Legal Question in Personal Injury in California
I work for a small nonprofit organization in California and I sometimes rent cars from commercial rental agencies (Enterprise, etc) for that organization. Many of my co-workers also drive the cars that I rent. The rental agencies will only make a contract with an actual person who has a drivers license, not an organization. So I have to show my drivers license to rent the car and it is my own name (not the company name) that is the "Renter" on the contracts.
My own personal auto insurance (AAA) does not cover me when I'm driving in work-related or commercial situations, it only covers personal driving. The nonprofit does, however, have insurance coverage for all its drivers. Here is my question though: lets say I rent a car for this nonprofit as part of my work-related tasks -- although my name is still on the rental contract -- and then someone else working with me gets in a bad accident. Am I exposed? Could the victim sue me for damages (as well as the other driver and the nonprofit), and go after my house, etc?
-- Curious in California
1 Answer from Attorneys
The person who will actually be driving should be listed as an additional driver every time you rent. If you do not do that, or you let someone else who is not listed drive the vehicle, you are setting your self up for trouble. If everyone who drives each rental is listed as an additional driver, and everyone is insured, you should be alright.
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