Many people may take advantage of the last few weeks of summer to take a road trip and rent a car to travel to their destination. They may not consider what could happen if they are in an accident while driving the rental car.
If this happens, the first thing drivers should do is make sure that no one is hurt and pull over to the side of the road when it is safe to do so. Then, they can exchange information with the other driver. This includes their name, address, phone number, email address, car insurance policy information, driver’s license number, vehicle registration and license plate information.
Accident documentation
It’s helpful to take detailed notes about the car accident, right after it occurs if possible. Drivers should note the information for each car that was involved. This includes the year, make, model and color of the cars and any other identifying details.
Also, the driver will want to note where the accident occurred and how it happened. Then, the driver can contact the rental car company to notify them about the accident. Often, the rental car company will ask the driver to complete an incident report.
Notifying the insurance company
The driver may also want to notify their insurance company about the rental car accident to find out whether the insurance company will file an accident report, whether the policy has collision coverage and find out how much he or she may have to pay out of pocket for repairs, also called a deductible.
Car accidents can cause the victim to suffer serious injuries and in addition, they may incur expensive medical bills and lose time away from work to heal. Victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.