San Bernardino Rental Car Accident Lawyer
San Bernardino’s busy highways and tourist traffic create thousands of rental car collisions each year, from minor fender-benders at Ontario Airport to serious crashes on Interstate 10.
These accidents demand specific legal knowledge because standard car accident approaches often fail when rental agreements are involved.
You need an experienced San Bernardino rental car accident lawyer who understands both California’s complex insurance laws and the particular tactics rental companies use to shift liability away from themselves.
At Krasney Law Accident Attorneys, our San Bernardino legal team has decades of experience untangling the web of rental car accident claims. We know which insurance pays when, how to challenge unfair rental company charges, and when you can pursue claims beyond basic coverage limits.
Our local presence means we understand San Bernardino County courts and adjusters, giving you an advantage in negotiations and litigation.
Why Hire a Rental Car Accident Attorney in San Bernardino, CA?
Rental car accidents create unique legal challenges that regular car crashes don’t have. You face multiple insurance policies, complex rental agreements, and strict deadlines that can trap unwary accident victims.
These cases involve several complicated layers that require legal expertise to navigate properly:
- Multiple insurance sources: Your personal coverage, rental company policies, credit card benefits, and the other driver’s insurance all interact differently
- Rental agreement traps: Fine print contains liability waivers and fee structures designed to protect the company, not you
- Immediate reporting requirements: Rental companies demand notification within hours, and your statements can hurt your case
- Hidden charges: Companies often impose “loss of use” fees and administrative costs that may not be legally enforceable
How Krasney Law Accident Attorneys Assist With Your Claim
We take immediate control of your case to prevent rental companies and insurers from taking advantage of you. Our approach ensures you receive maximum compensation while avoiding common pitfalls that hurt other accident victims.
Our attorneys provide comprehensive support through every step:
- Insurance investigation: We identify every available policy and determine which pays first, second, and third
- Contract analysis: We review your rental agreement to find unfair terms and dispute excessive charges
- Evidence collection: We secure maintenance records, inspection reports, and other critical documents before they disappear
- Aggressive negotiation: We deal directly with rental companies and their insurers to achieve the best possible settlement
What To Do After a Rental Car Accident?
Acting quickly after a rental car crash protects both your health and your legal rights. The steps you take in the first few hours can determine whether you receive full compensation.
Get Medical Care and Call 911
Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Some serious injuries like concussions and internal bleeding don’t show symptoms right away. Emergency responders also create an official accident report that becomes crucial evidence later.
Document Everything at the Scene
Take photos and gather information while you’re still at the accident location. Your phone is your most important tool for protecting your case.
Essential documentation includes:
- Damage to all vehicles from multiple angles
- Your rental agreement and pre-rental condition report
- Other driver’s license, insurance card, and contact information
- Witness names and phone numbers
- Road conditions, traffic signals, and surrounding area
Notify the Rental Company Immediately
Contact the rental agency as soon as possible after the accident. Stick to basic facts about what happened and avoid admitting fault or speculating about causes.
File Your DMV SR-1 Form Within 10 Days
California law requires you to file an SR-1 form within 10 days with the DMV if the accident caused injury, death, or more than $1,000 in damage. This requirement applies regardless of who caused the crash.
Who Pays First After a Rental Car Crash?
California follows an at-fault system where the responsible driver’s insurance pays for damages. However, rental car accidents involve multiple insurance policies that can pay in different orders depending on your situation.
The typical payment hierarchy works as follows:
- At-fault driver’s liability insurance
- Your collision damage waiver from the rental company
- Your credit card’s rental car coverage
- Your personal auto insurance policy
- Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Determining fault becomes critical because it affects which insurance pays and how much you can recover. Our San Bernardino accident attorneys investigate every aspect of your crash to establish clear liability.
Can You Sue the Rental Company?
Most rental car accidents don’t involve direct claims against the rental company because federal law protects them from liability for their customers’ negligent driving. However, important exceptions exist when the company itself acted negligently.
You may have a valid claim against the rental agency for:
- Vehicle defects: The company knew about dangerous mechanical problems but rented the car anyway
- Maintenance failures: Skipped inspections or repairs led to brake failure, tire blowouts, or other mechanical issues
- Negligent entrustment: The company rented to someone who was clearly unfit to drive safely
These cases require extensive investigation to prove the rental company’s direct responsibility for your injuries.
Does Your Credit Card Cover a Rental Crash?
Many credit cards offer rental car insurance, but this coverage only protects against specific types of losses. Understanding exactly what your card covers prevents nasty surprises when you file a claim.
Credit card rental coverage typically includes collision damage waiver benefits that cover:
- Physical damage to the rental vehicle
- Theft of the rental car
- Loss of use fees charged by the rental company
- Towing and storage costs
However, credit card coverage never includes:
- Medical expenses for your injuries
- Liability for damage to other vehicles
- Injuries to other people in the accident
- Personal property damage
Some cards provide “primary” coverage that pays before your personal insurance, while others offer “secondary” coverage that only pays after your own policy limits are exhausted.
What If the Other Driver Was in a Rental Car?
When the at-fault driver was operating a rental vehicle, your case becomes more complex because multiple parties may share responsibility. Our investigation identifies every potentially liable party to maximize your compensation.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- The person driving the rental car
- Their employer if they were working at the time
- Additional authorized drivers on the rental agreement
- The rental company in cases of negligent maintenance or entrustment
We pursue claims against all responsible parties to ensure you receive full compensation for your injuries and losses.
