What Happens If You're in a Rental Car Accident During the Holiday Season?

Holiday travel can mean crowded roads, changing weather, and long drives in a vehicle you aren't used to. If a crash happens in a rental car, you may have questions about your injuries, the damage to the rental, and which insurance policies might apply.

The answers depend on the circumstances of the crash, the rental agreement, and the terms of any applicable insurance. Here are some steps to take after a rental car accident during the holiday season.

1. Check for Injuries and Get to a Safe Place

Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone needs help, call 911. If the vehicles can be moved safely, get out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights.

Even if you feel okay, consider getting medical attention. Some symptoms may appear later, and a medical evaluation can help document your condition.

2. Exchange Information and Document the Scene

Follow the instructions of responding officers and exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. If it is safe to do so, take photos of the vehicles, the road, traffic signs, and weather conditions.

Keep the rental agreement and any documents showing the vehicle's condition before the trip. If you notice damage, photograph it and report it to the rental company. Save the police report information, witness contacts, and receipts for expenses related to the crash.

3. Notify the Rental Company

Review your rental agreement and follow its accident-reporting instructions. Contact the rental company promptly and ask what it needs from you. It may provide directions about towing, repairs, replacement transportation, and its damage report.

Keep a record of whom you spoke with and when. Don't assume that reporting the accident to the police or your insurer also satisfies the rental company's requirements.

4. Find Out Which Insurance May Apply

There may be different coverage questions for damage to the rental car and injuries from the crash. Depending on the policies and agreements involved, coverage may come from your personal auto policy, protection you purchased from the rental company, or benefits offered through a credit card.

The terms and limits vary. Check the actual policy and rental documents, and contact the insurer or card issuer to ask what applies. Don't assume that a credit card benefit or your personal policy covers every kind of rental, driver, loss, or expense.

A rental company's damage waiver and liability coverage are also different products. Read the rental documents to understand what you accepted and what each option covers.

5. Be Careful When Discussing Fault or Signing Documents

Give accurate information, but avoid guessing about speed, distance, or who caused the crash. Don't sign a settlement or release until you understand what claims it covers. A release may affect your ability to seek payment for injuries or expenses that are still being evaluated.

Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence rule. In general, an injured person's recovery may be reduced based on their share of responsibility, and recovery is barred if that share is greater than the defendant's. www.legis.state.pa.us The available evidence—not just an early impression at the scene—can matter when fault is disputed.

What If Another Driver in a Rental Car Hit You?

If another driver caused the crash while driving a rental car, the driver's insurance may be relevant, along with any other coverage that applies. The rental agreement and the facts of the accident can affect what policies are available.

Don't assume that the rental company is automatically responsible just because its vehicle was involved. Preserve the other driver's information, the rental vehicle details, the police report, and any communications from insurers.

Accidents During Out-of-State Holiday Travel

If your holiday trip takes you outside Pennsylvania, follow the local authorities' instructions and report the crash to the rental company as required by your agreement. The law where the crash happened may affect how an injury claim is handled, while the insurance policies and rental contract may raise separate coverage questions.

Keep copies of all documents and contact your insurer as soon as practical. If you're injured, continue your medical care after you return home.

Areas Served

Sklarosky Law represents car accident victims throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, including:

• Luzerne County, including Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Hazleton, Pittston, Nanticoke, Dallas, Mountain Top, and surrounding communities

• Lackawanna County, including Scranton and surrounding communities

• Monroe County, including Stroudsburg and the Pocono region

• Carbon County, including Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, and surrounding communities

• Columbia County, including Bloomsburg and surrounding communities

• Wyoming County, including Tunkhannock and surrounding communities

If your accident occurred elsewhere in Pennsylvania, contact Sklarosky Law to discuss whether the firm can assist with your claim.

How Sklarosky Law Can Help After a Rental Car Accident

If you were injured in a car crash, don't wait. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the stronger your case will be. At Sklarosky Law, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

Call us today at (570) 283-1200 or use our online contact form to schedule your consultation.