Injured by an Uninsured Rental Car Driver in Florida
Florida is home to over 1,100 rental car companies. This gives the Sunshine State the third-highest number of rental car companies among U.S. states, behind only California and Texas. It also increases the chances of Floridians being involved in rental car accidents.
Were you in a Florida rental car accident that caused you to sustain injuries? This scenario is already bad enough.
However, things can take a turn for the worse if the rental car driver who hit you is uninsured. It will inevitably leave you wondering who will cover your medical expenses by providing you with legal compensation.
So, what should you do after being injured by an uninsured rental car driver in Florida? Let’s take a look at how you should respond.
Consider Filing a Claim Through Your Own Auto Insurance Company
Right after a Florida rental car accident occurs, consider contacting your Florida auto insurance company to file a claim just like you would under normal circumstances. They will:
- Investigate your accident
- Determine who was at fault for your crash
- Approved or deny your claim based on their findings
You should also read through your auto insurance policy to see whether you currently have uninsured motorist coverage. UM coverage will come in handy if you’re in a Florida rental car accident with someone who is uninsured without any liability coverage.
This type of coverage is designed to help injured motorists cover costs associated with:
- Economic Damages (Medical Bills and Lost wages)
- Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering and Loss of Enjoyment of Life)
See Whether Filing a Legal Claim Against a Rental Car Company Is Possible
49 U.S. Code § 30106 — better known as the Graves Amendment — is a federal law enacted in 2005 that limits the amount of responsibility that rental car companies must take on following accidents involving their rental vehicles. It may prevent you from filing a legal claim against a rental car company after your involvement in a crash with an uninsured rental car driver.
The Graves amendment can be confusing. The rental car company’s exposure is oftentimes capped at $10,000/$20,000 in bodily injury damages, regardless of the severity of your claim.. An experienced personal injury attorney can help discuss your legal rights.
Think About Taking Legal Action Against an Uninsured Driver
Suing an uninsured driver following a Florida rental car accident isn’t always a great idea. If this driver doesn’t have auto insurance, there is a chance they might not have enough cash to cover your medical costs and other expenses, even if you earn a legal victory against them.
But it wouldn’t hurt to speak with an accident attorney about potentially taking legal action against this uninsured driver, especially if your auto insurance and the rental car company haven’t been much help. You might also want to give thought to filing legal claims against all three of these entities if your accident attorney advises you to do so.
Trust Us To Help You Recover From Injuries Sustained During a Florida Rental Car Accident
Being involved in an accident with a rental car driver in Florida is frustrating in and of itself. If this driver was uninsured at the time of your Florida rental car accident, it will make matters even worse.
Allow an accident attorney from Lyons & Snyder to lend a hand as you seek to collect compensation in a rental car accident case. Contact us at 954-462-8035 to learn more about how the Florida no-fault laws might impact this kind of case.
