Q: Wanted advice on rental car accident
I’m an Indian master’s student at Pittsburg State University. I recently had a rough experience and could really use some advice and support.
In May, I rented a car from Enterprise and took full collision insurance. After 5pm one day, I got my periods and couldn't drive. I handed the car over to my boyfriend, an exchange student, who wasn’t listed as an additional driver. Unfortunately, we were involved in an accident. The car was hit on the passenger side where I was sitting, the door wouldn't open, and the engine couldn’t be restarted. Surprisingly, the airbags didn’t deploy either.
Today, I received a bill for $22,000 from the insurance company. They calculated the car’s market value at $27,000 and scrapped it for $8,200, leaving me responsible for the $22,000 because my boyfriend wasn’t listed as a driver, voiding the insurance. We are both students and simply don’t have that kind of money.
any recommendations on what we can do in this situation?
A: Several things need to be examined here. Was your boyfriend at fault? Was he covered under any other possible policy? What are the exact terms of your personal car insurance? We would be happy to discuss these items with you further if you would like. Legal help should be accessed sooner than later.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
