Legal Question in Consumer Law in Washington

rental car damage

Rental vehicle returned on Dec.2, 2006. Two months later, get notice that the vehicle ''had damage ''when returned and that we would be liable for damages. Noone inspected the car when we returned it to the lot. We know of no damage or accident while in our

possession. We did not take any

damage ins. We have filed a complaint with the attorney general. We have said we would pay if they could prove (by surveillance tapes) that the damage was inspected the day of

return and before the car was moved from its space. The reason for this is that we observed another vehicle in the lot being ''fishtailed'' on the icy lot when we returned ours. The company sent us a picture of a paper being held in front of a ''cracked bumper'' (could not see anything of car, but the damage). Also, they sent a bill showing what repairs had been made. Can we be held responsible for more legal/collection bills while waiting on the Attorney General to respond? Do we have right to look at any parking lot surveillance tapes to make sure inspection was done in the space we parked it at? There is no way for us to know that an employee did not ''slide'' into something, etc after we turned the

keys/car back in. Noone offered to inspect the car with us.


Asked on 4/11/07, 11:46 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: rental car damage

Have you contacted YOUR car insurance company? This is exactly what you pay the big bucks for every month, is for them to have lawyers on staff to deal with this sort of stuff.

Sounds as though the rental company may have some proof issues demonstrating that the damage to the car was your fault.

Please start by calling your auto ins. company.

Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell

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Answered on 4/11/07, 12:03 pm


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