What to Do After a Rental Car Accident in Charlotte NC

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What to Do After a Rental Car Accident in Charlotte NC

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Getting into an accident is stressful under any circumstance, but when it involves a rental car, the confusion can be even worse. If you find yourself in a rental car accident in Charlotte, North Carolina, it’s important to stay calm, prioritize safety, and take the right steps to protect yourself legally and financially. Here’s what you need to know in the moments after the accident, how insurance plays a role, and what challenges you might face along the way.

charlotte rental car accident

Steps to Take After A Rental Car Accident in Charlotte, NC

Step 1: Prioritize Safety First

Your first priority should always be safety—yours, your passengers’, and that of anyone else involved.

  • Check for injuries. Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt, even slightly.
  • Move to a safe location. If the vehicle is operable and it’s safe to do so, move it to the side of the road to avoid further accidents.
  • Turn on hazard lights. This helps alert other drivers that there’s a situation ahead.

Even if the accident seems minor, you should still report it to the authorities. In Charlotte, North Carolina, accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000 must legally be reported to law enforcement.


Step 2: Gather Proper Documentation

Documenting the accident thoroughly can make a significant difference in resolving insurance claims later on.

  • Call the police. Request a police report. This will be vital for any insurance or legal proceedings.
  • Exchange information. Get the other driver’s name, contact info, license plate number, and insurance details.
  • Take photos. Capture images of all vehicles involved, the damage, the accident scene, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
  • Get witness info. If anyone saw the accident, ask for their contact information.
  • Contact the rental car company. Most rental agreements require immediate notification. They will give you specific instructions and may arrange a replacement vehicle if needed.

Step 3: Understand the Layers of Insurance Involved

Accidents involving rental cars often come with multiple layers of potential insurance coverage. Here’s a breakdown of the types and how they might interact:

1. Your Personal Auto Insurance

If you have a personal auto policy, it may extend to rental cars, covering liability and possibly collision and comprehensive damage. Always confirm your coverage before renting.

2. The Rental Car Company’s Insurance

You likely had the option to purchase additional coverage through the rental company, such as:

  • Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Waives your financial responsibility for damage to the rental car.
  • Liability Coverage: May be included or purchased as supplemental liability insurance.
  • Personal Accident Insurance: Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers.

3. Credit Card Rental Car Coverage

Many major credit cards offer secondary coverage if you used the card to pay for the rental and declined the rental company’s CDW. This typically covers damage to the rental car but not liability to others.

How They Work Together

  • If someone else was at-fault, their auto policy should be responsible for covering the damages.
  • Otherwise, your personal auto insurance is usually primary.
  • Credit card insurance may be secondary, kicking in after your personal insurance.
  • If you purchased CDW, it may cover the rental damage regardless of fault, often avoiding insurance claims altogether.

Step 4: Consider Legal Representation

Even with clear documentation and solid insurance coverage, dealing with the aftermath of a rental car accident can be overwhelming. Legal representation can be a crucial asset, especially in Charlotte, NC, where contributory negligence laws can prevent you from receiving compensation if you’re found even slightly at fault.

Here’s why hiring an attorney is often a smart move:

  • Insurance disputes: An attorney can help you navigate and challenge denied claims or excessive fees from rental companies.
  • Contributory negligence defense: Legal counsel can help defend against fault allegations that could bar your recovery entirely.
  • Coordination of benefits: Lawyers can help sort out which insurance policies apply and who should pay what.
  • Representation in court: If the accident leads to litigation, you’ll need professional representation to protect your rights and interests.
  • Peace of mind: Knowing a legal professional is handling the paperwork, calls, and negotiations allows you to focus on recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I need to report a minor accident in a rental car in Charlotte?
A: Yes. Even if the accident seems small and no one is hurt, it’s essential to report it to both the police and the rental car company. Failing to do so could void insurance coverage.

Q: Will my credit card cover all rental car accident costs?
A: Not necessarily. Most credit card coverage is secondary and typically covers only damage to the rental vehicle—not liability or medical expenses. It also often excludes certain vehicle types and rental durations.

Q: Can I be sued by the other driver if I’m in a rental car?
A: Yes. If the other driver believes you were at fault, they can pursue a claim against you. Your personal auto insurance or any supplemental liability coverage through the rental company would likely handle the defense.

Q: What if I declined all insurance when I rented the car?
A: If you declined all coverage and have no personal auto policy or credit card coverage, you may be personally liable for all damages. Legal assistance is highly recommended in this case.

Q: What is North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule?
A: North Carolina follows a pure contributory negligence rule. If you’re found even 1% at fault, you may not recover any damages—making it crucial to gather evidence and possibly consult an attorney.


Final Thoughts

Accidents involving rental cars in Charlotte, North Carolina can be tricky, but taking the right immediate actions and understanding the insurance landscape can help you manage the situation smoothly. Always read your rental agreement and know what insurance you’re relying on before hitting the road.

By focusing on safety, documenting everything thoroughly, and proactively managing your claims—with the help of a legal professional if necessary—you’ll be in a much better position to resolve the incident with minimal stress and cost.

If you’ve been in an accident that was someone else’s fault, contact the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, P.C., today to discuss how we can help. 

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Phone: (828) 327-9004
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Phone: (704) 676-1093
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Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

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STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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