If you got into a wreck in a leased car in Tennessee, you need to find out whether the auto insurance coverage you had at the time of the crash will cover the injuries or property damages suffered by the other driver and passengers.
The car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, can help you understand your coverage and liability after this type of crash. Call us today at 865-546-1111 for a free evaluation of your rental car accident claim.
Will Rental Car Insurance Cover Damages From the Wreck?
If you purchased the rental car agency’s supplemental liability insurance, you may have coverage if you caused an accident that resulted in bodily injuries and property damage to other people. The agency’s coverage protects you from having to use liability coverage from your personal auto insurance policy.
Besides liability insurance, rental car agencies offer loss damage waiver coverage, also referred to as collision damage waiver. This damage insurance coverage protects you against a wreck, rollover, theft, vandalism, and other types of damages to the car.
If you did not purchase this optional insurance at the rental car agency’s counter, you can rely on your own auto insurance policy to pay for damages. Otherwise, you will have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for any damages and injuries you caused in the crash.
Will My Auto Insurance Cover the Wreck With My Leased Car?
Most personal auto insurance policies cover damage to rental cars. Your liability insurance should cover any injuries or damage to another car if you caused the accident. However, you will have to pay any deductibles your policy requires.
Your policy should pay at least the minimum liability insurance limits, which are:
- $25,000 for one injury or death;
- $50,000 for all injuries or deaths; and
- $15,000 for property damage for one accident.
Tennessee does not require drivers to carry collision coverage. Unfortunately, if you did not add collision coverage to your policy, and you did not purchase the rental car agency’s collision coverage, you may be on the hook for repairing or replacing the rental car.
However, to make sure that you are not paying the rental car agency for something that your insurance policy covers, we recommend you seek legal advice from a car accident lawyer. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, can look at your policy to determine your liability.
Will My Credit Card Company Pay for Damages to the Leased Car?
Some major credit card company offer insurance as a benefit to customers who pay for the rental vehicle with the credit card. We can help you determine if you have this type of benefit. Some credit cards only offer collision insurance to cover physical damage to the rental car, but not liability insurance to cover injuries, for example.
Do I Have to Pay for Damages If I Did Not Cause the Accident?
In Tennessee, the driver who was at fault for your car accident is responsible for the damages. That means if another driver caused the wreck, their insurance company should pay for your losses.
However, fault disputes are common after an accident. If the other driver’s version of how the rental car accident happened differs from yours, their insurer could try to deny your claim. If you believe that you did not cause the accident, we can collect evidence to prove your case.
What Type of Evidence Do I Need to Prove I Did Not Cause the Wreck?
We will collect the same type of evidence in your leased car wreck as we would in a crash involving your personal car. In many cases, getting the police report can make a difference in the claim. The police report lists important details about the wreck, including who the authorities determined caused the crash. The rental car agency and your own insurance company will also need a copy of a police report. This is why we recommend that drivers involved in a leased car wreck report the accident to police, to the rental car agency, and to their own insurance company.
We may also collect other evidence to prove fault, such as any eyewitness statements about the crash. Photographs of the car wreck are also useful as evidence, as are pictures of injuries you or others suffered in the accident.
How Can I Get Assistance With My Leased Car Accident Case?
If you have questions about your liability in a leased car wreck, call the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, today at 865-546-1111 for a free legal consultation with one of our car accident lawyers.
We can protect your rights during and conduct an investigation to determine who caused the crash and who is responsible for the damages. If someone else caused your crash, we can help you get compensation by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer and negotiating a settlement on your behalf.