Can a Rental Car Company Be Liable for an Accident?

When a car accident occurs, it is a commonly held assumption that the driver of the car is the only party that can be held liable. This is not always the case, as it may be possible for another party aside from the aforementioned, to be found responsible. One such example is a rental car company whose vehicle was driven by someone they rented to, and was subsequently involved in an accident.

A rental car company may be found negligent in certain situations. One possible scenario is that the company failed to properly screen a renter when they may have known or ought to have known that the renter lacked skills or training to drive. Another possibility is that the vehicle was not in good working order, and the company still rented it out when they should have known it was not up to reasonable standards. Also, if a car is not roadworthy due to improper maintenance, a rental company could be found partially liable for an accident.

Accordingly, these accusations cannot be based on mere suspicion. Proving that these factors were not only present, but that the company knew or ought to have known of their existence on the date of the accident is no easy task. Obtaining information on the renter screening process, condition of the car, scheduled maintenance and other contributing factors is not easily accessible to the general public.

In order to determine if a rental car company was negligent in any way, and vicariously liable for the negligence of their driver, it would be most advantageous to have a competent and professional expert analyze the facts. Seeking out legal expertise allows for the discovery of other parties who may be liable for an accident. At Grillo Law P.C., our legal experts can direct and guide you when you are involved in a car accident, and are seeking damages for your injuries.