Maison Law can represent you if you’ve been injured in a rental car accident in California. You don’t want to be involved in a car accident under any circumstances, but especially if it involves a rental car. This can make the situation more complex, but you can turn to our team for support. Contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your options.
When Do You Need a Lawyer?
Even though you don’t want to be involved in a Avis rental car accident, it’s something that unfortunately happens. So, when it does, you need to be prepared. Part of that means figuring out if you need a lawyer or not.
It all depends on your situation. If your injuries are minor, you probably don’t need a lawyer. However, in the event that your injuries or accident is more severe, you’ll need more help. Our team can step in and provide you with vital legal support by:
- Explaining your rights and options
- Investigating what happened and who’s responsible
- Talking with rental companies and their insurance providers
- Evaluating your damages
- Making the legal process easier for you
Even though legally they’re like any other car crash, rental car accidents can be different. So, having someone experienced helping you can make things smoother. But first, you need to figure out who or what caused the accident.
What’s the Claims Process When There’s an Avis Car Accident?
The main legal protection you have as it relates to any car accident–even one with an Avis rental car–is being able to file an injury claim and recover certain “damages.” This is a legal term for the losses associated with your injuries and other damage from the accident itself. You usually have two options to get compensation for these damages:
- Filing an insurance claim
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
Procedurally, both options progress in much the same way once the claim is filed. There’s a period of investigation and trading evidence back and forth to establish what happened and who’s responsible. Then, it moves to a negotiation stage and ends with an offer to resolve things. This is either an insurance settlement or a jury verdict, but it can help you get financial support for things like:
- Medical expenses – This covers the cost of treating your injuries, including hospital bills, doctor visits, medications, and therapy, both now and in the future.
- Lost wages – If you can’t work because of your injuries, you can ask for financial support to make up for the income you’ve lost and what you might lose in the future.
- Pain and suffering – You can recover financial support for the physical and emotional pain caused by the accident, including anxiety, depression, and how your life has changed.
- Loss of enjoyment of life or companionship – If the accident affects your relationships or how you live, you can ask for support.
You can claim these damages in a car accident, but what you get depends on your specific situation. When Avis is involved, it adds other considerations to the process. But the opening step is the same, figuring out who pays for these damages.
Is Avis Responsible For a Car Accident?
When Avis provides one of their cars to a renter, it raises interesting questions when there’s a subsequent accident. Basically, though, the same standard for this legal responsibility still applies, namely it involves negligence.
When you rent a car from Avis, you’re expected to drive safely, just like any other driver on the road. This means avoiding things like:
- Driving drunk or on drugs
- Speeding or driving recklessly
- Getting distracted while driving
- Driving when you’re too tired
- Not following traffic rules or signs
If a driver does any of these things and causes an accident, they’re considered negligent, which means they’re responsible for the accident. But Avis, as the rental company, might also share some of the blame.
This is called “vicarious liability.” It means that even though Avis didn’t cause the accident, they could still be responsible because they rented the car out. Here are some things to consider:
- Who’s allowed to drive – Only the person who rented the car or added an approved driver can drive it. If someone else drives, the rental agreement might not cover them.
- When and where you can drive – The agreement says when and where you can use the car. If you go beyond these limits, Avis might not be responsible.
- Following traffic rules – You have to follow all the traffic rules when using Avis. Breaking them might change who’s to blame for any problems.
- Things you can’t do – The agreement lists things you’re not allowed to do, like driving drunk or doing other illegal activities. If you break these rules, Avis might not be responsible.
- Reporting accidents – If there’s an accident, you have to tell Avis right away and follow their rules. Not doing this could change who’s responsible.
In most accidents involving an Avis car, both the driver and Avis could share the blame. But others could also be involved, like third drivers, local governments, or even the car manufacturers themselves. So, it’s important to know what you can do to bolster your claim if you’re involved in one of these accidents.
What Can You Do to Bolster Your Claim?
The thing about being in an accident with an Avis rental car is that it doesn’t really change the nature of the car accident itself. You’re just as likely to get hurt driving an Avis rental car as you would be driving your own car–and can still experience the same range of injuries.
Ultimately, though, it’s on you to show the extent of your damages and do what you can to bolster your claim. This means responding to the accident in the right way. Here’s what you can do:
- Make sure everyone is okay – First, check if anyone is hurt, including yourself and your passengers. If anyone’s hurt, call an ambulance and get medical help.
- Call the police – Report the accident to the police so there’s an official record of what happened.
- Tell Avis about the accident – If you’re driving your own car, get information about the Avis car, then report the accident to them. They will then go through their own process for dealing with the accident.
- Talk to witnesses – If there were people who saw the accident, ask them what they saw and get their contact information.
- Take pictures – Use your phone to take photos and videos of the accident scene to show how bad it was.
- Exchange information – Share your contact and insurance details with the other people involved in the accident.
- Check rental details – If you rented the car, get proof that you were allowed to use it and any other rental info you can find.
Again, just because you don’t want to be in an accident with an Avis rental car doesn’t mean it won’t happen. So, taking these steps will make sure you’re prepared for whatever comes after. And our team will be there to help you throughout this process.
Contact Maison Law After an Avis Car Accident in California
At Maison Law, our main aim is making sure our clients are happy. If you’ve been injured in a car accident involving an Avis rental car, you can rely on our knowledge and advice. Our experienced California rental car accident lawyers have extensive experience handling these cases, and can make sure you have what you need.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident with an Avis car or vehicle, contact us today for a free consultation.
