If you were hurt in a crash involving a rental car, you likely have questions beyond those that victims have after most collisions. Depending on the circumstances, you could owe additional money for car repairs or the reduced value of the vehicle, even if the other driver caused the crash. A Lake Charles rental car accident attorney from our team knows how these accident cases work and can handle all aspects of your claim or lawsuit.
A Lake Charles car accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm will review your crash case for free. We provide complimentary case reviews for victims hurt in Calcasieu Parish and other areas of the state. We listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and know how to pursue the payout you deserve.
Our Lawyers Identify the Recoverable Damages in a Lake Charles Rental Car Crash
As part of representing our clients in their Lake Charles car accident cases, our attorney identifies and documents their recoverable damages. We also consider the additional damages they might have if they were in a rental car or the coverage available if they were hit by the driver of a rental car.
The damages vary from case to case, but they commonly include:
- Medical bills, to date and in the future
- Ongoing care and support costs
- Income missed because of time away from work
- Reduced earning capacity for lasting impairments
- Damage to the vehicle, including repair or replacement
- Other property damages
- Miscellaneous expenses
- Pain and suffering damages
We also seek wrongful death damages for certain immediate family members as allowed under La. Civ. Code Art. 2315.2. If your loved one died from their crash injuries, we are here to help.
For a free legal consultation with a Rental Car Accident lawyer serving Lake Charles, call 800-537-8185
Morris Bart Handles Rental Car Accident Cases for Clients in Lake Charles
At the Morris Bart law office, we represent crash victims involved in rental car accidents. Whether you were driving the rental car or hit by a driver in a rental car, we can determine your options and seek appropriate compensation on your behalf. This includes additional costs to repair the rental car if this is your responsibility.
We are a contingency fee firm. We do not ask clients to pay us upfront. Instead, we receive a percentage of the payout we recover for them. We will discuss this in detail and answer your questions during your initial case consultation. We will not push you to sign a contract until you understand how our fees work and how much you might pay us if we recover compensation for you.
The Morris Bart law firm has fought to recover compensation for accident victims for more than 40 years. We won 5,600+ cases for our clients in 2022 alone, and many of them suffered injuries in car accidents. We have 15 offices serving all four states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
What Are My Options for Compensation After a Lake Charles Rental Car Crash?
Our car accident lawyers from the Morris Bart law office in Lake Charles understand how complicated rental car crashes can be. The two questions that we commonly hear from those involved in rental car crashes are:
- Who is responsible for the damage to the rental car I was driving?
- What happens if a driver hits me with a rental car and doesn’t have insurance?
Our attorneys know how these cases work and how to protect our client’s rights in either of these circumstances. There are options for compensation when you are a crash victim, including coverage for repairs to the rental car and other expenses.
Believe it or not, many car rental companies do not require you to have insurance or purchase coverage when you drive one of their vehicles off the lot. There are several options for insurance coverage, though. When someone rents a car, they could:
- Use their own auto liability coverage
- Have insurance through their credit card
- Purchase a collision or loss damage waiver and other coverage from the rental company
Ensuring you have coverage when you rent is a good idea. However, there is the possibility that an at-fault driver in a rental car opted not to. If this occurs, you might need to file a claim based on your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have it. This coverage is optional in Louisiana, but you must opt-out in writing.
Uninsured motorist coverage provides the same recoverable damages you could get from a fault-based auto liability claim up to policy limits. This might be the best option for some crash victims hurt by a driver who did not opt to have insurance coverage for their rental car.
Click to contact our Lake Charles Car Accident Attorney today
Pursuing Compensation Based on a Lake Charles Rental Car Crash Case
When our attorneys meet with a crash victim, we review the case facts and identify the insurance coverage available. This allows us to discuss options and the next steps. Once we have a plan in place, we gather evidence and demand fair compensation from the appropriate insurance carrier, either the at-fault driver’s insurer or our client’s uninsured motorist provider.
We are often able to negotiate a payout from the insurance company. Sometimes, it is necessary to sue the at-fault driver. We need to do so before the statute of limitations runs out. This is generally one year after the crash under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492. However, exceptions exist, so you should contact our team as soon as possible after your accident.
Discuss Your Rental Car Crash With One of Our Attorneys for Free
The Morris Bart law firm offers free initial consultations for accident victims in Lake Charles. Let us assess your legal options and answer your questions. Our attorneys represent victims hurt in these accidents, seeking fair compensation based on their case facts.
Contact us today to get started with your free case review.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
