Say you are driving a rental car, and someone else causes an accident. Or consider that someone else in a rental car causes an accident that damages your vehicle and injures you. You may wonder what the next steps are and how a Walterboro rental car accident lawyer can help you.
Shelly Leeke Law Firm is committed to supporting those injured in Walterboro and their families. Our Walterboro car accident lawyer has over a decade of experience representing injury victims. We will work tirelessly to protect your best interests and recover the compensation you deserve.
How a Rental Car Accident Attorney in Walterboro Can Help
The decision to speak with a rental car accident attorney in Walterboro can feel big, and in many ways, it is. Thankfully, figuring out how to pay for services from our Walterboro personal injury lawyers is not something to add to your list of worries because we offer contingency fee rates. Some of the other benefits you may receive include:
- Our attorney acts as the point of contact for information related to your case
- At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our team understands the ins and outs of personal injury and car accident cases, meaning you will not have to worry
- Investigating your accident
- Negotiations with the insurance company
- Help value your losses for a fair and appropriate request for damages
- Representation in depositions or court
The insurance companies involved in your rental car accident are responsible for protecting their liabilities and assets, often in direct opposition to what is best for you. An attorney can help you minimize your liability by providing guidance on how you present yourself throughout the case and identifying weaknesses in the other driver’s case. All of these may help you recover the maximum compensation available.
Reducing Liability
One of the critical ways an attorney may help you maximize your compensation is by helping you reduce your liability. One of the many ways this can happen is through guidance on how to communicate, including suggestions on what to say to the other driver after a car accident.
When it comes to speaking about your accident, the suggestion may be to do so as little as possible, but you may have little choice in engaging with the other driver at the time of the accident.
Walterboro Rental Car Accident Statistics
Rental car accidents are not exceptionally different from standard car accidents and can happen for very similar reasons. In recent years, the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book reported more than 140,000 traffic accidents in South Carolina. Some of the common causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Failure to check blind spots
In many situations where someone may use a rental car, the driver faces disadvantages that may increase the chances of an accident. These include the driver’s lack of familiarity with the vehicle’s size and operation. If the driver secured a rental car for travel, they may not be familiar with the roads, making them more likely to change course suddenly to make a turn or drive less predictably.
Third-Party Insurance for Your Rental Car
Rental car providers may offer drivers the option to add additional insurance for an additional daily fee. Often, this insurance waives liability, preventing you from having to file a claim through your policy or pay a deductible. This additional coverage is not always necessary but may be helpful if your personal insurance does not cover rentals or if you have a high deductible.
When the responsible driver has this additional coverage, your case can become slightly more complicated. This is due to the fact that another party becomes involved when this third-party coverage comes in. You may still have to deal with the other driver and their insurance provider, in addition to the rental car agency.
Common Injuries in a Walterboro Rental Car Accident
The severity and effect of injuries following a rental car accident are highly varied based on many factors. Variables like speed, seatbelt use, and driver height and weight can dramatically influence how severe your injuries are. However, some of the more common injuries we see can include:
- Facial injuries
- Head trauma
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
Many times, even if your car’s safety features perform precisely as they should, you may still end up with injuries. Though something like a laceration on your face from the airbag may be more welcome than a fractured skull from hitting the side column of the car, it can still present challenges to how you live your life.
Compensation From a Walterboro Rental Car Accident Case
Recovering from injuries you sustained in a rental car accident can take time, money, and emotional bandwidth that may already be scarce on the best days. You may be overwhelmed and stressed by the idea of paying for your necessary medical care while being unable to work due to your injuries. One of the primary considerations in a car accident claim is fighting to receive the money needed to recover, and these may include damages such as:
- Car repair costs
- Rental car costs
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
The tangible costs listed above are often the first to be considered when considering a settlement offer. However, you may find yourself entitled to additional compensation for negative experiences such as pain and suffering or missing out on important times or events with your friends and family.
If you have questions about the process of what you may be able to claim as damages, an experienced Walterboro rental car accident attorney with Shelly Leeke Law Firm may be able to help you.
Trust Your Rental Car Accident Claim to Shelly Leeke Law Firm Today
The experience of a car accident can be physically and mentally difficult. You may be unable to engage in your everyday activities and miss out on important experiences while you recover. After recovery, you may find that you have lingering pain or issues returning to daily activities.
Shelly Leeke Law Firm is a dedicated advocate for accident injury victims. We care about our clients, and we offer free case consultations that you can schedule online or by phone. So, call our rental car accident lawyer in Walterboro today.
