What to Do in a Rental Car Accident

• Posted on Autos.com Editor
• in Car Rentals
• on October 7, 2013

When considering using a rental car on your next vacation, it’s important to know what to do in case of a car accident. This article will give some hints and advice to help you know what to do in this situation. Step-by-step, here’s what you need to do when this happens to you:

1. Call the police.
2. Gather information from other driver(s).
3. Gather information from any witnesses.
4. Make note of the cars involved.
5. If possible, take pictures.
6. Call your insurance agent or company.
7. Call the rental company.
8. Write down what happened.

Call Police

Remember that the car you’re driving doesn’t belong to you. You need to provide as much documentation as you can. Make sure you give a full statement without admitting guilt to the police and obtain a police report along with the badge numbers of any responding officers.

Involved Driver Information

Make sure you don’t give any information or make any statements regarding fault to the other driver(s). Also, be especially certain that you don’t tell anyone that the car you’re in is a rental.  The information you need to obtain from the other drivers is listed here:

• Full name as it appears on the driver’s license.
• Address and phone numbers. If residence address is different from mailing, get that too, if you can.
• Driver’s license number and vehicle plate number(s)
• Insurance information including carrier name and contact information and policy number.
  

Witness Information

Be sure to talk with witnesses and get full statements from them if you can. You should also try and obtain the following information from witnesses:

• Full, legal names
• Mailing addresses. Home addresses also if different.
• Phone numbers.

Vehicle Information

Make note of all the cars involved in the accident and where they are. Include any damage noticed. The following information is a minimum that you should obtain:

• Year, make and models of all cars involved, even peripherally.
• The color of all cars involved, listed with the other information.
• License plate numbers.

Pictures

Take pictures of all of the cars involved if you have a means to. This way nobody can claim any extra damages.

Notify Your Insurance

As soon as you can, notify either your insurance agent or the company. This is very important to do in the first hours following the accident as the details will be fresh in your memory.

Call Rental Company

The rental company may have certain procedures that you need to follow in the event of an accident. Make sure you give them all of the information they ask for without admitting guilt.

Written Statement

While the accident is still fresh in your mind, write down what happened to the best of your recollection. This way, you won’t be able to remember things that didn’t happen when insurance companies or the rental agency start asking what happened.

Nobody wants to get into an accident; especially with a rental car. The information in this article will help you get through the trying times immediately following the accident if you ‘re unfortunate enough to get into one.