Rental Car Accidents in Santa Rosa

Car accidents in Santa Rosa, California, are stressful - especially when the car you’re driving is not your own. However, statistically speaking, you may be more likely to get into a car accident while driving a rental car than your own. If you’ve been involved in a rental car accident in Santa Rosa, don’t hesitate to call Singleton Schreiber for help navigating this difficult time.

We’re award-winning Santa Rosa, CA car accident attorneys with decades of collective experience handling complex insurance disputes. As fearless advocates for California’s injury victims, we’ve successfully recovered $3 Billion (and counting) in settlements and jury verdicts.

Focus on your recovery, and let us handle the stress of getting compensation after a collision involving a rented car. We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so contact our Santa Rosa law office today.

How Does Insurance Work If I Get Into a Car Accident While Driving a Rental?

Any car that’s driven in the state of California - including rentals - must be covered by minimum amounts of car insurance.

When you rent a car, you have a few options for coverage.

First, you can use your own auto insurance policy to cover the rental car while you’re driving. In these situations, you’ll be covered by your policy if you get into an accident.

Alternatively, the car rental agency will probably give you the option of purchasing insurance coverage when you sign your rental contract.

Coverage that’s typically offered includes:

• Personal accident insurance (PAI) to pay for medical bills or deaths related to a rental car accident
• Supplemental liability insurance (SLI) to pay for other victims’ damages if you cause an accident in a rental
• Collision damage waiver (CDW) to relieve you of responsibility for damage caused to the vehicle while you’re driving it
• Personal effects coverage (PEC) to cover damage or theft of property in the rental while it’s in your possession

You will be required to purchase coverage if you don’t have coverage of your own.

Ultimately, the person who causes the car accident will be liable for crash-related damages. More specifically, the at-fault party’s insurance company will be responsible for damages.

So, if you cause a crash while driving a rented car, crash victims can seek benefits from whatever insurance you’ve opted to cover you while operating the rental.

Similarly, if you’re hit by someone who is driving a rental, you’ll have the right to pursue benefits from their coverage - which might be their personal policy or coverage they purchased through the rental agency.

Figuring out which insurance policies will apply, how much they’ll cover, and what to do when your damages exceed policy limits can be tough. Fortunately, they’re not something you need to worry about. Focus on your recovery and trust our California car accident lawyers to help you make the most of your fight for compensation after a rental car accident in Santa Rosa.

What if the Person Who Caused the Rental Car Accident Isn’t On the Rental Agreement?

There’s a good deal of paperwork required before you can get the keys to a rental car in Santa Rosa. Part of this paperwork involves listing everyone who is legally permitted to drive the rental.

Typically, only listed drivers are covered by insurance. So, if a driver who isn’t on the rental agreement gets behind the wheel and causes an accident, the road to recovery can be more challenging. Most often, the insurance company will deny a claim for benefits, citing the fact that the policy did not cover the driver at the time of the wreck.

As a result, the driver at the wheel of the rental may be personally liable for crash-related damages.

What Compensation Can I Get If I’m Injured in a Rental Car Accident in Santa Rosa?

When you’re involved in a rental car accident, it can turn your life upside down. You may sustain broken bones, nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other serious physical injuries. Your injuries might require extensive medical care and limit your time at work, causing a sudden and stressful loss of income. As with any accident, the trauma can be overwhelming and impair your ability to live your life.

Fortunately, you’ll have the right to request compensatory damages to help you navigate your financial stress and harder-to-value pain and suffering.

Whether you go through insurance or file a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensatory damages for:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and benefits
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Nursing care
• Rehabilitation
• Funeral expenses if a rental car accident is fatal
• Chronic physical pain
• Emotional distress
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Inconvenience
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

If, after a rental car accident in Santa Rosa, your legal claim goes to trial, you may also have the ability to get punitive damages. These are paid in addition to compensatory damages when there’s compelling evidence that the defendant’s actions were malicious, fraudulent, or oppressive.

Trust Singleton Schreiber to Help You Maximize Your Recovery After a Rental Car Accident in Santa Rosa, CA

In California, you will have two years from the date of your rental car accident to seek compensation from an insurance company or negligent party. Once the statute of limitations runs out, you lose the ability to secure damages to alleviate your financial stress and help you cope with the trauma of your accident.

The best thing you can do is to hire an experienced Santa Rosa personal injury lawyer to handle your rental car accident case.

At Singleton Schreiber, we’re trusted by injury victims in Santa Rosa because we’re local litigators with national resources at our disposal. We force insurance companies to fight fairly and extend our client's life-changing settlements. When negotiations stall, our award-winning California trial attorneys don’t hesitate to take our clients’ stories to trial.

Don’t struggle with the consequences of a rental car accident on your own. Demand the money you deserve by trusting Singleton Schreiber to fight for you. We provide a free case evaluation. Contact our Santa Rosa law office to get started today.