Car accidents can be frightening and even confusing at times, particularly if you are behind the wheel of a rental car. In the event of an accident, you may be wondering if your personal insurance will cover the sustained damages or whether you are responsible even if you are not at fault for the accident. Who will cover the injuries? Do you need to hire an auto accident attorney?

Will Your Personal Insurance Policy Coverage Damage That Occurs to a Rental Vehicle?

Generally, your auto insurance policy will extend its coverage to your rental vehicle, as long as you have both collision and comprehensive insurance coverage. However, there is a chance that the coverage limits you have won't be sufficient in covering all of the damages. If this is the case, you will be held responsible for any remaining amount of damages, regardless of whether you were at-fault or not for the accident.

What Happens If You Purchased Insurance Directly from the Insurance Company?

Every rental car company has their own insurance that they offer to their customers, and these products generally cover liability, vehicle damage, as well as your personal injuries. However, the products tend to contain fine print that excludes specific and common situations. In the event that the rental company will not honor your insurance claim, an attorney may be able to assist in defending you against unfair legal claims and make sure that your rights are fully protected.

What Occurs If You Are Injured By Another Driver?

Regardless of whether you are behind the wheel of your own vehicle or a rental car, you hold the right to file a legal claim against the insurance policy of the other driver if they were at-fault for the accident. In addition to any medical expenses that you may incur as a result of the accident, you may also be able to collect monetary damages for lost income, pain and suffering, and the way that the injuries have negatively impacted your overall quality of life.

What Does "Loss of Use" Refer To?

When it comes to loss of use, this is referring to the money that the car rental company loses as a result of being unable to rent the damaged vehicle to other customers. Unless your policy has this type of coverage or you chose to purchase the rental company's insurance, you can potentially be held liable for these losses, regardless of whether you were at-fault for the accident.

If you have been involved in an accident involving a rental car, get in touch with an auto accident attorney in your area as soon as possible.