towards the best solution for you.
Ultimately, a car accident can be a harrowing
experience. Especially if it is in a rental car and you are not as clued up on
how to deal with the situation, as you might be in your own car. You will find
that emergency services, your legal aid and insurers will all be there to help
you get back on your feet and behind the wheel in no time.