Who Pays the Cost of Renting a Car After Getting into an Auto Accident?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
When you’ve been in an auto accident, the first thing on your mind is likely not who will pay for a rental car to replace your totaled car. You’ll be assessing the extent of your personal injuries and focusing on the road to recovery.
However, as you start healing and get back on the road, you’ll need to consider what will serve as your transportation while your car is at the repair shop and who will cover the cost of renting a car. If you were not the at-fault driver and the accident resulted from another driver’s negligence, consult a lawyer about who is liable and how you can seek compensation.
Why Transportation is a Serious Issue Following an Accident
You will need transportation to and from medical appointments related to your accident, and your injuries may prevent you from taking public transport services. You will also still have daily obligations and other errands, like grocery shopping and your children’s extracurricular activities, which can be challenging without a replacement vehicle.
If you decide you need to rent a car, who pays for the rental fees is an important issue. Because it will take time before a repair shop determines the extent of the damage, and if you can file a claim with your insurance company, you will automatically have several weeks without your car or any financial compensation. Understanding who pays for the rental vehicle can prevent you from being out of pocket to cover these expenses.
Insurance Complications After an Accident
While you can sue an at-fault driver in Michigan for compensation for your injuries, you cannot get them to cover the cost of a rental car for you. Whether you have coverage for a rental vehicle will depend on your own insurance policy.
Many people assume their insurance pays for the rental car after an accident, but this ultimately depends on the type of insurance you have and the level of coverage it provides. Your insurance policy will likely stipulate whether it covers rental car insurance if your insured vehicle is damaged. If your insurance policy does not explicitly state that you will receive a rental car while yours is undergoing repairs, you should still talk to your insurance provider about this possibility after an accident.
Even where the insurance company will compensate you for a totaled car, they may not release the funds until they have processed the entire claim, making it challenging for you to afford a rental car in the short term.
The amount of time it takes to process a claim can contribute to financial difficulties incurred following an auto accident, especially if you have to pay out of pocket for a rental car on top of your medical bills. Therefore, if your driver’s insurance permits, you should request that your insurance company provides you with a rental car until your vehicle is road-ready or they process your claim.
If you are having difficulty negotiating with your insurance company, seek legal advice from our attorneys at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. to determine how you can get your rental car paid for.
Get Legal Support Following an Auto Accident
Auto accidents can result in bodily harm, pain and suffering, and property damage but can also cause other economic annoyances, such as having to rent a car if yours was totaled or damaged. If you find yourself renting a car due to someone else’s negligence damaging your vehicle, your existing insurance coverage may not cover these additional expenses.
Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has a solid track record of results securing compensation for victims of motor vehicle accidents. If you have been in an accident and you’re being forced to cover your rental costs, contact us for a free consultation at 866-MICH-LAW or fill out our contact form.
We can assist you in negotiating with your insurance company to cover your rental fees. If you decide to file a case based on economic or other damages, our contingency fee means that you are not required to pay anything unless we win your case.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
