WeekendTraveler

Recently I was driving a rental car and was hit: another driver changed lanes and sideswiped my rented car. I'm paying the rental car company myself (as I received a bill for the damage).

I understand (based on what the rental car agent told me and what I have found online) that I am not at fault, since the driver who did an "unsafe lane change" and sideswiped me is pretty much automatically at fault.

I'm trying to decide between following up to submit the claim to my World Master Card rental car accident protection benefit coverage OR suing the other driver in small claims court. The repairs that I'm paying for are smaller than I expected (total of under $1200), but I'm concerned that at some point I'll have a bigger accident.

Does World Master Card limit rental car accident coverage if someone submits too many claims, or if someone submits more than a certain number of claims in a specified period? I've only had 2 accidents in 30 years, and both involved people running into me in slow traffic, but I need to plan for something worse happening.

Thanks.

channa

Why would you need to sue the other driver? Is their insurance not taking responsibility? What state was this in?

I wouldn't pay anything yet...that will cause problems if the car rental co. is charging above accepted reimbursements.

WeekendTraveler

Thanks. This all occurred in New Jersey.

I don�t want the rental car company to view me as a problem customer, as I rent cars from it maybe 20 times a year, and I don�t want a delinquent debt reported, affecting my credit score. So I�d like to settle up and get the rental car company paid ASAP.

I also don�t want a $1200 claim to reduce my coverage in the future from World MasterCard.

The other driver has Geico insurance, which I understand often won�t pay unless it loses in court.

So I�m considering suing the other driver in small claims court, getting repaid that way and letting the other driver deal with the other driver�s insurance company.

MSPeconomist

IANAL but if yo sue the other driver, wouldn't their insurance company cover them by sending the insurance company's own lawyers, etc.? In other words, wouldn't you still be dealing with Geico yourself, and not even having your own insurance deal with it for you?

jags86

I’ve only used my rental car coverage once, and it was with a Visa card, but my experience was that I paid the rental car company for the damage upon return of the vehicle and then I filed an insurance claim with the credit cards claims company. I received a check from the CC insurance company reimbursing me for what I paid out about 4 weeks later. This worked out great for me because I essentially got $3000 of spend on my credit card in a travel category.

I would assume it would be the same with Mastercard.

mia

Please follow discussion in National Car Rental forum:

Hit (not at fault) while driving rented National car: next steps?