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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    2

    Default Billed for Accident

    My question involves insurance law for the state of: Wisconsin

    Hi,
    Last year my wife was involved in an accident, she was parked legally on a road and another driver hit our van. The other driver was in a rental vehicle.

    The rental car company sent us a bill even though he hit our vehicle, there was no police report or witness, just an exchange of info. We sent all info to our agent who contacted their agent explaining they denied payment because it was not our fault.

    The rental car company continued/continues to bully us with demand for payment and now has a collection agency attempting to collect, how can they do this and do we have recourse?

    (we did not put in a claim for our vehicle since damage was minimal, just a rubber bumper strip knocked off the door)

    Appreciate any help.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Billed for Accident

    Did you rent with a credit card? You may have additional coverage through your credit card.

    The issue here is probably one of contract - you probably contracted with the insurance company that if they are unable to collect money from an at-fault driver, even if you bear no responsibility for the accident, you will repay them for any damages. Check the fine print from your contract. (Yes, I know.... car rental contracts contain nothing but fine print.)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Billed for Accident

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
    View Post
    Did you rent with a credit card? You may have additional coverage through your credit card.

    The issue here is probably one of contract - you probably contracted with the insurance company that if they are unable to collect money from an at-fault driver, even if you bear no responsibility for the accident, you will repay them for any damages. Check the fine print from your contract. (Yes, I know.... car rental contracts contain nothing but fine print.)
    Apologies for not clarifying this, it was the driver who hit our van who had the rental car, not us. Our agent believes the other driver may have had an earlier accident due to the amount of damage on his rental.(door mirror, dented door,scraped paint etc)

    The only damage to our van was the rubber trim strip, theres not so much as a scratch other than that. The other driver also wished to have no report made through the police.

    Still do not understand how they can just bill us.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    montreal
    Posts
    27

    Default you were clear

    that happened to me, a bit of a twist..
    I was in rental car & hit by hit & run driver, there were witness & police report stating the fact that I was hit & run victim.
    so not my fault yet rental car wanted me to pay

    I used a credit card ,so they paid..
    but you did NOT rent a car you have zero liabilty in this case, you can sue the rental car for damges they caused you

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: Billed for Accident

    Quote Quoting Blacksheep1
    View Post
    Apologies for not clarifying this, it was the driver who hit our van who had the rental car, not us. Our agent believes the other driver may have had an earlier accident due to the amount of damage on his rental.(door mirror, dented door,scraped paint etc)

    The only damage to our van was the rubber trim strip, theres not so much as a scratch other than that. The other driver also wished to have no report made through the police.

    Still do not understand how they can just bill us.
    Because there isn't a law that says they cannot... and there is a chance you would pay it.

    Contact your insurance agent and leave it in his/her hands.

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