What happens if you crash a leased car?

Crashing a car is already stressful enough, but crashing a leased car may seem even more stressful since it’s not technically your personal property. Like any car crash, it’s important to follow certain steps following the incident, with two of the most important steps being to contact your insurance company and a car accident attorney as soon as possible. 

What happens if you crash a leased car in Florida?

While the laws regarding car accidents are typically the same throughout the country, it’s not uncommon for states to have their own particular laws in place for how to handle car crashes from a legal standpoint. 

Since leasing automobiles has declined in recent years, only about 25% of the vehicles on the road today are leased. Although the amount of leased cars has decreased, it is still common for accidents to include a leased car in some capacity. Being involved in an accident with a leased car can be slightly different than being in an accident with a vehicle you own. Our Miami car accident attorneys explain what to do and what you can expect after a leased car accident.

Extent of damage to vehicle

The extent to which you crashed your leased vehicle plays a role in what happens in the wake of the incident. If the leased vehicle has been totaled, then you will be required to pay off the remainder of the lease with the insurance money. In addition to paying off the remainder of the lease, you will also be obligated to pay off the vehicle’s current value.

Florida no-fault car accident laws

If you are driving a leased vehicle in Florida, you will have no-fault insurance. All drivers must have no-fault insurance and meet at least the state’s minimum requirements. So, the first place you should look for compensation for medical bills and lost wages is by contacting your insurance company. Demonstrating fault is not a requirement.

Having a leased car repaired in Florida

Property damage varies based on the type of property involved and the extent to which it has been damaged as a result of the accident. Property damage refers to physical harm to real property or possessions.

Properly insuring your leased vehicle can help you protect your property in the event of an accident. Maintaining property insurance enables you to replace or repair damaged property. Having no-fault insurance means your insurance should likely cover your repairs. Once the repairs have been made to the leased vehicle, your insurance should carry on as normal. 

What if someone is injured in the car accident?

Regardless of whether or not someone appears visibly injured, it’s important to contact emergency medical services immediately following any car accident. If someone is injured, it’s likely that the party responsible for the accident will be held liable for the party’s injuries. 

Such liability often results in the negligent party compensating the injured person for their injuries, including their past and future medical bills, lost wages, future income, and more. The car accident lawyers at Bernstein & Maryanoff Injury Attorneys can discuss your legal options if someone has been injured in a car accident. 

What to do if you’re involved in an accident with a leased vehicle

If you’re involved in an accident with a leased car, it’s important you remain calm and follow the same steps as you would for any other car accident. Some of the most important steps for anyone involved in this type of situation include the following: 

Call the police

Florida law requires you to call the police if you’re in an accident with physical injuries or apparent property damage of $500 or more. This essentially covers nearly every single car accident in the state and applies to accidents involving leased vehicles.

Failing to call the police after an accident in a leased car may result in criminal charges. It also makes it harder to contest fault for the accident and make claims through insurance. Call the police promptly after an accident and ensure that anyone injured receives medical care.

Gather evidence

Determining fault in a car accident involving a leased vehicle is important for your legal rights. It’s vital for compensation, traffic tickets, and your driving record. Be sure to gather evidence that’s available at the scene.

Take notes

Take all the same steps that you would take after any other accident, such as getting the following information from the other driver:

1. Name
2. License number
3. Insurance details
4. Contact information

Having notes from the incident will provide you with a valuable resource to look back on at various points throughout your lawsuit.

Talk to witnesses

In addition to taking notes, it’s important to take down the names and contact information for any witnesses. Having the contact information of witnesses to the accident can come in handy throughout the course of the lawsuit, as these individuals can provide relevant depositions and testimonies should the case make it to trial.

Take photos

Take photos with your phone or a camera. Photo evidence can be useful for many reasons, including jogging your own memory and giving your attorney and the judge a better visualization of the accident. Recording the evidence can put you in the best position to enforce your rights and fight for the compensation that you deserve. 

Related: Causes of Intersection Crashes

Talk to a lawyer

You can receive a free case review in Miami after your accident. You will not have to pay anything unless you win, so contact an attorney immediately.

You do not want to be stuck with hospital bills because you failed to act and didn’t retain an attorney to fight for your compensation. As unfortunate as it is to experience a car accident, it will be much worse if you do not receive proper medical attention and legal advice. Prepare yourself to act fast and receive appropriate treatment by contacting an attorney as soon as you are able.

How a lawyer can help

Having a skilled car accident lawyer represent you can be incredibly beneficial for a number of reasons. An accident lawyer can guide you through the stressful process of being involved in a lawsuit while also ensuring that you receive proper compensation for your injuries and any additional property damage that you may have sustained. 

Florida’s statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits

A statute of limitations is a time limit set on how long a person has to file a lawsuit. Each type of legal claim has its own statute of limitations, and these statutes of limitations may also vary depending on the state in which the claim is filed. 

In Florida, the statute of limitations for car accident cases depends on whether the crash resulted in death or injury. The statute of limitations for a car accident claim that only resulted in injuries is four years of the date of the crash. The statute of limitations for a car accident case that results in death is two years from the date of the person’s death. These time frames are set forth in Florida Statutes Sections 95.11(3)(a) and 95.11(4)(d), respectively. 

Call Miami’s top car accident lawyers today

The skilled attorneys at Bernstein & Maryanoff Injury Attorneys take pride in representing car crash victims and will fight zealously for your rights. After spending plenty of years working on various car accident cases, our attorneys can guide you through any situation you may be faced with. If you have been involved in a car accident in Miami, the experienced car accident lawyers at Bernstein & Maryanoff Injury Attorneys are here to help.

Sources: 

FLA. STAT § 95.11. 

Goguen, D. (2023). What Is the Car Accident Statute of Limitations in Florida?

Ortiz, P. (2023). How Many People Lease Cars in the US.