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BEST RENTAL CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER IN HUNTSVILLE, AL
Rental Car Personal Injury Attorney Near Me
If you’ve been injured in a car accident involving a rental car in Alabama, you may be wondering who is responsible for your property and personal injury damages. Is the rental company liable for the accident or the driver of the vehicle? Although a rental vehicle accident is very similar to other car accident claims, who is responsible can be a little more complicated. When you have been in a rental car accident, you need an experienced attorney who understands how the insurance companies work. Call now for your no-obligation, free consultation with one of our experienced rental car accident lawyers. You pay nothing to talk to one of our attorneys. Call 256-534-3435 now. We can help.
Rental Cars and Insurance
When you have been hit by someone driving a rental car, you have different options for getting compensation for your losses. Several different parties and types of insurance coverage could come into play after a rental car accident, including:
- Driver’s personal car insurance
- Rental car company liability coverage
- Credit card company
- Your own insurance company
- Other driver’s insurance
- Rental car company if it failed to maintain automobile
- Manufacturer of vehicle
What is a “Collision Damage Waiver”?
When you rent a vehicle from a rental company, they will offer you something called a “collision damage waiver” for an additional charge. The collision damage waiver only applies to damage done to the rental car, and it essentially shifts most costs of repairing or replacing the vehicle off of you and onto the rental car company. The coverage does not cover injuries to the driver or passenger if you cause an accident, and it could cover things already covered through your insurance policy or through the credit card you used to secure the rental car reservation.
Alabama Rental-Car Accident FAQs
What should I do after a rental-car accident in Alabama?
Call 911, request medical assistance, document the scene, identify all drivers and witnesses, and exchange insurance information. Keep the rental agreement and receipts, notify the rental company and required insurers promptly, and avoid admitting fault or signing releases before understanding the available coverage.
Who may be liable for an Alabama rental-car accident?
Potentially responsible parties may include the negligent rental driver, another motorist, an employer, the rental company when its own negligence contributed, a maintenance provider, a vehicle manufacturer, or another business or individual. Liability depends on the cause and relationships involved.
Is the rental-car company automatically responsible for its driver’s negligence?
Generally, rental ownership alone does not automatically make the company liable for a renter’s negligence because federal law limits certain vicarious-liability claims. A rental company may still face liability for its own negligence or wrongdoing, such as negligent maintenance, depending on the evidence.
What insurance may cover a rental-car accident?
Possible coverage may include the renter’s personal auto policy, liability or supplemental coverage purchased from the rental company, another driver’s policy, an employer’s policy, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and limited credit-card benefits. Each policy and rental agreement must be reviewed.
What is a collision damage waiver?
A collision damage waiver is generally a contractual waiver that can shift some responsibility for damage to or loss of the rented vehicle. It is not the same as bodily-injury liability insurance and ordinarily does not compensate people injured in the crash.
Does my personal auto insurance cover a rental vehicle?
It may, depending on the policy, vehicle, driver, location, purpose of the rental, and selected coverages. Liability, collision, comprehensive, medical-payments, and uninsured-motorist provisions can differ, so the actual policy should be reviewed rather than assumed.
Does a credit card cover rental-car accident injuries?
Credit-card rental benefits commonly focus on damage to or theft of the rented vehicle and may be secondary to other coverage. They often do not provide bodily-injury liability protection. The card’s benefit guide, payment method, exclusions, and notice rules control.
What if an unauthorized driver was operating the rental car?
An unauthorized driver can create coverage and contract disputes, but injured people may still have claims against the negligent driver or other responsible parties. The rental agreement, permission, relationship between the parties, and applicable insurance policies should be examined.
Can a rental company be liable for poor vehicle maintenance?
Potentially. If defective brakes, unsafe tires, steering problems, lighting failures, ignored recalls, or another maintenance issue contributed to the crash, the rental company or a maintenance provider may be responsible. Inspection, repair, and rental-history records should be preserved.
What if a defective rental vehicle caused the accident?
A manufacturer, component maker, distributor, rental company, or maintenance provider may be responsible depending on the defect and notice. The vehicle should be preserved when possible, and recall, repair, diagnostic, and electronic data should be obtained promptly.
What evidence should I preserve after a rental-car collision?
Preserve the rental agreement, add-on coverage documents, inspection sheet, receipts, photographs, video, witness information, crash report, correspondence, insurance policies, medical records, repair estimates, vehicle data, and proof of lost income and other expenses.
Should I report the crash to the rental company?
Yes. Rental agreements usually require prompt notice and specific procedures. Provide necessary factual information, keep copies of all reports and communications, and avoid speculation about fault or signing broad releases before the injury and coverage issues are understood.
Can a passenger make a claim after a rental-car accident?
Potentially. A passenger may have claims against one or more negligent drivers and may also have access to applicable liability, medical-payments, or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. The guest’s relationship to the driver and available policies require review.
What if the rental car was being used for work?
The driver’s employer or a commercial insurance policy may be involved if the driver was acting within the scope of employment. Employment status, trip purpose, rental payment, company policies, and insurance agreements can affect responsibility and coverage.
What if the rental-car driver lives outside Alabama?
An out-of-state driver’s residence does not prevent an Alabama claim arising from an Alabama crash. However, insurance, service, jurisdiction, and rental-contract issues may be more complex, so the driver’s identity and policy information should be verified promptly.
Can uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage apply?
It may when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient limits. Coverage could arise from the injured person’s policy, the occupied vehicle, or another applicable household policy, subject to policy terms, Alabama law, and notice requirements.
How does Alabama’s contributory-negligence rule affect a rental-car claim?
Alabama generally follows a strict contributory-negligence rule. A defendant may argue that any negligence by the injured person bars recovery, making prompt collection of scene evidence, witness accounts, vehicle data, and rental records especially important.
What damages may be available after a rental-car accident?
Depending on liability and proof, damages may include medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, property damage, and other documented losses.
How long do I have to file a rental-car accident lawsuit in Alabama?
Many Alabama personal-injury claims are subject to a two-year limitations period, but exceptions, contractual notice duties, and shorter government-claim deadlines may apply. The exact deadline should be evaluated promptly.
Which Ferguson & Ferguson office handles Alabama rental-car accident cases?
Ferguson & Ferguson serves rental-car accident clients through its verified Huntsville office at 303 Williams Avenue SW, Suite 321, Huntsville, Alabama 35801, and Decatur office at 211 Oak Street NE, Decatur, Alabama 35601. The Huntsville office is the primary service location for this page.
Why Hire an Accident Attorney
An Alabama rental car accident lawyer can help you deal with all of the different insurance companies and parties potentially involved in your accident. An attorney in Alabama with experience handling car rental injury claims can identify all possible liable parties and get you the compensation you deserve. Call one of our Alabama car rental accident lawyers as soon as possible after your accident. Call 256-534-3435 for your free, no-obligation consultation.
Huntsville Office Location:
303 Williams Avenue SW
Suite 321
Huntsville, AL 35801
Decatur Office Location:
211 Oak Street
Decatur, AL 35601