# What If I Get in an Accident in a Rental Car? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Check and Make Sure Everyone Is Okay 2. Gather Evidence 3. Call Your Own Insurance Company 4. Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help You may need a rental car if you’re out of town for business or simply enjoying some well-deserved vacation time. The last thing you would expect is to get in a car accident in a car that’s not your own, but it happens more often than you might think. Knowing how to proceed with a claim is the best way to prepare for the steps that come next. Take the following actions following an accident in a rental car: ## Check and Make Sure Everyone Is Okay Just like any other [car accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/car-accident-lawyer/), the safety of all drivers and passengers should be your top priority. Inquire about the well-being of your passengers, as well as the other parties involved in the accident. If it’s possible to do so, move your vehicles over to the side of the road in order to let traffic pass. Call emergency medical services for anyone who needs it and wait for the police to arrive. Again, it’s important to be polite and courteous to the other driver. Don’t, however, do or say anything that could be the same as admitting fault. In this case, even something as simple as an apology could go against you. Limit your interaction with the other driver to an inquiry about his or her well-being and the exchange of insurance information. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Gather Evidence While waiting for the police to arrive and make a report, gather as much information as you can about the accident scene. Take pictures of the damage to both vehicles, focusing on your rental vehicle first. If possible, gather contact information from any eyewitnesses, including names, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Next, gather any pertinent insurance information from the other driver: policy number, license plate number, and the make, model, and year of his or her vehicle. When the police arrive, be prepared to provide a statement of your version of events. When relaying information to a responding officer, remember to keep a clear head. Stick to the facts surrounding the accident and don’t editorialize. Embellishments, if discovered, could undermine the veracity of your car insurance claim. ## Call Your Own Insurance Company If you don’t already know, call your insurance company and ask about the extent of your insurance policy – ideally, you’ll have both comprehensive and collision coverage on at least one of your vehicles. This is the coverage that will offer protection for any car you rent. Also, be aware of your deductible so you have an idea of what you’ll have to pay out of pocket. Deductibles can range from $100 to well over $500, depending on the terms of your policy. Generally, you will pay your deductible for your collision or comprehensive coverage, and your insurance company will pay the rest. For example, if you incurred $10,000 worth of damages in a rental car and your deductible is $500, you’ll have to foot $500 in your own bills before your insurance company will kick in to pay the rest. In some cases, a car rental company will have you purchase insurance to cover a rental car when you’re driving it. Be sure to inform your own insurance company of any additional coverage you had on your rental car at the time of the accident. Since insurance coverage varies from state to state, you might not be familiar with the insurance rules in the state where you picked up a rental car and additional coverage (if applicable). If this applies, the rental car company can help you navigate the process of filing a claim and compensating for property damage and other expenses. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Our offices Houston — Greenway/Upper Kirby 3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, TX 77098 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 364-1466](tel:+17133641466) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%203120%20Southwest%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20350%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077098) Houston — East Freeway 11811 East Freeway, Suite 630-06 Houston, TX 77029 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 609-1893](tel:+17136091893) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011811%20East%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20630-06%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077029) Houston — South Loop 2600 South Loop West, Suite 293 Houston, TX 77054 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 281-4904](tel:+17132814904) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%202600%20South%20Loop%20West%2C%20Suite%20293%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077054) Houston — Katy Freeway 11511 Katy Fwy, Suite 515 Houston, TX 77079 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 909-7537](tel:+17139097537) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011511%20Katy%20Fwy%2C%20Suite%20515%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077079) Houston — Clear Lake 1300 Bay Area Blvd, Suite B268 Houston, TX 77058 By appointment only Call [(936) 508-2854](tel:+19365082854) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201300%20Bay%20Area%20Blvd%2C%20Suite%20B268%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077058) The Woodlands 1776 Woodstead Ct, Ste. 203 The Woodlands, TX 77380 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201776%20Woodstead%20Ct%2C%20Ste.%20203%2C%20The%20Woodlands%2C%20TX%2077380) Champion Forest (Cypress) 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste. 444 Houston, TX 77069 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%204606%20FM%201960%20Rd%20W%2C%20Ste.%20444%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077069) --- ### About the Author Brian White ![About the Author Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/brian-white-houston-personal-injury-lawyer-300x300.jpg) [Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a [Board-Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and [community initiatives](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/community-involvement/). [Client testimonials](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/testimonials/) highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents. 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[![The Truth About Backup Cameras And Safety](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-Truth-About-Backup-Cameras-And-Safety-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-truth-about-backup-cameras-and-safety/) [The Truth About Backup Cameras and Safety](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/the-truth-about-backup-cameras-and-safety/) According to the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), backup accidents result in approximately 300 deaths [![Back Pain After a Car Accident — What’s Causing It?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Back-Pain-After-a-Car-Accident-—-Whats-Causing-It-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-pain-after-a-car-accident-whats-causing-it/) [Back Pain After a Car Accident — What’s Causing It?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-pain-after-a-car-accident-whats-causing-it/) A car accident can traumatize your body. It may cause pain in your chest from the seat belt or pain in your arms from [![Emotional and Mental Issues After a Car Accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/emotional-and-mental-issues-after-a-car-accident/) [Emotional and Mental Issues After a Car Accident](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/emotional-and-mental-issues-after-a-car-accident/) Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common after a car accident. But you do not need to --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-if-i-get-in-an-accident-in-a-rental-car/