Who pays for the rental car after an accident?

Motor Vehicles Accidents - July 17, 2022

After you’re in a car accident, it can feel like a million things are added to your to-do list. Insurance papers, police reports, and medical treatment are all suddenly on your plate.

But if you weren’t too badly injured or are healed and ready to drive again, the next thing on your list is to get a rental car so you can get around. But who pays for the rental car after an accident? Well, it depends on who was at fault for the accident. Keep reading to see who pays for the rental in a couple of different scenarios.

When another driver is at fault

If the crash was the other driver’s fault, you should include a request for a rental car in your assessment with their insurance adjuster. Their insurance company is responsible for covering the cost of your rental car. You will need to file a claim with their insurance in order for them to cover the car.

When you’re at fault

If you caused the collision, you’ll have to go through your own insurance to request a rental car. When you designed your insurance policy, you chose whether or not to add rental car coverage at that time. So, if you included that coverage in your policy, then your rental car should be covered in part or in full by your insurance company, likely through reimbursement.

Make sure you fully understand the terms of your policy before renting a car, because there may be some restrictions.

For example, your insurance company may limit the number of days they’ll pay for the rental, or how much they’ll put towards a rental per day. Be sure to educate yourself on any limitations so that you don’t run up an expensive rental car bill that you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket.

What to do if insurance denies your claim

Who should pay for a rental car after an accident is typically determined by who’s at fault, but what if that fault is disputed?

If you didn’t cause the accident, and you file a claim with the insurance company that insures the at-fault driver, they won’t always approve the claim. They may claim that they disagree that their driver is at fault. But disputes over fault can take a long time, and you probably need a car now. This is not an ideal situation, but you do have options.

First, you can attempt to get your rental car covered by your own insurance company. They might offer you a deal in light of the dispute over fault. If they aren’t able to help, you may need to pay for your rental car out-of-pocket. This is an unfair situation if you were truly not at fault, but it can be made right after the fact. A good attorney can help you recover the money you spent on a rental car after an accident that you didn’t cause.

The most important thing to remember is to keep records of everything about the accident, your insurance claims, and your car rental because you’ll need all of that evidence to recover the money you spent.

Hurt in a crash? Call us.

Were you in an accident caused by someone else and left injured or without coverage for a rental car? Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates is here to help. Our Chicago car accident lawyers can help you fight any denied claims, and prove that the other driver was at fault.

Call us today at (800) 985-1819 to schedule your free case consultation with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates.