You just arrived in Miami and are ready to enjoy some of the city’s amazing amenities. You are traveling down Coral Way when a careless driver t-bones your rental vehicle. Our team of experienced Miami car accident attorneys deal with this type of scenario on a regular basis. The following is a checklist of what to do and what not to do if you or a loved one are involved in an accident with a rented car in Miami.
First, it is important to know that Florida is a no fault state, meaning the drivers involved in a car accident are supposed to seek coverage from their respective insurance companies irrespective of fault. An owner of a Miami rental car is entitled to a maximum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits and $10,000 per accident in property damage coverage. The PIP coverage includes medical expenditure and lost wages and is applicable irrespective of whether you happen to be a tourist in Miami or a full-time resident of the state. However, while this sum may be sufficient to remunerate the rental auto organization, more often than not, car accident injuries result in long-term financial and personal losses that enormously surpass this inconsequential amount of money.
Rental car coverage in Miami is done mainly through four different ways, including:
- The personal insurance policy of the renter – Sometimes personal insurance policies provides added coverage to policyholders when they rent a car.
- The personal insurance policy of the driver – The negligent driver’s personal insurance policy may also cover such accidents.
- Rental car company insurance – Rental car companies are compelled by law to provide state specific minimum insurance coverage. One may also buy additional insurance while renting the car.
- Credit card companies – A few credit card companies offer automatic coverage when somebody rents a car using their credit card.
It is not required to purchase a separate uninsured motorist (UM) liability coverage at the time of renting a car in Miami, since the personal UM coverage of the rental car driver will also cover a passenger who is a resident relative. However, if you are not a resident relative, the driver’s personal UM shall not cover you. It is also important to remember to differentiate between rental insurance and rental reimbursement coverage. In Miami, rental reimbursement coverage is applicable for the cost of renting a car in case your own car is damaged and/or in the workshop undergoing repairing due to damage from an accident. Contrary to common misconception, it does NOT pay for damages resulting from an accident in a rental car.
Speak to an Experienced Miami Car Accident Injury Lawyer Today
As you can see, getting into an accident while driving a rental car can result in pursuing various forms of insurance coverage. Our Miami personal injury law firm is here to help. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA for a free, confidential consultation.