by Guest » Thu Mar 04, 2010 02:47 pm
Ok here is the story. I asked my car to be pulled up by the Hotel Valet at approx. 6 am. As I was walking to my parked car I heard a loud crash. A second vehicle had crashed into my parked car. Car was not drivable and the other vehicle was sited for DUI, Hit and Run and DWLS. He had no insurance and since I had not taken the rental insurance the rental agency is looking for me to pay 17k What are my options to recover my losses.
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 04:31 pm Post Subject:
Most (all?) rental companies won't allow a person to rent a vehicle without having collision coverage or taking the rental cars' insurance. You don't own a vehicle with collision coverage? Do you have uninsured motorist property damage? Its more likely that you'd have collision coverage.
Regardless, you can be held liable for the damage to the rental. Feel free to review your contract for this info. You can certainly pursue recovery from the person that caused the damage. Is the driver also the owner of that vehicle? If the owner is someone else you can usually pursue them as well. If nothing else, go through the state and have the drivers and owners licenses suspended until you are paid. I know, the drivers licenses is already suspended.
Aside from that... does you state allow lynching? That is what should happen to the other driver.
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 04:24 pm Post Subject:
Great points by tcope!
This situation illustrates the importance of having collision coverage, given you own a vehicle. This would normally cover the cost of the accident, even on a rental car. I am surprised that the rental company allowed you to rent the car without taking out their insurance, supposing you don't indeed have your own collision coverage.
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:38 pm Post Subject:
Is it binding on the rental companies to make sure that the person whom they are renting car is insured through collision coverage?
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 04:37 pm Post Subject:
Is it binding on the rental companies to make sure that the person whom they are renting car is insured through collision coverage?
I'm not sure what you mean by "binding". They an certain allow anyone to use their vehicles under any situation. They are not required by law to make sure the person has collision insurance.Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 06:20 am Post Subject:
One thing not mentioned has to do with your manner of paying for your rental vehicle. If you used an American Express card (any color) and most gold or higher Visa or MasterCard credit cards, there is some form of rental car coverage provided by the card company.
Some rental car companies will not rent to a person who does not have insurance, others don't care. They all make you sign a contract that obligates you to the full value of the vehicle PLUS their damages for loss of use while the vehicle is undergoing repairs. Rent a vehicle that costs $700 per week and it takes five weeks to make the repairs due to lack of parts, and you'll be on the hook for the additional $3500.
So a word to the unwise . . . if you don't have collision coverage on your own car(s), buy the rental collision waiver coverage, even if the cost is exorbitant. Then buy the insurance on your own car, if you don't like the alternative.
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