Car accident victims in Georgia may obtain payment for the injuries they sustain. However, the process for recovering compensation is not always straightforward. After crashes involving rental cars, the path to payment can seem especially confusing.
If your rental car is involved in your Georgia car accident, you should seek assistance from our legal team as soon as possible. We can help deal with the rental company, the at-fault driver, and their insurance company. Further, we can help pursue compensation for the damages you incurred.
Seek support from our experienced Georgia car accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case evaluation.
Steps to Take After Suffering a Car Accident in a Rental Car in Georgia
Navigating the aftermath of a car accident involving a rental car can be especially frustrating and confusing. After suffering such a crash, you may take the following steps to improve your recovery and enhance your chances of obtaining financial compensation:
Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention
After suffering a car accident involving a rental car in Georgia, your safety and well-being should be your first concern. If you or another passenger suffered any injuries, no matter how minor they may seem, it is crucial to call 911 immediately. Timely medical attention can necessary to prevent hidden injuries from worsening. Further, you will need medical documentation of your injuries in order to pursue payment from an at-fault party.
Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
Under Georgia law, certain types of accidents must be reported to the police. Specifically, accidents that involve injuries, fatalities, or property damage exceeding $500 must be reported. When the police arrive at the scene, it is important to cooperate fully with their investigation. This includes providing accurate and truthful information about the accident and following any instructions they provide.
Once the police have completed their investigation, be sure to obtain a copy of the accident report. This document will be valuable when dealing with insurance claims and potential legal actions. Thankfully, our Albany, GA car accident attorneys can help recover a copy of the official accident report in your case.
Contact the Rental Car Company
After reporting the accident to the police, your next step should be to contact the rental car company from which you obtained the vehicle. They will provide you with specific guidance on how to proceed with the rental vehicle. Depending on the extent of the damage, they may advise you on whether the vehicle needs to be towed or if it can be repaired.
Additionally, you should inquire about the rental company’s insurance coverage. Most rental agreements include insurance, but it’s essential to understand the coverage limits and any additional steps you may need to take.
Collect Information from Other Parties
You should also collect information from other parties at the scene. Specifically, you should retrieve contact information and insurance information from other drivers involved in your accident. Further, if there were any eyewitnesses to your crash, their contact information should also be collected. Eyewitnesses may offer written and oral testimonies that help establish fault for your collision.
When conversing with other parties, it is important that you do not apologize or make statements that can be construed as admissions of fault. Such statements may be used to refute key elements of your potential claim.
Document the Scene of the Accident
Next, you should attempt to document the scene of your accident if possible. Use your smartphone or a camera to take clear and comprehensive photos of the scene.
Photos from the scene of your accident can be highly valuable when proving fault for your crash. For example, photos of your crushed vehicle may be presented to prove that the defendant driver was speeding when your crash occurred.
Further, photos from the scene can be utilized to discredit the defendant’s arguments. For instance, the defendant in your case may assert that your accident occurred because of poor road conditions as opposed to their negligent driving. In that case, photos from the scene depicting adequate road conditions could be used to refute the defendant’s assertion.
Contact Our Lawyers
Finally, you should seek guidance from our legal team as soon as you can. During your free case review, our attorneys can provide you with a clear understanding of your rights and legal options in your specific case. Further, we can offer support when dealing with insurance companies, assessing liability, and fighting for the full extent of compensation available to you.
What if You Share Fault for a Car Accident Involving a Rental Car in Georgia?
There are situations where motorists can share fault for car crashes. For example, someone who is speeding may share a degree of blame for a collision with a drunk driver who ran a red light.
If you share fault for your car accident involving a rental car in Georgia, then you may still obtain payment for your injuries. However, the amount of compensation you are awarded may be limited.
Georgia courts abide by the rules of modified comparative fault when assigning damages in car accident lawsuits. This means that damages are apportioned based on parties’ percentages of blame. For instance, if you are 30% at fault for your crash while the defendant is 70% liable, then the defendant will have to pay for 70% of the damages you incurred while you are left to account for the remaining 30%.
However, it is important to remember that drivers who are over 50% to blame for their accidents will be unable to pursue claims against other parties. Defendants often try to shift fault onto plaintiffs in order to avoid paying for the full extent of damages that are owed. Fortunately, our legal team can help gather evidence to build your claim and disprove the defendant’s alternative theories of fault.
Call Our Car Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Claim in Georgia
Seek help from our experienced Atlanta car accident attorneys at Howe Law by calling (844) 876-4357.
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