Who Pays for a Rental Car After an Accident?

If your car was totaled or needs to be at the mechanic for a few days following an accident, the insurance company of the at-fault driver should pay for your rental car until your vehicle is in working condition or until you purchase a new vehicle. However, this is typically only the case if you are not the driver found responsible for the accident. 

After an accident, you should seek medical attention and contact a Phoenix car accident attorney. Even seemingly minor car accidents can make a huge impact on your life, as car accidents can cause a bulging disc in your spine, trauma, and other major physical or mental injuries. A car accident lawyer like Gage Mathers can help you get the compensation you deserve after an accident and help you learn if you have to pay taxes on car accident settlements.

In this post, we’ll cover all things relating to getting a rental car after an accident, including who pays for the car, how to get one, and for how long you’ll have it.

What Happens When Another Driver Is At-Fault?

When you are in a car accident, the person who caused the accident to happen is called the ‘at-fault driver.’ Insurance companies and lawyers will work to prove who the at-fault driver is, which is why you need to collect evidence right away when you are in an accident. You can collect evidence by getting the contact information of eye witnesses, taking photos of the scene of the accident and the damage on the involved cars, and receiving a medical report after the accident. 

Usually, the insurance company of the at-fault driver will pay any costs related to the accident. They don’t always want to, which is why it’s important to hire a lawyer to negotiate with them on your behalf.

How to Get a Rental Car Following an Accident

If you are not able to use your car due to the accident, you may want to rent a car in the meantime. Before you rent a car, have your lawyer confirm with the insurance company that they will pay for a rental and what the terms are. 

You don’t want to start renting an expensive car for a high rate only for the other driver’s insurance company to deny your claim or pay for just a small portion of your bill. This can happen if you don’t check with the insurance company first.

How Long Is the Rental Car Paid For?

Another reason you should have your lawyer contact the other driver’s insurance company before renting a car is because insurance companies typically have a deadline for how long they will pay for a rental. If you use your car past that deadline, you might have to pay for those extra days out of your own pocket.

In many cases, if your car is being repaired and your policy provides rental coverage, you will have coverage for a rental for two weeks. If the repairs take longer than those two weeks, you typically will have to request additional coverage.

What if your car is beyond repair? If your car is a total loss, the insurance company will usually give you two weeks to purchase a replacement. It can be difficult to ask for an extension in this case, but many companies will extend that limit to thirty days. Make sure both you and your lawyer understand the terms and conditions of the rental policy so you don’t end up paying a huge bill!

Contact the Law Offices of Gage Mathers

When you’re recovering from a car accident and your car has been damaged or totaled, reading paperwork and negotiating with insurance companies is the last thing you want to do. Instead, call Gage Mathers. Our team of legal experts will help you get the compensation you deserve!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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