An accident involving a rental car can be a confusing event; you may not know the best method to pursuing compensation and you may not know whether or not you can sue the rental agency. Accidents happen all the time, and you should not be even further inconvenienced because you can’t speedily file a claim. It is important that you should find adequate legal representation as quickly as possible to ensure that you receive the fairest compensation for your damages. Our expert lawyers at the top-rated Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles have handled rental car accidents for years; we are no strangers to such claims, and our knowledge and experience have both been integral in winning millions of dollars for our clients. A rental agency like Budget should not be let off the hook if it had any part in your accident, and we will make sure that the insurance agency covers the necessary expenses. Clients often come to us asking questions about Budget car crash claims; some of the queries include:
- What kind of lawyer do I need to sue Budget for an injury?
- I need to know how to file a lawsuit for an accident against Budget rental car. Who can I contact?
- Can a lawyer tell me how to sue Budget for an accident?
- What attorney can tell me how to file a lawsuit for an injury against Budget rental car?
Accident Background
An accident involving a rental car may occur for any number of reasons. You may have been struck by an individual who was not paying attention while driving, which is perhaps the most common reason. Many individuals who take rental cars do so because they are visitors in the area and need a mode of transportation for a few days. As such, they are unfamiliar with the nuances of the vehicles and are ignorant of the roads. They may not know that a certain road curves or suddenly merges elsewhere, which can cause accidents.
Other reasons for accidents include breaking the law by speeding, running red lights, ignoring stop signs, negligently ignoring the right of way of other drivers, tailgating, using the phone or GPS while driving, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substances, and more. Those who drive rental cars may, at times, treat the vehicles with less respect than they would their own vehicles; this is because they know that they can be involved in an accident and have little to no repercussions. Budget provides the option for a collision damage waiver, which means that the company will cover cosmetic damages to the car in the event of a crash.
If you are involved in an accident with a Budget vehicle, you may receive various kinds of injuries. You could suffer neck and back injuries, concussions, organ damage, nerve damage, broken bones, and much more. It is imperative that you keep track of your injuries if you intend to file a Budget accident claim for compensation.
Steps to Take to Filing a Lawsuit
As with any accident, you should always adhere to the same procedure to ensure that you are completely covered. First and foremost, you should seek medical treatment for your injuries; you may be severely wounded and require emergency help, so an ambulance and paramedics should be your highest priority. Even if you only suffer minor injuries or believe you weren’t hurt, you should be treated at the scene or see a doctor as quickly as possible. An adrenaline dump can prevent you from feeling the effects of the crash, and it would be highly detrimental if you were to suddenly feel the damages later; the insurance company could claim that something else must have caused your injuries due to the gap in time between filing a claim and being in the accident.
Next, you should take photos of the accident scene, the injuries you sustained, and the damage to the vehicles. This can help show the extent of the crash; not having such evidence will work against you. Further, any documents you can acquire – police report, medical notes, eyewitness testimony, insurance information, and more – will come in handy.You should also contact Budget to inform the company that you were involved in an accident with one of their rental cars. After everything else, call a skilled lawyer with experience handling Budget injury claims. You should not try to handle such a case by yourself unless you received no physical injuries that the insurance agency can dispute.
Important Info about Suing Budget
In order to file a personal injury claim, you must be able to prove four points: that you were owed a duty of care that was breached, and that the breach led to an accident which caused physical harm. If you cannot show these four points as true, you won’t be able to collect any compensation.
When it comes to dealing with rental car agencies like Budget, however, you need to be aware that you likely won’t be able to file a lawsuit except in two specific situations. You will only be able to take action against the responsible driver because Budget did not provide a worker; it has no bearing on the decisions the drivers of their vehicles make, and as such, cannot be held responsible for any ensuing accidents or damages.
However, if Budget did not properly maintain the vehicle it provided and the car malfunctioned while on the road, the company could be targeted in a lawsuit. You could very well take the business t o court if it did not notice any brake problems, engine troubles, power source issues, and more. A defective car could be dangerous and cause fatal injuries. Budget may even provide recalled vehicles to its customers, which is grounds for a lawsuit.
Additionally, Budget must only rent out cars to customers who can show that they are legally eligible to drive rental vehicles. Those who do not have valid auto insurance, aren’t over the age of 21, or whose licenses are suspended cannot rent any cars. Budget may see an opportunity for a quick profit and take the risk, but in the event of a crash, the company will be held responsible for the ensuing damages.
If you can prove that Budget were negligent in one of these ways, you could sufficiently sue for your damages. Call an attorney to sue Budget for an accident that caused injury for more assistance.
Verdicts and Settlements
Clients often call us with questions like “Can I sue Budget for an accident?” or “Can you sue Budget if a rental car hit you?” The answer is yes, you can sue Budget. Clients also ask if our law firm can do so, and the answer is similarly yes, we can sue Budget. The next question always involves the worth of a case, but the value cannot be determined by simply analyzing the facts. An insurance agent will negotiate with one of our lawyers and give an offer; the only way of knowing how much your case is worth is to regard other claims to see if there are similarities. If your injuries are particularly severe and affect your daily life and your career, you likely should earn more for your lawsuit.
We have provided some sample results to show what you may be able to earn if your case is similar in nature. You should be aware that these numbers are specific to these cases and do not indicate what your case is worth.
- $175,000 Verdict: A man who was riding motorcycle was struck by another individual who was driving a rental car. The accident caused him to crash on the dirt shoulder. The driver fled the scene and was later discovered, where he claimed that he had no part in the accident. He did not have proper insurance.
- $750,000 Settlement: A tourist came to a stop while driving a rental car. A truck behind him was unable to stop, resulting in a rear end collision. The man was unable to pull his car out of the way, leading to an accident that caused him to suffer numerous brain and head injuries, as well as damages to the rest of his upper body.
If you need help determining what your case may be worth, reach out to one of our qualified lawyers today.
Compensation from a Claim
Our lawyers can help you earn various damages for your injuries. You should not be expected to cover your own expenses if a negligent driver or rental company like Budget had a hand in your accident. With our help, you could receive coverage for:
- Medical expenses (surgery, medication, hospitalization, physical therapy, future medical procedures)
- Lost wages (and future lost income from missed days of work)
- Property damage (to your vehicle and other belongings in your car)
- Pain and suffering (fear, anxiety, stress, psychological trauma, PTSD, and more)
Don’t wait too long or you may not be able to collect compensation. There is a two year limit on filing personal injury claims in California, and we can ensure that you receive the fairest settlement possible.
Normandie: The Right Choice
Our group of top-rated lawyers at Normandie Law Firm has handled dozens of Budget injury cases throughout the years. We believe that all victims of car crashes deserve the best legal representation possible and should receive full coverage for their damages. If you were involved in a car crash with Budget rental car, we are the right choice for you. Our lawyers are aggressive and will relentlessly pursue the settlement you deserve.
Call our law offices today to schedule a free legal consultation with an experienced lawyer. All of our consultations are completely free, and you will not have to worry about your private details going anywhere outside of our offices. Further, if you choose us to represent you, we will give you our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you will not pay any out of pocket expenses for our services. We will only get paid if we win, and the fees will be taken from the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you owe us nothing whatsoever.
To speak with a lawyer about your Budget car rental accident lawsuit, dial our Los Angeles law group, Normandie Law Firm, today.
