If you damage a rental car, you are responsible for fixing it. If you take a rental car out of service, you must return the vehicle in the same condition as when you collected it. In some Georgia car accident cases, people believe they will not be penalized for repairing damage to a vehicle after an accident but fail to notify the leasing company. This is not always true, however, and you should report the claim to the leasing company in spite of the event.
Because the leasing company must disclose if your vehicle has been involved in an accident, it is crucial that you notify the leasing company if you know that the vehicle has been damaged in any way. If not, your insurance company and auto accident reporting companies may also inform your leasing agency that the vehicle has been involved in an accident. As soon as possible after an accident, it is best to contact the leasing company. There may be a clause in your leasing agreement that you have to report any damages sustained by the vehicle, in spite of its magnitude. Thereby, it is suggested to report the crash on an immediate basis.
As of 2020, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) reported 331,796 total collisions. Of those, 1,588 crashes were fatal.
When a Georgia Car Accident Occurs in a Leased Vehicle:
Following an accident in a rental vehicle as in any other car crash, the first responders should be contacted, checked for injuries on other people if possible, and you should call the police after the crash. In addition, you should gather contact information from any witnesses and insurance companies connected with the incident. Be sure to coordinate with insurance companies immediately.
The date, time, and place of the accident are the details that you provide to your insurance company, or the defaulting driver’s insurance company when you notify them of the accident. If you need to discuss blame, do not do so. When you have an accident with a rented vehicle, you have to contact the leasing company to give them information about your accident. However, if you have a lawyer, they can contact the insurance companies on your behalf.
Whenever possible, you should always check your rental agreement before doing anything. The leasing company’s office will advise you on what to do after an accident. Alternatively, your attorney can review your rental agreement and contact the leasing company on your behalf.
Damage Recovery:
It is likely that you had to pay insurance even if you were driving a rental vehicle. As with any other accident, if you are not at fault, damages can be recovered. In a fault or no-fault state, depending on where you are, either your insurance company or the offending drivers’ insurance company pays the bill. You may be able to recover some of the damages from your insurance company, however, even if the at-fault driver was uninsured. You may also have the option of suing the driver directly for damages that insurance did not cover.
The leasing company may have the right to claim damages even if you partially cause an accident if it did not disclose a problem with the vehicle or otherwise contributed to it.
How do I Prove That the Accident Was Not My Fault with the Help of Accident Attorneys in Georgia?
To prove liability for a car accident, it is necessary to demonstrate:
- There was a duty of care owed to you. This meant the defaulter would do everything they could to prevent the accident from occurring.
- By failing to avoid an accident, the perpetrator has breached their duty. Other actions that do not protect the public include distracted driving, under-restraining, speeding, or failing to observe traffic laws.
- The offense you committed caused the Georgia car accident in which you were injured and the vehicle you rented was damaged.
Should I Compensate the Leasing Company by the Amount of Financial Award Received by Myself?
If you have paid for the vehicle repairs out-of-pocket, then you can recover the cost of the vehicle repairs from the compensation. Vehicle lease companies often require you to compensate them for damage to their vehicles. You may be required to reimburse any repair costs that your insurance company paid. If any unpaid repairs were made, you may be required to reimburse the owner of the vehicle.
Call Our Georgia Accident Attorneys:
If you have questions about your case, please contact us for a free case evaluation. Our Georgia car accident lawyers can help you with everything from valuing your claim to gathering evidence.
