Blog

Auto & Vehicle Accidents

• Vehicle Malfunction Leads to Fatal Accident in Missouri; No Passengers were Wearing Seat Belts

View All

Rental Car Accidents in Kansas City: Should I Get the Optional Insurance?

The main difference between a rental car crash and any other Missouri auto accident is that as the renter, you may be liable for any damage to the car, even if you didn't cause the accident.

When you reserve a rental car, the rental car will offer you supplemental insurance. However, your own car insurance may already provide some of this coverage on rentals. Our Kansas City car accident attorneys suggest that you talk to your own insurance agent before renting a car, so you don't waste money on duplicate insurance.

Types of rental car insurance

• Loss Damage Waiver: You park the rental car in a strange city so you can go to your meeting. When you come back, the car isn't there - It has been stolen! The rental company says you must replace it.

It is not uncommon for rental car companies to hold you responsible for the value of a car that is damaged or stolen. In fact, the rental company may even hold you liable for the "loss of use" of that car or for the time that car cannot be rented because it is being repaired or replaced. A Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) "waives" your financial responsibility if the car you rent is damaged or stolen. Many LDWs also provide coverage for "loss of use," towing fees, lot fees, and administrative fees. LDW coverage costs $20 to $30 per day.

Your credit card company may already be providing this insurance. Since credit card companies often change policies and benefits, call your credit card provider before renting.

• Liability Insurance: Liability refers to what you must pay if you cause a Missouri car crash. By law, all rental companies provide the state-required amount of liability insurance. In Missouri, you must have $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury liability, $10,000 property damage liability, and $25,000/$50,000 limit uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. However, these amounts are very low. If you are in an accident, you may end up underinsured. If your car has enough liability protection, that protection may extend to your rental car. If not, you may want to consider Additional Liability Insurance (ALI). This insurance increases the limits of your protection and costs $10 to $20 a day.
• Personal Accident Insurance: Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) covers any injuries that you and your passengers sustain in a Missouri accident involving the rental car. It also provides accidental death insurance. If you have good health insurance or have personal injury protection under your own car insurance, you may not need PAI. This insurance costs around $5 a day.
• Personal Effects Protection: Personal Effects Protection (PEP) covers your belongings if they are stolen from the car. However, your belongings may already be covered through your homeowner's or rental policy. PEP coverage generally costs less than $5 a day.

Even if you have adequate insurance, you may want to consider the rental company's insurance options if your deductible is high. You don't want to end up paying out-of-pocket for a car that you don't own.

There are no statistics that can tell you whether you are more likely to be involved in a Missouri motor vehicle accident while driving a rental car. However, driving a strange car in a strange city means you are more likely to make driving mistakes. Make sure you are properly insured.

Learn more about the safety of rental cars in our article, "The Good News and Bad News for Rental Car Users."

If you are injured in a rental car accident in Kansas City, it is a good idea to discuss your case with a Kansas City car accident lawyer. The Missouri car crash lawyer may be able to help you get compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering and more. Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616.

Just Ask

Free Consumer Guides

Testimonials

• I’m highly satisfied, I would call Victor again. I needed his help, and he has been a great attorney. I’m very comfortable recommending victor to other clients. Now that I’m happy with how much he’s helped me, I’m definitely recommending him to anyone that needed his help.
• Heather was very nice and polite and very informative. Heather was very responsive when I asked her questions and very informative. Yes, she was very aggressive with the insurance company. She was very aggressive trying to get a higher amount. Yes she was very nice. She is very informative and knows what she is doing.
• It was great to work with Heather, she kept me informed about everything, the dos and the don’ts and what everything was and kept me on track. she was very professional she told you what was going on, she kept you a breast of everything that was going on, she was an excellent lawyer. Ms Heather and the whole staff at the Accident Injury firm, I would recommend them to anybody across the world, that they are excellent, honest attorneys.

View All

Latest News

• Posted on 5/15/2012Paramedics Injured in Auto Accident Caused by Speeding Motorist Running a Red Light
• Posted on 5/15/2012Three Children Killed in Tragic Accident Caused by Blown Tire on Missouri Highway

View All

FAQs

Auto & Vehicle Accidents

• Why are research and statistics that look at gender differences among drivers important? If I am hurt in an Independence, MO car accident, do the research and statistics matter?

View All

Web Resources

• Auto & Vehicle Accidents

more