Not every person wants the responsibility of owning a vehicle, which is why thousands of motorists instead choose to lease their cars. While leasing a car can be a good option for many people, it can also make things a little tricky if your leased car is involved in a car accident.
If you’ve never been in an accident with a leased vehicle, it can be hard to know how you should respond to protect your health and your legal rights. Here is some advice for effectively dealing with a car accident in a leased vehicle so that you can fully protect yourself after your car wreck.
Your First Steps
After your leased car has been struck by another driver, there are several tasks that you must complete. However, your first step should be making sure that you and the other driver are safe. If either of you or your passengers have been hurt in the accident, you’ll need to call an ambulance for medical assistance.
Next, you should be sure to call the police department and request that an officer come to the scene of your wreck. Having a police officer on the scene means that the accident will be documented fully and that any witnesses to the wreck will be interviewed. The officer should also write a report. This information will be invaluable if you decide to file a lawsuit related to your case.
Reporting Your Accident
When you lease an automobile, you will usually be required to carry auto insurance, and the agreement you signed for your lease will almost always include a provision that you must immediately report a car accident. Once you’ve contacted the police after your car accident in a leased vehicle, your next call should be to your insurance company.
After being notified of the wreck, your insurance will get in touch with a claims adjuster so that they can survey the damage to your vehicle. In some cases, the adjuster will make their assessment from the scene of the accident. Most leased cars have specific requirements for how they can be repaired, which is you must contact your insurer as soon as possible after your wreck has occurred.
Filing a Lawsuit
Car accidents can result in a great deal of damage to both the vehicles and the people involved. If you believe that it was the actions of the other driver that caused your accident, then you should file a claim with their insurance company. When contacting the other driver’s insurer, you will need to give them so basic fact about the accident, including when and where it occurred.
While it’s possible that the insurer will accept your claim, the may reject it, making your next step filing a personal injury lawsuit. These cases can be very difficult and time-consuming, so if you’re thinking about filing a lawsuit against the other driver or their insurance company, you should be sure to consult a car accident attorney.
Legal Help After a Car Accident in Leased Vehicle
After you’ve been in a car accident in a leased vehicle you need to act quickly and decisively, which is why you should consult with the attorneys at the McMahan Law Firm. Our team is ready and waiting to examine your case and help you file your claim.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