What If You Were Driving for Work, Uber, or Turo?
Commercial use of rental vehicles creates special insurance complications because personal policies typically exclude coverage for business activities. The type of work you were doing determines which insurance applies.
- Business travel: Your employer’s commercial policy may provide primary coverage when you’re driving for work purposes
- Rideshare driving: Uber and Lyft provide different coverage levels depending on whether you were waiting for rides, driving to passengers, or transporting customers
- Turo rentals: Peer-to-peer car sharing platforms have unique insurance structures that differ significantly from traditional rental companies
Our San Bernardino car accident attorneys understand these complex commercial insurance rules and ensure your claim gets filed correctly.
What Evidence Wins Rental Car Cases?
Rental car accident cases require more extensive documentation than typical crashes because they involve contracts, multiple insurance policies, and corporate defendants. Strong evidence makes the difference between full compensation and inadequate settlements.
Critical evidence we collect includes:
- Vehicle inspection reports: Pre-rental and post-accident condition documentation
- Complete rental agreements: All contracts, waivers, and addendums you signed
- Insurance documentation: Your personal policy, credit card benefits, and rental company coverage details
- Maintenance records: Proof of proper vehicle upkeep or evidence of negligent maintenance
- Incident reports: Official documentation filed with the rental company
- Photographic evidence: Pictures showing pre-existing damage and accident scene conditions
We have the resources and legal authority to obtain evidence that rental companies prefer to keep hidden.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
California law allows accident victims to seek compensation for all losses caused by someone else’s negligence. Even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover damages under the state’s comparative fault system.
Economic damages cover your financial losses:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Rental fees and related charges
Non-economic damages compensate for personal suffering:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
The total value of your case depends on injury severity, fault percentages, and available insurance coverage.
How Long Do You Have to File in California?
Under California law, you have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to compensation forever.
Several important exceptions can shorten your filing time:
- Government involvement: Claims against government entities require formal notice within six months.
- Insurance deadlines: Your own uninsured motorist coverage may have shorter claim filing requirements
- Property damage: Vehicle damage claims are subject to a three-year deadline.
Evidence disappears and witnesses forget details over time, so acting quickly strengthens your case significantly. Don’t wait until the last minute to protect your rights.
How Long Do Rental Car Claims Take?
Settlement timelines for rental car accidents vary widely based on case complexity and injury severity. Simple cases with clear fault and minor injuries may resolve within months, while complex cases can take over a year.
Factors affecting your case timeline include:
- Extent of your medical treatment
- Number of insurance companies involved
- Disputes over who caused the accident
- Complications in rental agreements and coverage
Our attorneys work efficiently to resolve your case while ensuring you receive maximum compensation for your losses.
How Our San Bernardino Lawyers Help You
Krasney Law Accident Attorneys provides the personal attention your rental car accident case deserves. We handle every detail so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal.
Our comprehensive legal services include:
- Managing all rental company communications
- Coordinating benefits between multiple insurers
- Disputing unfair charges and fees
- Negotiating maximum settlements from all sources
You’ll work directly with experienced attorneys, not paralegals or case managers who don’t understand the complexities of rental car law.
Why Krasney Law Accident Attorneys?
Choosing the right law firm significantly impacts your case outcome. Our decades of experience and local knowledge give you distinct advantages over larger, impersonal firms.
Local expertise: Our San Bernardino headquarters means we understand local courts, judges, and insurance company tactics throughout the Inland Empire region.
Specialized experience: We’ve handled hundreds of rental car accident cases and know exactly how these complex claims work.
Personal attention: You’ll have direct access to your attorney throughout the entire process, not just an assigned case manager.
Proven results: Our track record includes substantial settlements and verdicts for clients injured in rental vehicle accidents.
Free Consultation and No Fee Unless We Win
You shouldn’t worry about legal costs while recovering from accident injuries. Krasney Law operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
Our risk-free representation covers:
- Complete case evaluation and consultation
- All investigation and evidence gathering costs
- Expert witness fees when needed
- Court filing fees and litigation expenses
Rental Car Accident FAQ
Do I need to file an SR-1 form if police responded to my accident?
Yes, California law requires you to personally file an SR-1 form with the DMV within 10 days if the accident caused injuries or more than $1,000 in damage. The police report doesn’t satisfy this individual requirement.
Will my credit card collision damage waiver cover medical bills?
No, credit card rental coverage only pays for damage to the rental vehicle itself. It never covers medical expenses, liability claims, or injuries to other people.
Can rental companies charge loss of use fees when I wasn’t at fault?
Rental companies often try to collect these fees regardless of fault, but your actual responsibility depends on your rental contract and applicable insurance coverage. We frequently negotiate these charges down or eliminate them entirely.
Does my uninsured motorist coverage apply in rental cars?
Yes, your UM/UIM coverage typically follows you into rental vehicles and provides protection when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage limits.
Are Turo accidents handled differently than traditional rental car crashes?
Yes, Turo uses different insurance policies and protection plans that work differently from traditional rental companies. These peer-to-peer arrangements require specialized knowledge to navigate successfully.
Can I recover damages if I was partially responsible for the accident?
Yes, California’s pure comparative fault system allows you to recover compensation even when you share some blame. Your award gets reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still collect substantial damages.
