Quick Summary
- After any collision in a hire vehicle, focus first on safety and medical help, then on moving the car out of traffic if it is safe to do so.
- Collect names, insurance details and clear photos from every angle, and ask for a police report number whenever local officers attend the scene.
- Contact the rental company and any insurers listed on your booking as soon as possible, follow their instructions and avoid authorising your own repairs.
Check everyone is safe and move to a secure place
The first minutes after an accident are about people, not paperwork. Check yourself, your passengers and anyone in other vehicles for injuries. If anyone is hurt or you are on a high speed road, call the emergency number immediately and wait for guidance. When it is safe, switch on hazard lights, set out warning triangles if the car has them and move to the shoulder or a nearby car park to avoid further collisions. Never stand between vehicles on the road and avoid stepping into flowing traffic.
Call emergency services and local police
In the United States, serious crashes, injuries or major damage usually require that you contact emergency services and request police attendance. Even for minor bumps, a police report or incident number can help later when insurers assess fault. Follow the instructions from the operator and wait for officers to arrive before leaving the scene. Cooperate fully, answer questions honestly and keep copies of any reports or reference numbers they provide.
Document the accident scene
Once everyone is safe and emergency calls are made, start recording details. Take wide photos of the junction or road, close ups of each vehicle, and any visible damage, skid marks or debris. Photograph number plates, driving licences and insurance cards, and note down names, phone numbers and addresses for drivers and witnesses. If weather or lighting played a role, capture that in your pictures as well. These details help the rental company and insurers understand what happened and can speed up claim decisions.
Contact the rental company quickly
Your rental agreement includes an emergency phone number precisely for moments like this. Call it as soon as you can safely do so, even if the accident seems minor. Explain where you are, whether anyone is injured and whether the vehicle can still be driven. At a busy tourist hub such as car hire for Las Vegas road trips or tall city routes that begin with Los Angeles Airport pickups, staff may direct you to a specific return lane or approved repair partner. Follow their instructions and avoid arranging your own tow truck unless the rental company or local police ask you to.
Speak to your insurer and card provider
Depending on your booking, cover may come from the supplier, your own motor policy at home, a standalone product or the benefits of your payment card. Notify any insurer named on your documents as soon as possible, using their emergency contact channels. They can explain excess amounts, what is covered and any steps you must follow to keep your protection valid. Keeping all receipts, reports and photos together makes these calls smoother and helps avoid disputes later.
How Hola Car Rentals supports you before and after accidents
Hola Car Rentals focuses on preparation so that, if anything goes wrong, you already know who to call. Many All Inclusive plus offers include maximum liability coverage on selected itineraries, free travel insurance up to one hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars and no hidden counter extras, so you are not attempting to decode insurance jargon at the last minute. For trips that loop the Pacific Coast from San Francisco drives down to Los Angeles or Las Vegas, you can choose suppliers with twenty four hour assistance and clear accident procedures. You can also read our defensive driving tips article before you travel so you are less likely to need that emergency number at all.
Accidents are stressful, but knowing the steps ahead of time brings calm back to the situation. When you are planning your next long drive in the United States, reserve with Hola Car Rentals so that flexible policies and strong cover back you up from the first kilometre to the last.
FAQs
Do I have to call the police for every accident? Local rules differ. As a general guide, always call emergency services if there are injuries, significant damage or blocked lanes. For small car park scrapes, a formal report may not be required, but having one can still help insurance discussions.
Should I admit fault at the scene? Stay calm and describe what happened without guessing who is legally at fault. Leave that decision to the police, the rental company and insurers, who will review the evidence and apply local laws.
What if the vehicle no longer drives? If the car is unsafe or will not start, move people to a safe area and call emergency services if necessary. Then contact the rental company so they can arrange towing and explain whether a replacement vehicle can be authorised under your cover.
Will my deposit automatically cover the damage? Not always. The deposit is a security hold, not the total value of cover. Actual costs depend on the insurance options you accepted. Hola Car Rentals displays excess amounts, coverage limits and optional extras at booking so you can choose how much protection you want.
