Car Accidents
Getting a rental car from an insurance company can be challenging for a car accident victim. Waiting for repairs or a settlement check for your totaled car often takes too long. If you are like most of the rest of us, you need a car to live your life. You still need to get to work if you are able, get your kids to school, and live your life. Obviously, these concerns are more pronounced in one-car families.
If you are in an accident as the result of someone’s else mistake, there is usually a path to getting a rental car.
The rental vehicle provided should be comparable to the vehicle damaged in the accident. If you were driving a pickup truck, it is not reasonable for your replacement vehicle to be a subcompact.
Usually getting a rental car from the at-fault insurance company is easy. Unless it is not. In that case, getting a rental car after an accident can be World War III.
If you are injured, you can get your lawyer to help you, most likely for no charge. If you have suffered injuries, getting a lawyer can be a challenge.
This article lays out the best way to solve your problem by helping you get a rental car when the insurance company tries to deny you the vehicle you are entitled to.
- How to get everything you deserve in your property damage claim
- Handling your claim without a lawyer
- Bringing a diminished value claim
The Easy Road: Insurance Company Take Immediate Responsibility
Hopefully, this process goes smoothly for you. The most straightforward path is when the at-fault driver’s insurance company agrees to immediately – with immediately being the operative word – accept liability for the traffic collision. In this case, the insurance carrier will pay for your rental car until they pay you the fair market value of your totaled car or pay for the complete repairs of your car.
Plan B: You Have Rental Coverage Insurance
More problematic is when the at-fault insurance company does not decide on a rental at all. This state of limbo puts the victim in a pickle. Insurance companies usually make no decision when they cannot reach their driver to obtain their version of the crash. In this case, Plan B is to determine if you have rental coverage through your insurance company. If you do, they will pay for your rental car while your property damage issues get resolved. Your insurance company will, in turn, fight the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The insurer’s goal is to get compensated for the money they paid for your rental car once we resolve the responsibility for the motor vehicle crash.
The More Difficult Road: Insurance Company Makes No Decision
Tips on Each Insurance Company
The biggest problem in getting a rental car is when the at-fault carrier denies responsibility. It can be equally bad if the insurer withholds making a decision when you need a rental car. The at-fault carrier must pay for a rental car. If they later agree they are responsible or are found to be responsible, they are obligated to pay you for the money you spend on a rental car. But you have to front the money to pay for the rental vehicle.
Not everyone can front this expense in 2023. So you assume the risk that liability will be resolved in your favor. In most states, including Maryland, your lawyer cannot help you. Because even if your lawyer wanted to pay for your rental vehicle, they are legally and ethically barred from doing so. This is a terrible situation. There are no easy answers.
The key is to apply pressure on the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Not having a lawyer limits the pressure you can apply because you do not have a hammer. Lawsuits are hammers. But you can apply pressure on the insurer to do the right thing. Remember, you have to comply with the time limit to bring a claim in your jurisdiction.
How Long Can I Keep My Rental Car After the Accident?
In Maryland and most jurisdictions, you can keep your rental car as long as you are waiting for a check (for reasons that don’t involve your delay). You also get a rental car if your car is totaled. You can keep the rental if your car is totaled or for a reasonable period while repairs are being made.
Remember that laws differ in each state, and insurance companies have different laws and policies. Clear communication and documentation with the insurance company make a big difference. So communicate with the rental company promptly after the accident. Inform them about the situation, provide any necessary documentation, and request guidance regarding the rental car’s return. They can guide you on the appropriate action and potential extensions if needed.
These situations can quickly become “he said/she said.” Documentation and communication can solve this problem.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Rental Car After an Accident?
As our lawyers discussed above, how long it takes to get a rental car from the at-fault driver’s insurance company will depend on how soon they accept responsibility for the crash. If the insurer doubts who is responsible, or their insured is adamant that she was not solely at fault, the insurance company will do a more extensive investigation before footing the bill for a rental car.
- Answers to common car accident claim questions
What Should I Do If I Have Suffered a Serious Injury in My Car or Truck Accident?
We handle severe injury auto accident cases in the Baltimore-Washington area. Our firm has won at trial in hundreds of motor vehicle collision cases. We have also successfully settled thousands of cases for clients, earning over $100 million in compensation for personal injury victims in settlements and trial verdicts.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a car accident, call us at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free consultation via the Internet.
More Information on Your Claim
- Help Center (a path through the maze of civil tort claims)
- Example of a Demand Letter to the Insurance Company
- How Long Will Your Settlement Take?
- Do I Need a Lawyer? Short answer: maybe.
- Can I Fire My Lawyer? Short answer: absolutely.
- What Is the Value of My Injury Case?
- The Settlement Value of Your Case