More than 45 million people rented cars in 2019. Enterprise Holdings owns Enterprise, Alamo, and National and controls the highest market share. The second-largest car rental company in the United States is Hertz, which also operates Dollar and Thrifty. The third most successful American rental company is Avis.
Car Rental Crashes
For some reason, rental cars experience a higher collision rate than their non-rented competition. However, the Journal of Advanced Transportation reports that the reason for this is difficult to determine. One theory is that drivers of rental cars struggle with unfamiliar vehicles, which reduces their response time. Another potential cause is that many car renters drive in unfamiliar terrain. Another reason could be that many rental car operators are on vacation, so they are more relaxed than while on the roads at home. Drivers most likely to crash their rental cars are men under 25.
Whatever the underlying cause, if you’re involved in a collision while you are renting a car, follow these steps:
- Assess the situation.
Make sure that everyone is safe and that no one is hurt. Once you’ve established that all concerned parties are physically okay, head to a safe location. Don’t stand where you could be hit. - Call police.
Depending on the law enforcement policies associated with the location of your crash, police may decline to take a report. But let them make the call. It’s always preferable to involve authorities so that evidence is recorded and can be called upon if necessary. - Gather evidence and information.
As much as you would do if you were involved in a crash while driving your vehicle, collect the registration, driver’s license, and insurance card of the other car’s driver. If the police arrive on the scene, ask for a copy of the police report. Also, record the badge number for officers who responded to the call. Take as many photographs of the vehicles and the surrounding location as possible. - Call the rental company.
Most companies post their phone number inside rental cars. Check the paperwork if you can’t find the number on the automobile itself. Ask for directions about what to do with the car involved in the crash. If it is drivable, ask if they want you to deliver it to them. Before hanging up, ask for the customer service representative’s name and ID number (if applicable). Also, note the time and date of the call since you could be asked to recall it at a later date in the event of a dispute. - Call your insurance provider.
The most common reason insurers deny claims is because of time delays. So, avoid this by filing as quickly after the accident as possible. Do not accept blame or explain yourself to insurers, but honestly answer questions to the best of your ability. In most cases, as long as you have sufficient car insurance, you do not need to purchase additional coverage from the rental car company. So, ignore high-pressure sales tactics. Rental car representatives earn extra commission for selling this type of unnecessary coverage. - Take care of the car.
(If it is drivable), drive the vehicle where the rental car instructs you to take it. If it is inoperable, call roadside assistance and have it towed to an auto body shop. But don’t authorize work. Call an attorney to find out your rights. - File a report with the rental company.
Although you will have explained the story to police on the scene and your insurance company, you will likely need to give the rental car company a detailed account so they can quickly process the claim. - Call experienced rental car accident attorneys such as the ones at Moet Law.
If you fail to return your rental car in the same condition you received it, you could be billed for damages. These can add up since even minor scratches cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. We will handle all the details, make medical appointments, and even advance your funds to cover your expenses. And we don’t get paid unless you get paid, so our interests are aligned.
About Moet Law in Irvine and Ontario, California
Moet Law has an experienced team of personal injury lawyers available to advise anyone on compensation if they or their loved ones were involved in an automobile accident, whether the associated vehicle is a rental, lease, or purchase. Even though California law allows a claim to be filed for up to two years after a pedestrian accident, the faster the information is handed over to personal lawyers, the better the outcome.