What Happens if I’m in an Accident in a Leased Car?

Rhode Island and Massachusetts Leased Car Accident Attorney

Any car accident, even a minor fender-bender, is a shock. When a collision results in serious injuries, the consequences can affect the victim for months, years, or a lifetime. If you were involved in a car accident and were driving a leased vehicle, you may be worried about compensation. In Rhode Island, the Department of Business Regulation requires that a vehicle has $25,000 in coverage for the injury or death of a single person (whether yourself, a passenger, or another driver), $50,000 in insurance coverage for the injury or death in an accident in which several people were injured in a single accident, and $25,000 to cover damage to property for which you are legally responsible for in the accident. We can help you identify who is the insurer of your leased vehicle and how to go about getting compensation for your losses.

Step One: Call 911

As with any car accident, the most important issue is medical care. Many collisions are so serious that the injured must be transported to the hospital by ambulance. The first step in any accident in which a person suffers injuries is to contact emergency services and law enforcement by calling 911. Police accident investigators will immediately begin evaluating the scene, and the vehicles involved, in an effort to determine what caused the collision. The police will issue an accident report. This report can become a critical piece of evidence in an injury claim.

Step Two: Collect the Evidence

If you are not seriously injured, ensure that you collect the names, addresses, and phone numbers of eyewitnesses, as well as the insurance information of any other drivers who were involved in the accident. If you are able, take pictures of the scene, the damage to the vehicles, the location of the accident, as well as skid marks on the roadway. More photos are better, as in the future, your claim could be subject to a dispute.

Step Three: Get a Car Accident Lawyer

At the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, we have recovered millions in damages for our clients. Attorney Mike Bottaro is listed in Super Lawyers, and has the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent® in personal injury law. The quality of your legal representation is possibly the most important factor in the amount of money you recover in damages.

Your own insurance company, or the insurance company of the responsible driver, will attempt to pay you as little as possible in damages. You do have rights — but only a qualified and experienced Rhode Island injury lawyer is able to correctly determine the value of the damages, and to fully understand what you have a right to claim under the terms of an auto policy. Generally, the damages could include:

  • Costs of medical care
  • Cost of rehabilitation
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage

Should a dispute about fault arise, our firm has access to professional resources, including respected accident reconstruction experts. In cases of serious injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, fractures, or injuries that leave a victim with permanent disfiguring scars, the issues surrounding compensation are extremely important.

Step Four: Reporting the Accident to Your Insurance Company

You or your representative (or lawyer) are required to notify your insurance company after being involved in an accident. If your vehicle has been heavily damaged, or totaled, an insurance adjuster will evaluate the vehicle. The terms of your policy will affect how your vehicle is repaired or replaced. Most of us cannot decipher the small print on an auto policy, which puts us at a disadvantage with regard to understanding what our policies provide. As your RI accident lawyer we will help you report to the insurance company all the information that is required including setting up any evaluation of the vehicle and helping you find a repair shop for your vehicle.

Attorney Mike Bottaro is personally committed to helping his clients pursue the highest level of compensation possible, based upon the injuries, and their impact upon life, health, and finances. Talk to the professionals at our firm as one of your first actions after an accident in a leased car. Our duty is to take action to protect your right to fair and full compensation. Call now.