Member of the Colorado Bar Association since 2014. Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in Colorado car accidents, other auto accidents, and Colorado personal injury incidents.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Springs Law Group and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer, Christopher Nicolaysen, you can do so here.
Springs Law Group does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
A Colorado rental car accident lawyer from Springs Law Group can help you understand your rights after a crash involving a rental vehicle, whether you were driving one or were struck by a rented car.
These cases often involve overlapping insurance policies, complex liability questions, and federal laws that protect rental companies from certain claims.
Springs Law Group provides clear legal guidance to help injured clients recover compensation through the right combination of insurance coverage and personal injury law.
A Colorado Rental Car Accident Lawyer from Springs Law Group can help you make sense of the confusion that often follows a crash involving a rented vehicle.
Whether you were driving a car from a major rental car company like Hertz or Enterprise, or using a peer-to-peer platform such as Turo, liability and coverage questions can quickly become complicated.
In most cases, the terms of the rental agreement and any rental car insurance policies (including personal accident insurance or a collision damage waiver) determine who is financially responsible for the damage.
But when an accident is caused by another driver, fault may shift to the other driver’s insurance company, and your own auto insurance policy or credit card benefits may come into play.
Because rental vehicles involve multiple layers of coverage and unique state and federal laws, even a straightforward crash can turn into a complex rental car accident case.
Rental car drivers may discover that liability coverage only extends to state minimums or that personal insurance excludes rentals altogether.
Victims injured in or by a rental car often need legal help to interpret conflicting insurance obligations and determine when to pursue legal action.
Springs Law Group works to uncover every available source of compensation (whether through a rental company, personal policy, or negligent driver) to help clients recover fully after a serious accident.
If you or a loved one were injured in a crash involving a rental vehicle, whether through Hertz, Enterprise, Turo, or another rental car company, contact Springs Law Group to discuss your rental car accident case and explore your options for compensation.
Reach out to us for a free consultation with a rental car accident attorney.
When a rental car accident occurs, determining who is responsible and how to recover your losses can be far more complicated than a standard crash involving your own car.
Colorado follows an at-fault insurance system, meaning the driver who caused the collision is generally responsible for paying damages, but when a rental is involved, multiple insurance providers and overlapping policies can complicate the claims process.
Each party’s insurance claim (from the rental car company to your own insurance) must be carefully reviewed to identify every source of coverage.
Most companies like Hertz, Enterprise, and Turo offer additional insurance options when you rent a vehicle.
These may include:
However, these add-ons rarely cover every loss.
Depending on the situation, your own insurance may also apply, especially if your policy includes rental car coverage or if you used a credit card that offers supplemental protection.
Still, policy limits and exclusions vary widely, and renters often discover that their coverage does not extend to every expense or category of damage.
An attorney can help you evaluate overlapping policies, communicate with insurance providers, and seek compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost money, and other financial losses stemming from the crash.
When rental car accidents happen, the first question most drivers ask is who will pay for the damage.
In Colorado, payment responsibility depends on fault, the type of coverage available, and the specific fact patterns of the crash.
If the other party caused the accident, their insurance is typically responsible for covering your injuries and property damage.
But when liability is disputed or the at-fault driver is uninsured, payment often shifts between multiple applicable insurance policies: your own, the rental company’s, or coverage purchased through a credit card company or supplemental plan.
Each situation is unique.
For instance, if a renter declines additional insurance and causes a crash, the rental company may first pay up to the state minimum and then pursue reimbursement from the renter or their own insurance.
If another driver hits the rental, the renter’s personal policy or credit card protection may help while the at-fault driver’s insurer is investigated.
These overlapping coverages can make it difficult to know which insurance provider will issue payment first.
In most cases, the order of responsibility follows a general pattern: the at-fault driver’s insurance pays first, the rental company’s policy or self-insurance fills mandatory coverage gaps, and the renter’s personal or credit card coverage handles remaining losses.
Understanding these layers is crucial when filing a claim, as missing a single applicable policy could mean losing access to significant compensation.
An experienced attorney can review all potential coverage sources, negotiate with multiple insurers, and help secure full payment for medical costs, repairs, and other damages after a rental car accident.
Every rental car crash unfolds differently, and the way liability is assigned depends on who caused the accident, what vehicles were involved, and which insurance policies apply.
When an accident is caused by a negligent driver (whether it’s the renter or someone operating other cars), Colorado’s at-fault laws determine which party is financially liable for resulting injuries and damages.
Fault can also be shared between drivers if both contributed to the event, making it crucial to examine the evidence, police report, and insurance coverage closely before filing a claim.
Common types of rental car accidents include:
Because each type of crash involves unique laws and insurance challenges, proving who is liable often requires gathering evidence from multiple sources: witness statements, police records, rental agreements, and insurance documentation.
An attorney familiar with Colorado rental car cases can identify which policies apply, coordinate communication between insurers, and help victims recover the full amount they’re entitled to under state law.
After a rental car accident, determining who is at fault is the first and most important step in recovering compensation.
Colorado uses a modified comparative negligence system, which means each driver’s actions are evaluated to determine how much they contributed to the event.
If a driver is found to be 50% or more responsible for the accident caused, they cannot recover damages.
This rule applies equally to rental car drivers, other motorists, and even passengers involved in multi-vehicle collisions.
Proving fault requires evidence.
Insurance adjusters and attorneys rely on police reports, witness statements, dashcam or surveillance footage, and photographs of the scene to establish who was negligent.
The rental agreement can also play a crucial role, especially when questions arise about who was authorized to drive the vehicle or whether the car was properly maintained by the rental car company.
Once fault is established, the next step is identifying which insurance coverage applies.
