Rental car accidents are very common in Florida, and they are also very complicated. That’s because there could be many potential sources of insurance coverage available to pay for your losses.
Diaco Law will help you to understand how to maximize your compensation after a rental car accident and will fight to get you the money you deserve. Reach out to our Tampa car accident lawyers today to learn how we can help.
Common Causes of Rental Car Accidents in Florida
Rental car accidents happen for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of crashes in rental vehicles include:
- Drivers who are distracted as they navigate unfamiliar roads using their GPS
- Drivers who are intoxicated, including those who came to Florida for spring break
- Drivers who are tired after a long day at theme parks or seeing the sights
- Drivers who are speeding, reckless, or don’t obey the rules of the road
- Rental cars that malfunction because they are not properly designed or maintained
- Poorly designed or poorly maintained roads that trip up rental car drivers and create an accident risk
In many cases, negligence plays a major role in causing the accident. This can result in the careless party being held liable for losses.
How can you get Compensation After a Rental Car Accident in Florida?
Florida requires resident drivers to buy personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that they must turn to in the event of a minor crash, no matter who is at fault. PIP pays for medical bills and lost wages resulting from crash injuries unless the injuries meet a specific definition of seriousness. However, many drivers from out of state who rent vehicles don’t have PIP coverage.
When PIP doesn’t apply, and another driver is to blame, you can pursue a claim for compensation if you can prove negligence or wrongdoing. In most cases, insurance companies pay for losses and damages, and there could be many different kinds of insurance available, including:
- The rental car company’s insurance policy would apply if a problem with the rental vehicle itself was the cause of the accident (examples include crashes due to negligent maintenance of the rental car).
- The rental car driver’s personal auto insurance, if the policy extends coverage to rental vehicles
- Insurance purchased by the rental car driver from the rental car company
- Insurance through credit cards that offer coverage if the rental car driver uses an eligible card to book the vehicle
It’s important to know that the federal Graves Amendment protects commercial rental car companies from vicarious liability for negligent driver actions, but not from claims based on the company’s own failures.
Untangling which insurance applies, proving fault, and negotiating a settlement or going to court can all be very complicated, especially with so many insurance companies potentially involved. That’s why it’s so important to get the right legal advocate on your side.
Getting Help from a Florida Rental Car Accident Lawyer
Diaco Law has a long history of representing victims of rental car accidents, including passengers of the rental car and others on the road. We can identify all different sources of insurance, determine which companies should be liable for losses, help you prove fault, and aggressively pursue justice on your behalf.
To find out more about how a Florida rental car accident lawyer can help you, give us a call or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.