Even though car crashes are relatively common and nearly everyone experiences an auto accident at least once in his or her life, some types of accidents can be very confusing. There may be uncommon circumstances surrounding the incident; for instance, if you were involved in a car accident with a rental car, you may not be sure which party you can sue. Fortunately, these events have happened before. Many drivers have crashed into rental cars and a precedent has been set. With the assistance of our lawyers with experience in suing rent-a-car for an accident, you could receive fair compensation for your damages. The skilled attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are here to help you deal with your Alamo injury claim lawsuit.
Rental Car Information
Companies like Alamo rent cars out to customers who need them for a variety of reasons. They may need an alternate mode of transportation because their main vehicles were damaged or placed in the mechanic’s garage for repairs. They may simply be travelers who are temporarily in town but need a car to get around so they don’t have to rely on public modes of transportation.
There are specific laws governing who can drive rental cars. Prospective renters must be over the age of 21 and possess their own driver’s license and auto insurance. Alamo, like many other rental car companies, also may provide a collision coverage waiver, which stipulates that in the event of a crash, collision damage to the car is handled by Alamo’s insurance company. Liability, or physical harm or injuries, is not covered.
Many times, individuals who rent these cars may drive slightly more recklessly because they know they do not have to be completely responsible for the cars. If something were to happen, they would not be in the same dire situation as if they were to crash their own vehicles.
For more information, reach out to a rental car accident attorney in Los Angeles.
Legal Information
Although collision damage may have been purchased with the rental car, there is no guarantee that all of the damages will be taken care of, especially if they were extreme. Physical injuries usually drive people to sue anyone who was involved with the crash, and that often includes the party responsible for mitigating the driver.
This is not true in rental car accidents. You cannot sue the rental company if a negligent driver crashed into you; the burden of responsibility rests on the person driving the vehicle. The rental company did not order the person to take a specific route like a commercial business may have; all the company did was provide the means to transportation.
However, there are exceptions to this general rule. If you can prove that the vehicle were faulty in some way, such as with a poorly maintained engine, broken brakes, or other issue, you may be able to sue Alamo for an accident by a rental car. Those who run the franchised locations must inspect cars after each trip, and the failure to do so can result in not noticing certain problems. Further, if Alamo allowed a person to rent a car despite the individual having a suspended license or no auto insurance, you could file a lawsuit against Alamo.
To learn more, call a lawyer in Los Angeles for Alamo injury lawsuits.
Car Accident Details and Procedure
There can be any number of reasons for why car accidents happen. Many times, drivers are simply not paying attention to the road; they may be texting while driving or talking to a passenger. Some people tend to speed, change lanes without signaling, ignore right of way laws, tailgate, and run through stoplights and stop signs. These actions are dangerous and reckless, and if you are not paying complete attention, the consequences can be extremely severe.
If you are involved in a car accident with a rental car, you should follow the same steps that you would in a normal crash. Immediately make sure that you are safe and not harmed; if you need medical assistance, call the paramedics. Emergency medical treatment may be required, in which case you will be rushed to the hospital; however, minor injuries are usually treated at the scene. You should ask the paramedics for a copy of the medical report for your evidence.
Take photos of the scene of the accident and the injuries you sustained If you do not have proof that you were hurt and that the opposing driver’s car crashed into you, you would not be able to file a claim. You should also take down the other driver’s insurance information and personal details.
Next, you should call Alamo and tell them that you were just involved in a crash with one of their vehicles. They will be able to help you sort through any troubles.
Your last step should be to call an attorney that has experience with car rental company accident cases. You may feel as though you can handle your claim by yourself, and while this is not a bad idea if the only damages that happened were to your vehicle, it is usually not recommended in cases where physical injuries occurred. This is because the insurance agents are quick to assume that you are making up the extent of your damages and will claim that you were hurt elsewhere. They will do everything they can to avoid paying out a settlement, and this repeated denial of your claim could drain you. A law firm that handles accident claims cases against Alamo rental car will be able to take care of your case while you rest from the injuries.
Injuries from Crashes
Although many car crashes end up with nobody injured, there are times when damages happen, especially if the other driver were speeding or not paying attention and hit you head on. The extent of these damages – the severity and how impactful they are on your life and career – will determine the bulk of your compensation. If you are unable to continue working or if your future job opportunities are harmed, you may see a higher settlement; similarly, if your daily life is altered because of your injuries, you could receive more compensation.
Some injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Nerve damage
- Torn muscles
- Concussions
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Closed head injuries
- Neck and shoulder damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Severed limbs
- Coma
- Paralysis
- Death
You should consult with a Los Angeles attorney for Alamo accident injury cases if you were harmed in a crash.
Compensation in Injury Lawsuits
The amount of compensation you can earn from Alamo injury cases varies from situation to situation. With the help of a rental car accident injury lawyer, you could receive coverage for:
- Medical expenses (surgery costs, hospitalization, medication, ambulatory transportation, physical therapy) from the past and future
- Lost wages from the past and future
- Property damage (to your vehicle or personal belongings, such as laptop or cell phone)
- Pain and suffering (psychological stress, mental scarring, fear, anxiety, PTSD)
- Punitive damages (handed out in instances of gross negligence, but many courts view these damages as excessive, so only a skilled attorney will be able to secure them for your case)
You should not be made to cover your own damages if you were responsible for the accident. The liable party should be held accountable. To speak with an attorney to sue Alamo for an injury, call our law group today.
Normandie Law Firm: Our Promise
Our team of expert attorneys at Normandie Law Firm promises to do all we can to bring you the compensation you deserve from a rental car accident. We will not stop pursuing your fair restitution until you are satisfied with the settlement offer. Our aggressive lawyers are willing to go to court to win your case.
Call our offices today to schedule a free legal consultation. An accomplished lawyer can give you information on your lawsuit and inform you about the legal details. We will gladly answer your questions and tell you what we believe your case might be worth. Further, all of our consultations are completely private and confidential; none of your personal info will leave our office doors.
If you choose us to represent you, you will be given our zero fee guarantee, which states that you will not have to pay any out of pocket expenses throughout the litigation process f your claim. We will cover the costs of the case throughout, and we only get our fees paid if we win. The money will be taken from the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you won’t owe us anything at all.
Contact Normandie Law Firm to be represented by a law firm that can take cases for a crash with an Alamo car.
