Long Beach Rental Car Accident Lawyer

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Any car crash can have a profoundly negative impact on your life, but you may be unsure of how to proceed if your collision involves a rental vehicle. You have the right to claim compensation from insurance providers, but do you use the rental company’s policy or the at-fault driver’s? To answer these questions, arrange a free consultation with a Long Beach rental car accident lawyer from Harting, Simkins & Ryan LLP today. We offer experienced guidance for every kind of accident claim in Long Beach. 

California Insurance Law Allows You to File a Claim After a Rental Car Accident

California is an at-fault state, and all drivers must carry liability insurance to pay for bodily injury and property damage if they’re at fault in a crash. Yet, rental vehicles can complicate what is otherwise a straightforward process of filing a claim against the driver who hit you. The policy you use depends on who is at fault and whether the renter accepted or declined the rental company’s coverage.

Here are factors that could affect how you file your insurance claim and receive compensation:

  • You use your own insurance policy if you are to blame or it’s a single-vehicle crash.
  • You may have insurance coverage from the credit card you used to rent the vehicle.
  • You accepted a collision damage waiver (CDW) that waives your financial responsibility for vehicle damage. 

A CDW is not an insurance policy, but it does prevent you from having to pay for any damage you cause to the rental car. If someone else damages the car and causes you injury, then the rental company could file a claim against them for property damage. Fortunately, you can also file a claim for your medical and other costs associated with the accident. 

Liability in Rental Car Accident Cases

Insurance claims depend on showing who is financially liable for an accident by demonstrating one party’s negligence. By gathering evidence, your Long Beach rental car accident attorney can argue for full compensation from an insurance provider. However, you should expect the insurance company to push back and try to minimize what they pay you.

They may claim you are partly at fault for the crash under California’s pure comparative negligence statute. Fortunately, you can still seek compensation even if you are 99% responsible, although the amount of fault reduces your settlement by the same percentage. Other parties could be at fault, including:

  • Other motorists on the road
  • The rental company for renting unrepaired vehicles
  • Road repair companies
  • Government agencies that fail to maintain traffic signals or roadways

Your car accident lawyer should collect evidence such as photos, videos, witness statements, and police crash reports to establish who caused the accident. They can use that material to push back when an insurance provider refuses to meet your compensation demands. 

How We Work Diligently for Your Best Interests in Long Beach Rental Car Accident Claims

You may be unsure of what a car accident attorney can do for you and whether they are worth the expense. At Harting, Simkins & Ryan LLP, we will investigate every detail of your case, building a powerful claim for the financial relief you deserve. We collaborate with experts, demand evidence, and negotiate forcefully with insurance adjusters for a fair settlement. 

You can concentrate on your injuries while we manage the paperwork and legal concerns on your behalf. The statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in California is only 2 years, so you must act quickly. Get started when you contact us today to arrange a free consultation with an experienced Long Beach rental car accident lawyer.