Rental Car Accident In Michigan FAQs: What You Need To Know
When you or a loved one has been injured in a rental car accident in Michigan, you may be able to sue both the driver and the company providing the vehicle for economic damages and repair costs. The company’s liability will depend on whether it owns the vehicle and the length of time it was rented.
You will also be able to recover No-Fault PIP benefits from your own auto insurance company to help you pay for your crash-related medical bills and wage loss.
What to do after a rental car accident in Michigan?
If you’re involved in an accident while driving a rental car in Michigan, your first priority should be safety. Move to a secure location if possible, check for injuries, and call the police to report the crash. Be sure to exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver and take photos of the scene. Next, notify both the company providing the vehicle and your insurance provider right away so you understand your responsibilities. Depending on your policy, your personal auto insurance may cover damages to the temporary vehicle if you have collision coverage or reimbursement for a replacement vehicle. If the crash was caused by another driver, their insurance may be responsible for the costs.
Here are some steps to take:
Prioritize safety
After a rental car accident in Michigan, your top priority should always be safety. Start by checking yourself, your passengers, and anyone else involved for injuries. Even if you feel fine, keep in mind that some injuries may not show symptoms right away. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately so medical professionals can respond.
If it’s safe to do so, move your vehicle to the side of the road or another secure area to prevent further danger. Turning on your hazard lights can also help alert other drivers. Remaining calm and taking these steps not only protects you and others at the scene but also ensures that help arrives quickly and additional accidents are avoided.
Call for help
If you’re in a rental car accident in Michigan, calling for help is one of the most important steps you can take. Contact 911 for serious injuries or the local authorities for less severe situations. This ensures that police and emergency responders arrive quickly to secure the scene, provide medical assistance, and create an official crash report.
Even if the crash seems minor, having law enforcement involved protects your safety and documents important details for insurance claims or potential legal matters. A police report can be crucial when determining fault and financial responsibility, especially in cases involving rented vehicles. Taking this step not only keeps everyone safe but also helps protect your rights.
Document the crash
After a rental car accident in Michigan, it’s essential to carefully document the scene. Start by taking clear photos of the vehicles involved, including close-ups of the damage, wide shots showing the position of the vehicles, and any skid marks, traffic signs, or road conditions that may have contributed to the crash. If there are visible injuries, document those as well, but only if it can be done respectfully and safely.
You should also exchange names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance details with the other driver. If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information since their statements may help later. A written record of what happened—such as the time, weather conditions, and your account of how the crash occurred—can strengthen your insurance claim and protect your rights. The more thorough your documentation, the easier it will be to prove fault and establish responsibility for damages in a rental car accident in Michigan.
Notify your auto insurance company
After a rental car accident in Michigan, it’s important to notify your auto insurance company as soon as possible. Prompt reporting ensures that your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, collision coverage, or rental reimbursement coverage can be applied correctly. When contacting your insurer, provide all relevant details, including the date, time, and location of the crash, the other driver’s information, and the police report number if one was filed. Clear and accurate reporting helps prevent delays or disputes when processing your claim.
Even if the rental company has its own insurance, notifying your personal insurer is critical because our state’s No-Fault law prioritizes your own PIP coverage for medical expenses and lost wages. Your insurance company can also guide you through the claims process, coordinate with the rental company and the at-fault driver’s insurer, and explain your responsibilities under your policy. By reporting the crash promptly, you protect your rights, ensure coverage is applied correctly, and help make the claims process smoother and faster.
Contact the rental company
After a rental car accident in Michigan, you should contact the company who provided the vehicle as soon as possible to report what happened. Most agreements require immediate notice, and failing to do so could affect your coverage or create additional costs. When you call, be ready to provide details such as the time and location of the crash, the names of all drivers involved, and the police report number if one was filed. The company who provided the vehicle will explain next steps, which may include arranging for towing, repairs, or a replacement vehicle.
It’s also important to review your vehicle agreement, since it often outlines your responsibilities in a crash. Some contracts require you to complete a crash report form for the company who provided the vehicle, and they may also coordinate with your insurance provider to determine financial responsibility. Promptly notifying the company helps protect your rights, ensures you follow state law and the terms of your vehicle agreement, and allows the claims process to move forward more smoothly.
