Choosing to file a lawsuit after an accident can be difficult for some people. You may not know how best to proceed and whether or not you should ask for more money; you may not even be aware of what you are entitled to in a settlement. When other factors are introduced, it can be even more confusing. Accidents with rental cars could place people in awkward positions; they may not know if they should contact the rental agency or if they can sue a company like Dollar for any negligent actions of a driver. Our law firm, Normandie Law Firm, has a team of lawyers with experience in suing rent-a-car for an accident who can help you. We will be able to assist you in taking legal action after an auto accident with a Dollar vehicle.
Car Accident Information
Car accidents are very common, and fortunately, many do not end in severe injuries for the involved parties. There can be any number of reasons that two cars crashed into one another. Most often, it is because of the negligent actions of one driver. Some drivers tend to speed, creating dangerous situations because they cannot stop in time if a hazard presents itself; tailgate, which can lead to rear end accidents in the cars ahead of them suddenly stop; text or use their phones while driving, which creates a huge distraction and causes the drivers to take their eyes off the road and put their attention elsewhere; avoid right of way laws, which can result in accidents involving pedestrians or turning vehicles; and intoxicated driving, which may decrease reaction time and cause a loss of coordination, leading to crashes.
There are numerous types of injuries you can receive when you get involved in a car accident. Some are more debilitating than others, and if you are permanently damaged, you may be able to receive a much higher settlement if you choose to file a lawsuit against Dollar or the responsible driver. You may sustain:
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Torn muscles
- Concussion and traumatic brain injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Cuts, bruises, lacerations, and abrasions
- Severed limbs
- Severe scarring and burn injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Partial or total paralysis
- Coma
- Death
If you have been harmed in a car accident with a Dollar vehicle, call a rental car accident attorney in Los Angeles. We will be able to help you file a claim against the responsible party.
Information on Filing a Lawsuit
Before you can take legal action, you must be able to show that you were physically harmed. If you did not sustain any physical damages, you will only be able to receive coverage for damaged property or belongings. In this event, you very likely will not need an attorney’s assistance; the estimate for damage to your vehicle or repair or replacement costs for your items can be provided to the insurance company, and they will be able to settle. It becomes more difficult pursuing compensation in personal injury lawsuits because of the tendency for insurance agents to dispute damages and the extent of injuries.
In order for you to file a claim, you must show four points of negligence: you were owed a duty of care, the duty of care was breached, the breach led to an accident, the accident resulted in physical injuries. An attorney that has experience with car rental company accident cases can help prove these points for you.
More importantly, you must understand the circumstances under which you can sue Dollar for an accident by a rental car. In most situations, you will only be able to take legal action against the responsible driver. Dollar did not have any effect on the accident merely by providing the rental vehicle; the onus of liability rests completely on the driver who caused the crash. You will be able to file a lawsuit only against the other person, but if that person purchased a collision waiver, Dollar would be able to cover some costs of property damage. Liability coverage, or compensation for physical injuries, is not available through rental car agencies.
A rental car accident injury lawyer can help you understand when it is possible to file a Dollar injury claim lawsuit. There is a chance that you will be able to pursue legal action against Dollar if the company provided the party with a faulty car. Dollar is responsible for checking and inspecting their vehicles after each rental, and there are times when simple car issues arise, such as tires that aren’t properly filled or faulty brakes; these problems can lead to dangerous accidents. Dollar needs to provide safe vehicles for its drivers so that everyone else on the road and surrounding areas is safe, and neglecting to do so could give you grounds to file a lawsuit.
Additionally, but less commonly, Dollar may allow individuals to rent vehicles when the individuals have no right to do so. They may be underage or have suspended licenses, but Dollar might still seek a profit. You can argue that it is partially Dollar’s fault that the accident happened; if they did not allow the person to get behind the wheel, there would have been no damages.
No matter what the circumstances, you will need the assistance of a law firm that handles accident claims cases against Dollar rental car.
Gathering Evidence
In the wake of an accident, you should do all you can to gather evidence to prove your lawsuit. If you were injured, you should call paramedics to get medical attention. They will inspect you and determine if you have any damages and provide you with a medical report. You may need to go to the hospital to be treated for more severe damages. It is important that you seek some kind of medical evaluation so the opposing insurance agency cannot claim that you were injured elsewhere.
You should also take pictures of your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, the scene of the accident, and more. Video evidence of eyewitness testimony can also come in handy, as can the acquisition of any police report.
You will need to take down the personal details and insurance information of the other party, but after doing that, you will also need to contact Dollar and explain that you were involved in an accident with one of their vehicles.
A Los Angeles attorney for Dollar accident injury cases will help you assemble all of your evidence for a lawsuit.
Compensation from an Accident
When you seek legal compensation after an accident, you may be able to earn various types of expenses for your damages. A lawyer in Los Angeles for Dollar injury lawsuits can be crucial to earning you the maximum compensation available under the law. You may receive coverage for:
- Medical expenses, including any surgery costs, hospitalization fees, medication fees, and physical therapy costs that arise from the accident. If you require additional medical treatment in the future, you could also be reimbursed.
- Lost wages, or income that you missed from your job because of a leave of absence. You may also earn anticipated lost wages if future medical treatments or recovery time will cause you to refrain from working.
- Property damage, or any damages done to your vehicle or personal belongings. A mechanic can usually give you an estimate of repair costs to your car, while you may be able to value the replacement or repair costs to items like laptops, cell phones, textbooks, and more.
- Pain and suffering, or emotional damages, which includes fear, anxiety, PTSD, psychological stress, mental strain, and more.
- Punitive damages, or monetary compensation handed out to punish the defendant. These damages are often viewed as too excessive, however, and are seldom handed out. Only a skilled lawyer will be able to secure them for your lawsuit.
In the event that an accident with a Dollar vehicle leads to the death of a family member or loved one, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. This will enable you to receive coverage for funeral expenses, loss of expected savings and inheritance, loss of consortium, pre-death medical expenses, pre-death pain and suffering, and more.
Speak with a law firm that can take cases for a crash with a Dollar car for more information.
The Right Firm for You
Normandie Law Firm handles various Dollar injury cases. We are the premier law firm in the area for dealing with car accident claims and rental car accident lawsuits. Our attorneys are aggressive and promise to bring you the maximum settlement available to you under the law. We have years of experience dealing with Dollar and make sure to protect your rights as a victim. We will even go to court if necessary to bring you what you deserve.
Call our law group today to schedule a free legal consultation with an accomplished attorney. All consultations will allow you to discuss your case and what we can earn for you. Further, all discussions are completely confidential, and you will never have to worry about your personal information leaving our offices.
When you select us for legal representation, you will also receive a zero fee guarantee on your claim. This promises that you will not have to pay any personal expenses for our services; our payment will only come at the conclusion of your case in the event we win, and the money will be withdrawn from the settlement we bring you. If we lose, you won’t have to pay for anything, and we will cover the case’s costs ourselves.
If you are in need of an attorney to sue Dollar for an injury, contact Normandie Law Firm today.