[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-an-out-of-state-rental-car-accident-in-florida\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-an-out-of-state-rental-car-accident-in-florida\/","headline":"How To Handle An Out-Of-State Rental Car Accident In Florida","name":"How To Handle An Out-Of-State Rental Car Accident In Florida","description":"While many destinations within the United States attract a large number of tourists, the state of Florida is always somewhere near the top of the list. In fact, a recent News 6 Orlando article reported \u201c86.714 million visitors to the state during 2020.\u201d As you can see, despite a pandemic, more than 86 million people...","datePublished":"2021-04-16","dateModified":"2025-06-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/author\/zimmet\/#Person","name":"Zimmet & Zimmet","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/author\/zimmet\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3010bdac5ced5112b2840e84f5233c0b7d763a33cb3d5b6de07a5a4b44884d69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3010bdac5ced5112b2840e84f5233c0b7d763a33cb3d5b6de07a5a4b44884d69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Zimmet & Zimmet","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/footer-logo-blue.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/footer-logo-blue.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Zimmet-Onsite-blog-image_out-of-state-rental-car-accident.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Zimmet-Onsite-blog-image_out-of-state-rental-car-accident.jpg","height":1280,"width":1920},"url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-an-out-of-state-rental-car-accident-in-florida\/","about":["Auto Accidents"],"wordCount":932,"articleBody":"While many destinations within the United States attract a large number of tourists, the state of Florida is always somewhere near the top of the list. In fact, a recent News 6 Orlando article reported \u201c86.714 million visitors to the state during 2020.\u201d As you can see, despite a pandemic, more than 86 million people visited the Sunshine State and with a positive outlook in regards to COVID-19 in the coming months, there\u2019s a good chance that this number will be surpassed in 2021. The rush of tourists brings to mind the risks associated with traveling, including what to do if you find yourself involved in an out-of-state rental car accident in Florida. Luckily, our experienced\u00a0car accident attorney in Orlando\u00a0offers helpful next steps to take in this situation.What is the \u201cLong Arm Statute\u201d in Florida?Fla. Stat. \u00a7 48.193\u00a0defines the Long Arm Statute as follows:\u201cAny person, whether or not a citizen or resident of this state, who personally or through an agent does any of the acts enumerated in this subsection thereby submits himself or herself and, if he or she is a natural person, his or her personal representative to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for any cause of action arising from the doing of any of the following acts.\u201dIn other words, Florida courts have personal jurisdiction if a car accident defendant is served with the process while present in the state for any reason with the exception of acting as a witness or serving on a jury.So, if you\u2019re involved in a rental car accident, this statute can hold the at-fault driver liable as a non-resident.Insurance in an out-of-state rental car accidentIf you have plans to rent a vehicle out of state \u2014 regardless of where you\u2019re visiting \u2014 it\u2019s critical that you first have a clear idea of the\u00a0best source\u00a0of insurance in the event of a rental car accident.Generally speaking, there are three options to consider in a rental car accident:Your personal car insurance policy:\u00a0Check with your provider to ensure that your coverage extends to out-of-state rental vehicles. Don\u2019t assume that it does, as this is a risk that could catch up to you if you\u2019re in an accident.Rental car company insurance:\u00a0At the time of picking up your vehicle, the rental car company will ask if you want to purchase insurance. You can decline the offer if you already have coverage, such as through your personal policy. But if you don\u2019t have coverage, it\u2019s something to strongly consider. Ask for details of the policy, with a focus on the collision damage waiver, liability coverage, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage. The\u00a0terms and conditions\u00a0can and will vary from one rental car insurance company to the next.Credit card company:\u00a0If you booked your rental car with a credit card, check with your credit card issuer to determine if they provide insurance coverage for a rental car accident. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover all provide this benefit.As a general rule of thumb, never get behind the wheel of a rental car until you\u2019re sure that you have the proper level of insurance coverage.What to do after a rental car accidentIf you suffer a rental car accident, make sure to exchange information with all parties and gather evidence of damages.No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you could find yourself managing the aftermath of a Florida rental car accident that results in minor or serious injuries and damages. Here are the steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation:Call 911:\u00a0Report the accident and request that an ambulance and\u00a0police come to the scene.Exchange information with the other driver:\u00a0Make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with all parties involved in the accident.Gather evidence:\u00a0This can include but is not limited to witness contact information, photos and video of the accident scene and damages, including injuries.Seek immediate medical attention:\u00a0Even if you feel okay, don\u2019t turn down medical care. You never know if you could have suffered an internal injury that\u2019s yet to cause symptoms.Contact the rental car company:\u00a0When doing so, stick to the basics of the accident as you don\u2019t want to make a mistake that damages your accident claim.Contact your personal insurance company:\u00a0Inform them of what happened so they can file a claim on your behalf.Contact an attorney:\u00a0Reaching out to an experienced car accident attorney in Orlando gives you the advantage of working with a lawyer familiar with the state\u2019s personal injury and accident laws. This positions you to seek the best outcome regarding compensation for any injuries and\u00a0damages related to the accident.Injured in a rental car accident in Florida? Reach out to our car accident attorney in OrlandoWhen you work with our experienced\u00a0car accident attorney in Orlando, you\u2019ll feel more confident in your ability to hold the\u00a0negligent party responsible\u00a0for your rental car accident. At Zimmet & Zimmet, our attorneys have over 40 years of experience fighting aggressively for injury victims across Florida. Our experienced attorneys can manage any type of accident case including complex out-of-state rental car accidents.\u00a0Contact us online\u00a0or\u00a0give us a call today\u00a0to set up a free consultation.Have you been injured in an accident or fall? Do You have question and want to know your legal options. Call 386-255-6400 for a free consultation and remember there is NO FEE unless WE Win."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How To Handle An Out-Of-State Rental Car Accident In Florida","item":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-an-out-of-state-rental-car-accident-in-florida\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]