What Happens If You Crash a Rental Car In Washington?

Washington sees tens of millions of tourists every year, many of whom drive rental cars as they enjoy scenic routes and explore iconic cities. Washington residents also use rental cars when they have car trouble or to test-drive a new car model they’re interested in buying.

Whatever the reason for renting a vehicle, having an accident while driving a rental car in Washington is traumatic and painful. In the days that follow, victims of rental car accidents in Washington also have to deal with the unwelcome realities of determining how to pay for damages like property damage and medical expenses. What happens after a rental car accident in Washington?

What to Do Immediately After the Accident

If the accident was serious and you or your loved ones suffered injuries, the moments after an accident are terrifying and chaotic. You may be thinking of little other than getting help; however, there are important steps to take, even if you have to do so from your position in the rental car while you wait for help. First, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services. Then, use your cell phone’s camera to quickly take pictures of the accident scene and the damaged vehicles.

Add the contact information of the other driver and any eyewitnesses at the scene. Then, go to a hospital either in an ambulance or—if you think your injuries are minor—by arranging transportation from the accident scene. Undergo a thorough medical examination and tell the doctor about all of your symptoms, even mild ones.

During the hours and days after the crash, call the rental car company to report the accident and call your own insurance company to report that you’ve had an accident in a rental car in Washington.

Who Pays for the Damages After a Rental Car Accident?

Washington is a fault-based insurance state with pure comparison negligence laws that allow car accident victims to recover compensation for their damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, even if they were partly at fault. After an accident with a rental car in Washington, how and whether or not you’ll recover compensation depends on the circumstances of the accident and the provisions you have under your own auto insurance as well as what you chose in your rental car agreement. Your options for recovering compensation could be any of the following:

• If another driver was completely at fault for the accident, they are liable for the damages, including the rental car repair or replacement costs and your medical expenses and lost wages
• If you were partly at fault, you can still recover a portion of your damages under Washington’s comparison negligence laws, but the amount you receive will be minus your percentage of fault for the accident
• If you selected the additional rental car insurance, the policy releases you from the responsibility to repair or replace the car even if you were at fault, or partly at fault for the accident
• Your own personal auto insurance may cover your damages after a rental car accident depending on the terms of your policy
• Even if you didn’t select the rental car insurance and your auto insurance doesn’t cover rentals, the credit card you used to pay the rental car fee may have rental car insurance added since many major credit cards add this as a perk

Recovering financially after a rental car accident requires carefully examining the terms of all related insurance policies to determine the best way to move forward.

Contact A Kent Car Accident Attorney Today

If your Washington rental car accident resulted in serious injuries and property damage, navigating a claim with multiple ways to recover damages and facing the possibility of liability can quickly become overwhelming. By hiring a Kent car accident attorney with experience in this area of law, you’ll have the best outcome possible in your case.