This may include:
Sorting through these overlapping policies can be challenging, as each insurer may attempt to limit its payout or deny primary responsibility.
A Colorado Rental Car Accident Lawyer from Springs Law Group can analyze the applicable coverage layers, determine which provider is legally obligated to pay first, and help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage after the accident.
You may be eligible to file a rental car accident claim if you were injured in a crash involving a rented vehicle and another party’s negligence played a role.
Qualification depends on several factors, including whether you were an authorized driver under the rental agreement and held a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash.
Victims can pursue claims whether they were operating the rental, riding as a passenger, or struck by a rental car driven by someone else.
Even if fault is disputed, you still have legal options to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and vehicle damage.
In Colorado, you can file a personal injury claim against the negligent driver or a rental car company if its own misconduct (such as negligent maintenance or entrustment) contributed to the accident.
Those who purchased optional coverage, like a collision damage waiver or personal accident insurance, may also have additional avenues for recovery.
It’s important to act quickly, as evidence can fade and insurers may dispute liability.
A lawyer familiar with Colorado’s rental car accident laws can assess your eligibility, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Building a strong rental car accident case requires clear, well-documented proof of what happened and who is at fault.
Evidence not only supports your insurance claim but also strengthens your position if you decide to pursue legal action.
Both the renter and any injured party should collect as much information as possible immediately after the crash, including:
A rental car crash can lead to significant financial and personal losses, many of which go beyond immediate vehicle repairs.
In Colorado, victims may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages depending on the severity of the accident caused and the impact on their lives.
A detailed damage assessment helps determine how much compensation you may claim through the applicable insurance policies or a personal injury lawsuit.
Common damages in a rental car accident claim include:
A rental car accident can leave you overwhelmed with medical bills, insurance disputes, and unanswered questions about who should pay.
Springs Law Group helps clients cut through the confusion, identify every applicable source of coverage, and fight for the compensation they deserve.
Whether the accident was caused by another driver, a rental company’s negligence, or unclear insurance terms, the firm provides the legal guidance needed to protect your rights and recover your losses.
If you or a loved one were injured in a rental car crash in Colorado, don’t wait to understand your legal options.
Contact Springs Law Group today for a free consultation and let an experienced Colorado Rental Car Accident Lawyer help you seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
When a rental car accident occurs, multiple insurance policies may come into play, each with different rules, limits, and exclusions.
Understanding these layers of protection can help you determine where to file a claim and how to recover your losses.
Below is a breakdown of the most common types of insurance coverage involved in rental car accident cases:
In most cases, these policies overlap, and knowing which applies first can make a major difference in how quickly you recover compensation.
A Colorado Rental Car Accident Lawyer from Springs Law Group can review your coverages, help coordinate between insurers, and guide you through the claims process efficiently.
After a rental car accident, your first priority should always be safety.
Move to a secure location if possible and call 911 to report the crash and request medical attention for anyone injured.
Once everyone is safe, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver and document the scene with photos or videos.
You should also notify both the rental car company and your own insurance provider as soon as possible.
Delays can complicate the claims process or violate the rental agreement.
Be sure to request a copy of the police report, as it can serve as valuable evidence in proving who caused the accident.
Finally, contact a Colorado Rental Car Accident Lawyer to review your legal options before accepting any settlement from an insurance company.
In some situations, yes you can pursue legal action against a rental car company if its own negligence contributed to the crash.
While federal law under the Graves Amendment protects companies like Hertz or Enterprise from automatic liability simply because they own the vehicle, they can still be held accountable for misconduct such as renting to an unlicensed driver, failing to maintain the vehicle, or ignoring known safety issues.
To succeed, you must show that the company’s direct negligence (not just the renter’s actions) caused the accident.
These cases require careful review of maintenance logs, employee records, and the rental agreement.
A skilled attorney can investigate whether the company’s conduct meets Colorado’s legal standard for negligence and help you seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
If your rental car is damaged in an accident, you may be entitled to a rental vehicle comparable to the one you originally rented while repairs or claim evaluations are underway.
Whether this replacement is covered depends on who caused the accident and which insurance policies apply.
When another driver is at fault, their insurance company is generally responsible for covering the cost of a comparable rental until your claim is resolved.
If you were driving the rental at the time of the crash, coverage may come from your own insurance, the rental car company’s policy, or optional additional insurance purchased at the counter.
Always check your rental agreement for terms related to replacement vehicles, as some contracts limit how long coverage lasts or cap the daily reimbursement amount.
Filing a rental car accident claim in Colorado involves several key steps that determine how fault, coverage, and compensation are handled.
The process can vary depending on who caused the accident, the type of rental agreement, and which insurance providers are involved.
Below is a general outline of what to expect:
Partner
Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in car accidents due to no fault of their own.
The personal injury matters include auto accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and trucking accidents.
Chris truly enjoys helping clients through a difficult time and helping them get the compensation they deserve.
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I was uneasy about reaching out to a law firm after being in an accident that left me injured and my vehicle totaled. I don’t care for the idea of suing for what was very clearly an accident. However, after learning more about the overall process of working with a professional team to navigate the murky waters of the insurance world, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the experience wasn’t as gross as I’d originally felt about it.
Springs Law is very friendly and professional. I always felt that they were on my side and cared about my injury and what I was going through. I highly recommend them.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
I never have a problem with getting a response when I need them – which is not the case with most other firms. They really truly care about each client. As a plus, they always have positive attitudes, which matters tremendously when you are in a stressful legal situation.
Big thanks to Mr. Jake Kimbell and his team for their assistance with my case. He helped me through an incredibly challenging part of my life, and most importantly helped navigate through the convoluted legal channels of my case. I cannot thank him and his team enough for their support.
The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
