Colorado Springs Rental Car Accident Lawyer
Key Takeaways
- Deadline: 3 years if a motor vehicle was involved (C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n)); 2 years for most other injury claims (C.R.S. 13-80-102).
- Who is liable: Whoever caused the crash — the rental company's ownership of the vehicle does not make it liable for how it was driven.
- If you were partly at fault: damages are reduced by your share and barred entirely at 50% (C.R.S. 13-21-111).
- Where it is filed: El Paso County Combined Courts, 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Who is responsible for a rental car in an accident?
Whoever caused the crash — the rental company's ownership of the vehicle does not make it liable for how it was driven.
The order to check is: the at-fault driver's liability insurance first; then your own auto policy, which usually extends to a vehicle you have rented; then any credit card that provides collision cover on the rental; then the counter product, if you bought the loss damage waiver. Damage to the rental itself and injury to you are two separate questions with two separate answers.
What happens if you crash a rental car?
Report it to police, to the rental company and to your own insurer, in that order, and do not sign an admission at the counter.
Expect the rental company to bill you for the repair, for loss of use while the car is off the road, and for an administrative fee — the last two are the charges people are not expecting and are also the ones most often negotiable or covered. None of that decides your injury claim, which runs against whoever caused the crash.
Legal Help After a Crash With a Rental Vehicle in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is a destination for many tourists and travelers, as the region is known for its natural beauty. Many people coming to the area, whether to visit relatives, enjoy recreational activities at the Pikes Peak region, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, or one of the many other attractions, are using rental cars. It is inevitable that these vehicles are involved in collisions, particularly as the driver may be unfamiliar with driving on mountain roads, or highways and streets in a new area.
If you were driving a rental car and were in an accident or were hit by a driver operating a rental car, you have the right to pursue compensation when the other party was at fault. Call a Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today at (719) 475-2555 for a free case consultation.
Insurance Policies and Rental Car Accidents
Renting a vehicle always involves an offer of insurance. Many people choose to waive this option, as their auto insurance company covers them while driving a rental car. Always check the small print on your auto insurance, as the coverage may or may not be available to you. If you do choose the optional insurance offered by the rental company, you need to be sure you are covered if you are in a collision. Once again, the small print can cause a problem; the rental company may have the right to charge you rental if the vehicle is damaged and requires repairs, for the entire time the vehicle is unavailable to rent to other customers.
The facts in an accident have a significant impact on whether the rental company will accept liability. When it is established that the vehicle or its parts were faulty and contributed to an injury accident, the rental company may be held liable for the damages in a lawsuit.
Compensation in Rental Car Accidents: What’s the Process?
If you were in a collision while driving a rental or were hit by the driver of a rented vehicle, and sustained injuries, seeking compensation for damages becomes an urgent matter. At The Bussey Law Firm, we take on rental car accident cases in Colorado Springs and beyond. We evaluate the details of the case, the insurances of the drivers involved in the crash, and pursue compensation from all liable parties. Our approach is focused, professional, and geared to achieve the most positive outcome.
After a Rental Car Accident
If you or a loved one was involved in an accident involving a rented vehicle in Colorado Springs, follow these steps:
- Call emergency services if you or a passenger has been injured. Do not move a seriously injured person there is a risk of fire or explosion due to a gas leak.
- If you are able, exchange insurance information, and take pictures of the accident scene, any skid marks on the roadway, etc.
- If you are able, get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any eyewitnesses.
- Report the accident to your auto insurance company.
- Contact a leading rental car accident attorney to manage all legal aspects of filing a claim and review your coverage, whether from the rental company, your auto insurance company, or a credit card company.
Why Choose The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. in Colorado Springs?
After an injury accident caused by the negligent driving conduct of another driver, you have the right to seek compensation for all damages. The types of compensation you are entitled to claim include the cost of medical care, lost income from work, lost or diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and others.
Mr. Bussey formerly served in the Air Force, and is a disciplined and focused litigator, and a nationally published author on legal strategies. You deserve legal representation from a qualified, experienced and respected Colorado Springs auto accident attorney with impressive legal skills and who is personally dedicated to you and your case.
Call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free case consultation after a rental car accident.
Additional Information
What Are the Colorado Deadlines and Rules on This Claim?
Which deadline applies depends on how the injury happened, not on what it is called. Colorado gives three years to a claim arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle and two years to most other injury claims. Missing the deadline normally ends the claim regardless of its merits.
| A claim arising from the use or operation of a motor vehicle | 3 years — C.R.S. 13-80-101(1)(n) |
|---|---|
| Most other personal injury claims | 2 years — C.R.S. 13-80-102 |
| If you were partly at fault | Damages reduced by your share, barred at 50% — C.R.S. 13-21-111 |
| Where a Colorado Springs claim is filed | El Paso County Combined Courts, 270 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
Sources and References
- Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 13 (Colorado General Assembly)
- El Paso County Combined Courts — Colorado Judicial Branch
- The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. — Google Business Profile
Deadlines are cited by section to the Colorado General Assembly’s published 2024 revised statutes. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Our Colorado Springs Office
The Bussey Law Firm, P.C.
12 E. Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 475-2555
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Rated 5.0 from 208 Google reviews — see the firm on Google Business Profile.