Handling a personal injury claim following a rental car accident in Baton Rouge can be complex to navigate on your own due to issues with insurance and the multiple parties involved. People who have sustained an injury from a rental car accident may benefit from the representation and guidance of a well-practiced auto wreck attorney who understands these nuanced factors.
When you have been seriously hurt due to another person’s negligence, contact the tenacious lawyers at Tomeny | Best. Our legal team could help build a case against the liable driver to obtain compensation for the damages you have sustained.
What Are the Insurance Requirements?
At a minimum, the state of Louisiana requires drivers and vehicle owners to carry standard liability coverage:
- $15,000 for individual bodily injury
- $30,000 for bodily injury to multiple persons in a single accident
- $25,000 for vehicle and other property damage
Drivers of rental cars in Baton Rouge are generally responsible for carrying sufficient auto accident insurance to meet the requirements for operating a vehicle in Louisiana. This insurance may exist through agreements with the rental car company, a personal policy, a credit card, travel insurance, or through other means. When the damages from a wreck exceed the policy limits of an at-fault driver or injured person’s insurance coverage, a civil lawsuit may be necessary to obtain additional compensation.
Who Could Be Liable for Injuries?
Under Civil Code Section 2315, liability is typically assigned to any person whose fault, through their acts or omissions, causes damage to another person. In Baton Rouge, rental car drivers are often visitors from another state or country who may not be familiar with the roads or traffic laws, and because of this, a collision could quickly happen. A wreck could also occur through disobeying posted speed and traffic signs, intoxicated driving, or distracted driving.
In most cases, a rental car company will likely not be liable for injuries resulting from an accident involving one of their vehicles. However, certain exceptions to this rule may exist if the rental car company’s actions contributed to the cause of the wreck. For example, if they rented to an unqualified person, such as a minor or someone without a driver’s license in another state.
A rental car collision resulting from an improperly maintained or faulty vehicle could also establish liability against the company responsible for its condition. The attorneys at Tomeny | Best could review the events and facts of a crash to identify parties at fault and build a case against them.
What Damages Could an Injured Person Claim?
The types of damages a person harmed in a Baton Rouge rental car accident can claim will depend on the severity of their injury and its impact on their life. Louisiana allows injured people to claim general damages for their suffering and other losses in addition to special damages to compensate for medical expenses, lost earnings, and other numerable harms. An award of punitive damages may also be available in certain cases, such as an injury from an intoxicated driver under Civil Code Section 2315.4.
Statute of Limitations
Louisiana limits the period that a person may file a civil claim for damages from injury or death to two years from the date of the accident if it happened after July 1, 2024. If it happened before this time, they have one year to bring a claim to maintain their right to an award or judgement at trial.
Meet with a Baton Rouge Attorney After You Have Been Hurt in a Rental Car Accident
Our attorneys understand that sustaining a severe injury from a rental car accident in Baton Rouge can be difficult for families to navigate alone. At Tomeny | Best, our team has the experience to handle these matters effectively, including building a case that establishes liability against at-fault parties to pursue damages.
You can schedule a free consultation with our team today to begin the process of obtaining compensation for your injuries after a car accident.