Consult a lawyer for legal advice
After a rental car accident in Michigan, it’s wise to consult with one of our experienced lawyers right away. Claims on rented vehicles can be more complicated than regular crashes because they often involve multiple insurance policies—your personal auto insurance, the vehicle provider’s coverage, and possibly the at-fault driver’s insurer. Our attorneys can sort through these layers, explain your rights under the No-Fault law, and make sure you don’t get stuck paying for damages or medical bills that should be covered.
Our lawyers at Michigan Auto Law have decades of experience handling rental car accident cases across the state. We know how to deal with insurance companies, protect you from unfair tactics, and ensure all claims are filed correctly and on time. By contacting us early, you’ll have an advocate who can guide you through the legal process, secure the evidence you need, and fight for the full compensation you deserve—so you can focus on healing while we handle the rest.
Can I recover pain and suffering compensation after a rental car accident in Michigan?
In Michigan, you can recover pain and suffering compensation if you were injured in a rental car accident that was not your fault. You will first need to prove that the driver of the rented vehicle was at-fault and that your injuries caused you to suffer a “serious impairment of body function” under Michigan’s bodily injury threshold law.
In a lawsuit for pain and suffering compensation, you may also be able to recover “excess” No-Fault benefits to cover medical bills and lost wages that are not otherwise covered by your auto insurance policy or that exceed the PIP cap of the amount of No-Fault PIP insurance you had selected prior to your automobile crash.
Proving that the driver of the rented vehicle was at fault is required under our state’s auto law to establish negligence. This means showing that the driver caused the crash by failing to exercise the “ordinary care” that a reasonably careful driver would use in similar circumstances.
Proving that you suffered a “serious impairment of body function” means showing that your injuries impaired a “an important body function” which affected your “general ability to lead” your normal life. (MCL 500.3135(5))
Under our state’s unique No-Fault auto insurance law, automobile crash victims can only sue for pain and suffering compensation if they have suffered a “serious impairment of body function.” This is the legal tort threshold to recover for “noneconomic” damages.
Who is responsible for a rental car in an accident in Michigan?
The parties who may be responsible for a rental car accident in Michigan include the driver and, in some cases, the company providing the vehicle. A factual analysis should consider: (1) the company’s liability coverage; and (2) the lease terms and duration of use.
If the negligent driver who caused the crash has their own auto insurance policy, the liability coverage in that policy will typically provide protection. The same applies if the driver does not have their own policy but a resident relative of the driver does. In either case, the availability of coverage will depend on the specific terms and conditions of the insurance policy.
Additionally, if the driver purchased “supplemental liability protection” when obtaining the vehicle, this coverage can provide an additional source of liability protection. This type of coverage is commonly offered with a $1 million limit.
Under our state’s “owner liability” law, the company providing the vehicle may be held liable along with the driver for injuries caused by the driver’s negligence. (MCL 257.401(1)) The company’s liability as an “owner” applies as long as the vehicle was leased for 30 days or less and the driver was an “authorized driver” under the lease agreement (or a member of the authorized driver’s immediate family). (MCL 257.401(3))
Importantly, the company providing the vehicle is often only liable up to $20,000/$40,000 unless it can be shown that the company was negligent in allowing the driver to use the vehicle, or the lease or contract specifically includes higher liability insurance limits. (MCL 257.401(3))
Do I file a claim under my own insurance after a rental car accident in Michigan?
If you’re involved in a rental car accident in Michigan, you will usually start by filing a claim under your own auto insurance policy. Our state is a No-Fault insurance state, which means your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits cover your medical expenses and lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. If you have collision coverage, it may also apply to damage to the temporary vehicle, depending on your policy.
At the same time, the company who rented you the vehicle may require you to report the crash and file a claim through their insurance. If another driver was at fault, their insurance may ultimately be responsible for property damage or injury claims beyond your No-Fault benefits. Because these cases often involve multiple layers of coverage—your insurance, the company’s policy who provided the vehicle, and possibly the at-fault driver’s insurer—it’s best to notify all parties promptly and consult one of our lawyers to make sure your rights and finances are protected.
