FORCE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PAY FOR YOUR CAR RENTAL

Accidents are always a hassle, but it’s even worse when another motorist’s poor driving leaves your car too badly damaged to drive. When that happens, drivers may be forced to pay for a rental car out of their own pockets unless the other driver’s insurance company agrees to provide one.

The problem is that insurance companies want to pay out the least possible amount of money for each claim for damages. If they can avoid paying for your rental car, they will. So what’s the best course of action to take?

Carry your own rental coverage

You can always seek reimbursement for rental car charges, but having your own coverage in place can mean that your job will never be in jeopardy simply because you lack transportation after an accident. Later, when you submit a comprehensive claim for damages, you can add in any transportation costs after the accident.

Consider others modes of transportation

You may be able to arrange to ride via public transportation or take a cab or an Uber to work and still get reimbursed for the money you spend.

Rent reasonably

Most auto insurance policies have daily or maximum limits for rental car payments and reimbursements. This means that you will get more bang for your buck if you rent a Kia than a Cadillac. If you’d rather drive a top-of-the-line vehicle, you may have to subsidize the insurance company’s payments with your own funds. But if you don’t mind driving a Rent-A-Wreck, you could save yourself money.

When insurance companies won’t pay

If you were injured in an auto accident that was caused by another at-fault driver, it can seem like that motorist’s insurance company uses every trick in their bag to avoid paying out the full value of your personal injury and property damages claim.

As these companies are for-profit corporations that answer to shareholders, it’s their responsibility to pay the fewest number of claims with the least amount of money. It’s nothing personal — just their business model.

But that doesn’t mean that you have to go away quietly with whatever crumbs they decide to toss your way. Far from it. It’s important that Stamford residents realize that they have options, one of which is filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their auto insurance company.