There are many ways for injuries to happen while driving; even though you may be the most precautious driver, other individuals can still drive recklessly and hit you. You are also not always operating your own vehicle or hit by someone who is – rental cars are commonly seen on the streets, and many people will try to involve these rental car companies in the accident in some way. Choosing to file a lawsuit against the responsible driver, for instance, may drive someone to target a company like Hertz as well. Hertz car crash claims can be handled by a competent lawyer at our Los Angeles law group, Normandie Law Firm. We will do everything we can to bring you the compensation you deserve if a careless driver struck you, and we will fight Hertz if the company had any responsibility for the accident. Clients often have questions for us regarding such claims, some examples of which are:
- I need help on how to file a lawsuit for an accident against Hertz rental car. Who can I call?
- I need assistance on how to file a lawsuit for an injury against Hertz rental car. What law firm can I contact?
- What kind of lawyer do I need to sue Hertz for an injury?
- I need a lawyer to tell me how to sue Hertz for an accident. What can I do?
Car Crashes – Information and Details
Rental car accidents are just like any other car accident in that they most often occur due to driver negligence. It is not uncommon for people to pay little attention when driving or to be distracted by things within the car, or they may simply be driving too recklessly for their own good. In the worst cases, accidents will lead to head-on crashes that can be potentially fatal for those involved; many accidents, however, are simple rear-end crashes. Some of the causes of accidents include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Changing lanes without using turn signals
- Texting while driving
- Driving tired
- Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Ignoring right of way laws when merging or turning
- Neglecting basic vehicle maintenance (driving with dirty windows, for example)
- Vehicle malfunctions
A rental car from Hertz is usually prepared prior to being leased out, so it should be fully maintained and have no problems. If a rental car driver operated a vehicle recklessly and caused an accident with you, contact an attorney to sue Hertz for an accident that caused injury.
You should certainly file a lawsuit if you were physically harmed in the crash. There are numerous ways for you to be injured in the accident, some of which are listed below:
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones and fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Torn muscles
- Nerve damage
- Severed limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Coma
- Paralysis of body parts
- Death
Injuries can sideline you from your life for many months. Do not let yourself be subjected to high bills and expenses because of the negligent actions of another person. Take legal action today by hiring an attorney and suing the responsible driver or the rental company.
Hertz and Lawsuits
Hertz is a rental company that provides vehicles for customers. Like many rental companies, it provides a collision damage waiver (and other forms of small insurance) that will be enacted in the event of an accident; this waiver essentially lets the driver be off the hook regarding property damage to the vehicle. It does not cover liability, or physical injuries.
Because Hertz is a company that merely provides means of transportation, it cannot be sued outright if you were involved in an accident that involved one of the vehicles. The company did not hire the driver to complete errands and had no part in the actions of the individual. However, when some people ask us, “Can I sue Hertz for an accident?” or “Can you sue Hertz for a crash?” we tell them yes, we can sue Hertz, but only in specific circumstances.
For example, if Hertz did not do its due diligence in protecting other individuals by renting a vehicle to the responsible driver, you could sue the company. Hertz cannot provide vehicles to anyone who is underage, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, who has a suspended license, or who has no insurance coverage. Some Hertz offices, however, will rent cars with little protocol and attention to paperwork and details. Under the law, these individuals should not have been able to operate a vehicle, and because Hertz was responsible for providing the cars, Hertz would also be responsible for the ensuing damages.
Additionally, Hertz must take care of the vehicles it rents out. If there are any defects or malfunctions, Hertz must have them prepared. Some employees do not check cars when they return from trips; many times, vehicles have been rented out soon after when there are problems with the car, such as a broken fan belt, faulty brakes, or low air in the tires. This is a recipe for a slew of accidents, and Hertz cannot escape responsibility if it did not maintain its vehicles.
Therefore, yes, we can sue Hertz, but only in certain situations. Simply being involved in a car crash with Hertz rental car does not mean you will be able to take legal action against the company.
How to File a Claim
As with all accidents, you should follow basic protocol – immediately check that you are healthy and seek medical attention, take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, gather the personal details and insurance information of the opposing driver, take down eyewitness reports and testimonies, and request the police report and any medical notes. You should also take down the information of the rental car company so that you can alert the business to the accident.
Most importantly, you should contact an accomplished lawyer to help you win your case. You will submit your file to the relevant insurance agency, but it can be confusing if you have never taken legal action. For this reason, we believe it is crucial that you seek legal counsel before you try to sue.
Potential Earnings from Hertz Injury Claims
If you choose to sue the Hertz car rental company, you could earn various types of compensation for your damages. You may also receive such compensation from the liable driver. Our expert lawyers can help you earn coverage for your medical bills from the past and future, lost wages from the past and future, damaged property, emotional pain and psychological suffering, punitive damages, wrongful death-related expenses, and more. We aim to bring you the maximum compensation available under the law.
We have provided some sample verdicts to show what you could earn from these types of lawsuits. Keep in mind that these do not indicate the exact amount you could earn, even if your case is nearly identical; there are many factors that go into determining the value of a claim, and our lawyers can give you more information.
- $1,100,000 Verdict: A man in the Marines who was on leave rented a vehicle from an agency. As he was driving, the vehicle’s tire went flat; when he pulled over to change the tire, he was hit by another car. It was determined that there was a dent in the rim that caused damage to the tire, leading to the flat situation and the ensuing injury. The company claimed that the plaintiff must have hit something and that the company was not reliable. The jury sided with the plaintiff.
- $ 775,000 Settlement: A young man was struck by another individual driving a rental car. The rental car company was sued as well as the driver of the other vehicle, leading to the plaintiff having his medical expenses covered. He had suffered numerous spinal cord damages and his car was largely damaged.
Need for a Lawyer
A Hertz rental car lawsuit can be confusing to handle. You should make sure you have an adequate attorney who can help you compile all of your evidence and submit your documents on time. You will be sure that your proof is collected and properly organized so that the insurance company will be able to clearly understand who was at fault and what you want as repayment.
You will also be able to rest easy knowing that your case will be filed within certain deadlines. Personal injury claims have a two year statute of limitations, which means that you cannot take any legal action after the time limit has run out. If you were underage at the time of the accident, the statute would be suspended until you reach legal age. If the accident left you in debilitating physical or mental health, the statue would not begin until you returned to normal. Additionally, if the defendant left the state or the country, the deadline would be suspended until he returned.
An experienced attorney at our law firm can ensure that you do not miss any deadlines with your lawsuit.
Our Law Group
Our qualified team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm has handled Hertz accident lawsuits for many years. We are no stranger to rental car claims and know the best methods to winning you the settlement you deserve. With our help, you will get the fairest compensation under the law. We will aggressively work to win your lawsuit and will not stop until we are satisfied with the result.
Call our law offices today for a free consultation. You can ask us anything you wish about the case and we will tell you what we believe your lawsuit is worth. If you choose us to represent you, we will give you a zero fee guarantee on your claim – you won’t have to pay any of your own money for our services. We won’t get paid until and unless we win, and the fees will come from the settlement from the insurance agency. If we lose, you owe us nothing at all.
For more help with handling your Hertz accident claim, contact a top-rated lawyer Normandie Law Firm.
