How to Deal with Situation when an Accident Happens with Rented Car

Sep 16
17:18

2021

Ardella M Baez

Ardella M Baez

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An accident on the road is a nuisance anyway, even if there are no injuries and the damage is minor. If the driver is driving his own car at the time of the accident, he usually knows what to do. But what if it happens an Accident Car Hire? Immediately, many questions arise: Who should be compensated for the damage? Whether the rental car company will claim compensation for the damage caused. What happens to the driver of the rental car if he is found liable, etc.

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For the sake of clarity and insurance,How to Deal with Situation when an Accident Happens with Rented Car Articles it is worth paying special attention to these issues when planning a car rental.

What to look out for to avoid accidents with your rental car

When maneuvering in traffic, don't rely on your extensive driving experience, attentiveness, and quick reactions. After all, there are a lot of people on the road and it's likely that some of them don't know the rules of the road or think that the rules don't apply to them and you should avoid use mobile and text while driving so you can literally have an accident all at once with a rental car.

Such accidents are difficult to control. However, each driver can increase the chances that the rental car will be returned in one piece.

First of all, the selected vehicle should be inspected for defects. Employees of rental companies may be careless or inattentive in this respect. The human factor must be taken into account.

Next, you need to sort out insurance issues related to the rental car. This is not an extra precaution, but a guarantee that the driver will be protected by law in the event of an accident, even if a malfunction occurs. From a psychological point of view, taking out insurance gives the driver extra security on the road.

Important! Car rental insurance should not be limited to the number of drivers.

No matter how long you plan to rent a car, whether it is for a day or a longer period, you should absolutely take into account all the above points. And only after clarifying the possible nuances can you conclude a car rental contract.

Procedure in the event of an accident

If the accident is already a fact, the first thing to do is to remember the instructions on how to proceed in your car rental contract. These are fairly simple to implement:

  1. Firstly, the driver should make an emergency call.
  2. You should then contact the rental company.
  3. Then, only the steps described in the Highway Code should be carried out.

Following the sequence of actions in case of an accident is not as important here as following all the above points. If the algorithm is incomplete, the insurance company may refuse to pay compensation. In this case, the tenant has to reimburse the landlord for the costs.

In addition, the hirer (may) have to pay the consequences of the accident on the rental car if:

  • the person responsible for the damage cannot be identified (particularly important in the case of stolen vehicles or components);
  • There are no traffic police documents to prove that the hirer was not involved in the accident.
Who usually pays for the damage

In most cases, if the hirer intends to rent a car without a driver, he or she will have standard insurance cover for damage of any kind with the vehicle. This means that even if it is proved that you are at fault, the insurance company will not reimburse you for the damage. However, as mentioned above, you must follow the rules in this respect.

Important. Insurance does not always cover actual damage. In this case, the tenant pays the difference.

Third-party insurance is also often included in the cost of renting a car. This type of insurance protects renters who are involved in an accident against costs more reliably than owners who are in the same situation. In this case, the liability of the rented vehicle is limited to the amount of the deposit. The insurance will not intervene if the driver has committed serious offences that lead to an accident.

It is time to summarize. Even with a solid insurance policy, you should only rent a car after you have inspected it to make sure it is in perfect condition. And in any case, except in cases of force majeure, obeying traffic rules and being careful are the best ways to avoid a traffic accident.