More and more Americans are leasing cars these days. Even if you can afford a big down payment on a new vehicle, you may wish to lease instead simply so you have the option to easily upgrade to the latest model after your lease is up. There’s a lot of love about leasing, but when you’re in a car accident with a leased vehicle, it can cause you a great deal of anxiety. If you break it, do you have to buy it? Who’s responsible for coordinating the repairs and pursuing a claim? Here’s what you need to know.
Even When You Crash a Leased Car, the Initial Steps Are the Same
Make sure you, everyone in your vehicle, and anyone in other vehicles involved in the accident are safe and not seriously injured. Contact the police and request an ambulance if you or anyone else is hurt. Having the police create a report and document the accident is valuable should you need to file a claim. Take photos of the accident scene if it’s safe to do so and exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers.
Reporting Your Accident
When you lease a vehicle, your agreement with the car dealership or leasing agency will have details about how to handle an accident. Although it’s best that you consult this agreement for details, generally speaking, they typically require you to notify them when you are involved in an accident.
You’ll also need to report your accident to your insurance company. They’ll set up an appointment to inspect the damage, either with an insurance adjuster or a local body shop. Your insurance company will then instruct you on the next steps to take.
Once you have these instructions from your insurance company, you’ll need to coordinate the repairs with the car dealership you’re leasing from. They may have restrictions on the types of parts used for repairs, so it’s important to have that information to prevent having to pay penalties once your lease is up.
Filing a Claim
If you weren’t at fault for your accident, you may wish to file a claim against the other driver. This process is no different than it would be if you owned your car.
One option here is to contact the other driver’s insurance company yourself and share with them the details of the accident; they’ll decide whether to accept your claim and pay for the damages to your leased car or dispute your claim, in which case you may need to sue the other driver.
A better option is to hire a skilled car accident attorney from the get-go. When you choose Bryan P. Stubbs to represent your interests after you crash a leased car, we will handle contacting insurance, negotiating with them, and help you navigate the process from start to finish. We’ll make sure everything is done in accordance with your lease agreement and ensure that you’re not punished for a car accident that’s someone else’s fault.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Bryan P. Stubbs
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident involving a leased vehicle, we’re happy to provide guidance. Contact us at (253) 383-5891 for a free initial consultation.
