Rental Car Accident

If you are involved in an accident either driving a rental car or by someone who is driving a rental car, your insurance payment options can quickly get complicated. That's because there can be four or more companies directly covering liability - or denying liability. Jim S. Adler & Associates can help you cut through this insurance dance and get the full compensation you deserve faster.

We have over 30 years of experience with insurance law, and we understand what companies cover and what they don't. And with Jim S. Adler & Associates on your side, you are less likely to get the run-around to cover your possible medical injuries, loss of work, and other expenses.

How to Protect Yourself Ahead of Time

The Texas Department of Insurance recommends that you fully understand what coverage you have and what coverage you need before you rent a car, and whether you should purchase expensive collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance from the rental car agency. "Knowing what your auto insurance covers and doesn´t cover can save you money and grief when you rent a car."

For example, your auto policy may or may not give you full coverage on a rental car. Liability should be covered, but damage to the rental vehicle is covered by your comprehensive and collision coverage. Find out what coverage you have to protect you from rental car damage by contacting your agent.

Also, don't trust that your credit card automatically insures your rental vehicle. Some cards insist that you put the full amount of the rental price on that card before they insure you, and others require you to rent from specific companies. Contact your bank to find out the coverage and limitations of your credit card insurance.

Find out how your personal property is covered as well. Most auto insurance doesn't cover it at all; you have to claim items stolen or damaged with the car through your house insurance. Make sure that your homeowner policy covers personal items lost from a rental car, and what the limits are. You may be able to get extra insurance for full coverage if you plan to carry expensive items like laptop computers, digital cameras, etc. in your rental car.

If you decide that your own insurance coverage is not enough and you want to protect yourself with the rental agency's CDW insurance, make sure you know exactly what is covered and not covered here too. In most cases, CDW covers only loss or damage to their vehicle, not the contents such as your personal items. Also, it does not usually include medical insurance to cover any injuries to you or any other passengers.

However, even if you know what your coverage is, insurance companies may still deny liability or try to pass the liability to another company. Contact Jim S. Adler & Associates to make sure your interests are covered, and that you can collect all insurance claims owed to you.

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