What happens if I have collision coverage on my own personal auto insurance and also purchased the optional rental reimbursement coverage?
If you have collision coverage on your personal auto insurance and purchased the optional vehicle reimbursement coverage, you can file a claim under your own policy after a rental car accident in Michigan. Collision coverage may pay for damage to the vehicle, while reimbursement coverage can cover the cost of a replacement vehicle while repairs are being made.
Even if another driver caused the crash, their liability insurance may also be responsible for property damage and certain claims, but using your own coverage can help speed up repairs and get you back on the road. Be sure to notify both your insurance company and the vehicle provider as soon as possible. Consulting one of our lawyers can also help ensure your rights are fully protected and the claims process proceeds smoothly.
Can I get No-Fault benefits after a rental car accident in Michigan?
After a rental car accident in Michigan, you may be able to recover No-Fault benefits to pay your crash-related medical bills and lost wages. Within one (1) year of the crash, you must file an application for No-Fault benefits with the responsible auto insurance company.
The responsible auto insurer may be your own or the insurance company for your spouse or a relative who lives in your home. If coverage is not available from any of those sources, then you will need to apply for benefits through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
The 1-year filing deadline for the application for No-Fault benefits is very, very important. If you do not file on time, then your rights to collect No-Fault benefits will be terminated. You will be prohibited from making a claim and/or suing the insurance company. This deadline must be complied with.
In addition to paying your medical bills and reimbursing you for wages you lost out on because your injuries disabled you from returning to work, No-Fault PIP benefits will also cover your transportation costs for traveling to and from your medical appointments and attendant care services.
However, the amount of benefits you are able to recover for after a crash will depend on the No-Fault medical benefits coverage level selected in the policy through which you are claiming benefits.
Who pays for your vehicle damage?
When your vehicle has been damaged in a rental car accident in Michigan, your vehicle damage repair costs may be covered by your own collision coverage insurance. You may be able to recover up to $3,000 (for damages not covered by your insurance) from the at-fault driver or vehicle owner under the Michigan mini tort law.
What should you do after a rental car accident in Michigan?
Both you and the driver of the rented vehicle need to stop at the scene of the crash and exchange information. Our state law requires it. Failure to do so can lead to criminal charges for hit and run. At the scene, you must exchange information including your driver’s license number, proof of insurance, and contact information for the vehicle owners.
Importantly, you and the driver who rented the vehicle are legally required to assist in securing medical aid for anyone who was injured in the crash. (MCL 257.619(c))
Who should I tell about my injuries?
Make sure you report all of your injuries to the first responders at the scene of your rental car accident in Michigan and to all of the medical personnel you encounter at the emergency room. This will ensure that you receive prompt and necessary medical attention. Reporting all of your injuries as close in time to the date of your crash will also make it harder for an insurance company to deny that your injuries were caused by the crash if your claim is later contested or disputed.
Why hire the lawyers at Michigan Auto Law if injured in a rental car accident?
If you’re injured in a rental car accident, hiring the lawyers at Michigan Auto Law ensures you have experienced advocates on your side from the start. Our attorneys understand the complexities of our state’s No-Fault insurance system, including how it applies to personal coverage, liability claims, and crashes involving rented vehicles. We know how to navigate multiple layers of insurance—your policy, the vehicle provider’s coverage, and the at-fault driver’s insurer—to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Our team has a proven track record of negotiating the largest settlements in the state while handling all the legal details so you can focus on recovery. We are compassionate, responsive, and keep clients informed every step of the way, making sure deadlines are met, evidence is preserved, and claims are handled efficiently. With our Michigan Auto Law, you get trusted, experienced lawyers dedicated to maximizing your recovery after a rental car accident.
Were you injured in a rental car accident in Michigan? Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law
If you or a loved one was injured in a rental car accident in Michigan, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.
Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in automobile crashes.
Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms. This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.
Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions.
We have more than 3,000 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.
More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle crashes than any other lawyer or law firm in the state. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck crash and car crash settlement in the state.
Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.