When you are involved in an accident involving a rental car, you may wonder what to do and who will be responsible for your damages. Rental car accidents do present another layer of complexity to your claim. However, the basic rules still apply.
Insurance companies will still try to deny or devalue your claim and you still need an experienced car accident attorney to protect your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
If you have been injured in a rental car accident in Chicago, we want to help you. Our car accident attorneys have decades of experience and have helped our clients secure over $6 billion in settlements and verdicts. Our specialized Chicago injury attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation for your rental car accident claim.
Call (630) 912-7323 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.
Who Will Pay For Your Damages After a Rental Car Accident?
Who pays for your damages first depends on who is at fault for the accident. However, several different insurance policies and sources may provide coverage.
All Illinois drivers are required to have a minimum level of liability coverage. So, the at-fault driver’s insurance company usually provides the primary coverage for your damages up to the limit of their policy. If this insurance policy is inadequate to pay your damages, you can consider other potential sources of coverage.
The rental car agency must provide a minimum level of liability coverage for its vehicles. Additionally, renters can purchase supplemental liability coverage that could be used to pay your damages.
Your own insurance policy may provide coverage. You should review your policy to understand what coverage may be applicable.
You should also check for coverage provided by your credit card company. If you used your credit card to rent the vehicle, your credit card company may provide secondary insurance coverage for an accident.
What Damages Can Be Recovered For a Rental Car Accident?
You can generally recover the same type of damages as in any other car accident claim. In a successful case, you can recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
- Current and future medical expenses.
- Current and future lost wages.
- Property damages.
- Other expenses incurred due to your accident and injuries.
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental and emotional distress.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Loss of consortium.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Other intangible losses.
Only in rare cases can you recover punitive damages in Illinois. However, our attorneys work tirelessly to secure all available damages to maximize your compensation.
Do You Need To Hire A Chicago Rental Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring an experienced Chicago car accident attorney can significantly improve your chances of recovering the full compensation you are entitled to.
Your attorney can investigate your accident to help determine causation and liability. They can help identify all available sources of compensation and review insurance policies to understand what coverage applies.
They can evaluate your case and provide an estimate of what they believe your claim is worth, so you know what a fair settlement would be. Your attorney can help negotiate a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible and take your case to trial if necessary.
Contact an Experienced Chicago Rental Car Accident Attorney Today
The Chicago car accident lawyers at Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys have helped recover billions of dollars for our clients. We have the experience, skills, and resources to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (630) 912-7323 or complete the form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation.