It is not uncommon to resort to car rental services, whether for a few days or for an extended period of time. It is a ready-made solution to our travel needs, whether to go to the city, work, or the country. It is also suitable for our travels during a tourist visit. However, it happens that accidents occur during these trips. So what should you do in case of an accident with a rental car?
What to do?
The first thing you should do is to secure the area. This is a reflex to have in any car accident, whether it is a rental car or not. The first thing to do is to check for injuries. Starting with yourself, check for injuries and your passengers as well. If there is another vehicle involved in the accident, check to see if the driver is okay. Also, ask yourself if a bystander may or may not have been hit.
All of these actions allow you to assess the situation and react quickly if emergency assistance is needed. With this assessment, you will know who to help first and whether you need to call for help. The emergency number to call if you are in the European Union is 112. Then you can call the police if the accident is due to a traffic violation.
The most important thing is to remain calm in any case. This will allow you to control the situation and avoid any aggravation. Being as courteous as possible with the other driver will help you focus on what is essential. There is no point in looking for someone to blame or blaming them for the tragedy that has just occurred. There are more critical things to do right now.
You need to take care of reporting the accident to other road users so that they can take the necessary precautions. Because other motorists may hit your wrecked vehicle if you don’t put up clear signs, also, it’s best to turn on your hazard lights, put on your safety vest, and set up your warning triangle.
Only then will you fill out the accident report form. You will find it in the glove compartment of the rental car. You will have to fill in the information concerning you and the vehicle you were driving. Your name and surname, as well as the make, model, registration, and insurance of the vehicle. Next, write down the date, time, and location of the accident. Most importantly, a summary of the circumstances of the accident with a supporting sketch. Also, take the names and contact information of any witnesses, as this will be of great help to you.
Report the accident to the rental company
The rental company has probably given you a number to call in case of an emergency. This will ensure that you are attended to quickly. This call will let you know if you can continue on the road or if you have to wait for their assistance. This usually depends on the extent of the damage to the car, as you cannot leave it behind even if you are in a hurry.
At the time, you will not be able to know who will pay for what since it takes a minimum of expertise to be able to determine your degree of responsibility in the accident. Nevertheless, this kind of incident is provided for in the vehicle rental contract. This is what comes into effect if it turns out that you are responsible for the accident. Thus, you will be responsible for the repair of the material and physical damages caused by the rented vehicle. If you are not responsible for the accident, the insurance of the driver in front of you will pay for the repairs and compensation.
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