Idaho Car Rental Lawsuit Guide

Car accident cases involving car rentals can be complex, especially if the rental car company is at fault. If you have injuries resulting from negligence, you may qualify for compensation. Our Idaho car rental lawsuit guide provides answers about your rights and legal options. An Idaho car accident lawyer with our law firm can answer additional questions during a free consultation.

What Is a Car Rental Lawsuit?

A car rental lawsuit refers to legal action against a car rental company. Often, these cases seek compensation for personal injuries resulting from accidents caused by the rental company’s negligence. Usually, these claims involve:

• Negligent vehicle maintenance: Rental car companies are responsible for the vehicles in their fleet. They must perform necessary maintenance and ensure that tires, engines, driving systems, and safety features like airbags are in working order. If a rental car defect causes or contributes to a crash, the rental company can be held liable.
• Failure to verify a driver: According to Idaho Statutes § 49-334, rental companies may not rent to drivers without valid licenses. If a company rents to someone without a license, with a suspended license, or with multiple drunk driving offenses, and that person causes a crash, the company may be responsible.

Who Can File a Personal Injury Claim?

You may have grounds for a claim against a car rental company if:

• You were the driver or occupant of a rental car and suffered injuries in a collision caused by rental car defects
• You sustained injuries when a rental car hit your vehicle, and the company’s negligent rental practices led to the accident

Recoverable Car Accident Damages

If you sustained injuries in a collision in Idaho caused by someone else’s negligence, you can seek compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. In general, you can pursue the following damages in a lawsuit:

• Current and future medical bills: Medical costs may include ambulance services, emergency treatment, medical procedures, hospitalizations, physical therapy, long-term nursing, and attendant care.
• Lost income: If you missed work due to injury, you can seek your lost wages and employment benefits. If a permanent or disabling injury prevents you from returning to your job, you can pursue compensation for your lost earning capacity.
• Vehicle damages: If a rental car hit your vehicle, you can seek repair costs or your car’s fair market value if the property damage is irreparable.
• Household services: You can pursue the value of household services you cannot perform because of your injury.
• Pain and suffering: You can recover monetary compensation for physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering caused by the accident.
• Wrongful death: If your loved one sustained a fatal injury, qualifying survivors can pursue wrongful death compensation. Damages may include medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, loss of your loved one’s income and services, and the loss of your family member’s companionship, comfort, and advice.

Sometimes, rental car lawsuits seek to recover fees charged by the rental company. These damages may include:

• Unjust or undisclosed fees
• Charges for damages to the vehicle that you did not cause
• Inflated insurance costs

How to Prove a Car Rental Company Is Liable for an Accident

Proving liability in a car rental lawsuit can be challenging. You must show that the company’s negligent vehicle maintenance or lack of customer oversight caused or contributed to your crash injury. To do so, you will need to obtain evidence, including evidence in the rental company’s possession, such as vehicle service logs. You will have to deal with the company’s insurers and lawyers, and cooperating is often not in their best interest.

In addition to proof from the rental company, other car accident case evidence may include:

• Police reports
• Eyewitness statements
• Surveillance video of the crash
• Physical debris, photographs, and videos from the accident scene
• Medical records
• Testimony from crash reconstruction experts, automotive service professionals, and other relevant subject-area experts

Other Potentially Liable Parties

More than one party could be at fault for a rental car collision. For example, the driver of the other vehicle may be partially liable, or some responsibility could rest with a negligent mechanic or auto parts maker. You may need to file multiple claims to obtain full and fair compensation.

If fault rests with a rental car company employee, the rental company can still be held liable under a legal principle known as vicarious liability, which holds employers responsible for their employees’ negligent actions.

How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit in Idaho?

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Idaho is typically two years, according to Idaho Statutes § 5-219. If you do not file your case before the deadline expires, the court will usually throw out your suit.

You also lose your bargaining power with the insurance companies if you cannot take legal action, so it is important to start on your case as soon as possible, even if you believe you will settle without going to court.

Should You Hire an Accident Lawyer?

Hiring a lawyer to represent you in a lawsuit against a car rental company in Idaho can benefit you in numerous ways. An attorney with our firm can:

• Investigate the accident: We can collect case evidence, including sending a spoliation letter to the rental company demanding it preserve and turn over evidence in its possession.
• Identify liable parties: We will use the evidence to prove that the rental car company acted negligently and is liable for your personal injury damages. We will also identify any other at-fault parties and file claims against all those responsible for the collision.
• Aggressively negotiate on your behalf: We can communicate with the rental company, insurance agents, opposing counsel, and any other involved parties, advocating for you during every interaction. We will protect you from bad-faith tactics and aggressively negotiate for the maximum compensation possible.
• Represent you at trial: If legal action is necessary, we can prepare a lawsuit and represent you in civil court.

Contact Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers can guide you through your car rental lawsuit. Contact our law firm today to connect with a car accident lawyer near you in Idaho. We offer free initial consultations and take cases on contingency, so working with us costs you nothing upfront or out of pocket.