Most people use rental cars for business and leisure trips far from their hometowns and countries. Meeting an accident where you hardly know many people is already scary, but it is worse for a rental car. You not only have to check up on your and fellow passengers’ safety, but also take care of the damages. Many people visiting the UAE rent a car service, sometimes without a driver, which makes the repercussions of accidents more severe.
We wish you never have to go through that traumatic experience, but when you are visiting a foreign land, you must be prepared for the challenges it may throw towards you. So, if you ever have an accident in Dubai, you must take care of two aspects – safety and compensation for losses.
Let’s examine how to tackle both of these aspects in this piece.
As soon as you are back in your senses after meeting an accident, you have to ensure your and the safety of fellow passengers. Some tips to help you get to safety include;
The first thing you need to do is to move away from the wreck site, and it should be done as soon as possible. Staying inside the car or near the accident site risks more injuries and even fatalities in some cases. It would be best to walk away from the car, but if you are severely injured, call for help. Hopefully, someone will come to rescue you.
That said, do not move away from the crash site in haste, as it also poses significant risks. You must try to remain calm and think the process through. Do not unfasten your seatbelt until you know the way out of the car. Furthermore, when outside the car, do not run; instead, watch the traffic and carefully walk away from the accident site.
If someone else is also stuck with you inside the car, try to remain calm and understand who has the better chance of getting out of the vehicle. The person who gets out of the car can help the other more effectively. Furthermore, do not try to rescue someone if it puts you at risk. Remember, you can only help others if you are safe yourself.
As soon as you are at a safe distance from the crash site, call on 999, the emergency services of the UAE. You must inform them about the accident and wait for their instruction. While informing them about the accidents, mention the number of people involved, the exact place of the accident, the nature of the accident, and most importantly, the severity and nature of injuries of those involved.
The effectiveness of a rescue operation largely depends on the information you provide, warranting you to be as comprehensive as possible. If you are familiar with the first-aid techniques, offer them to the passengers until help arrives.
Since you are driving a rental car, there will undoubtedly be a dispute on compensation for losses. Thus, it is essential to collect evidence about how an accident occurred. You do not have to scan the area like forensic experts; just take some photos and video footage of the site to show how the accident took place.
Furthermore, if the car has a dashboard camera, try to retrieve it, as it may contain important footage that can let you off the hook. If the others involved in accidents are conscious and in their senses, record their testimonies as well.
You must also exchange contact and insurance information with the others involved in the accidents. Make sure to get a copy of the initial police report, and it should contain information about both parties, if it is a collision, in addition to the credentials of the police officers. Read the copy of the report and ensure everything is right because it plays an instrumental role in legal disputes.
The last thing you need to do before leaving the accident site is to contact car rental services on their emergency contact and let them know about the accident. They will let you know what to do with the car while keeping the nature of your injuries into account. The police department of UAE will also help you get the car to the desired location. Remember, you are responsible for the car before it reaches the point assigned by the rental services.
Thus, it would be best if you could stay and watch while the car is being towed to ensure it does not get more damaged.
Dealing with the compensation of a rental car can be quite tricky because of the invariable nature of the rental insurance and policies of different rental services in Dubai. You are typically off the hook if you have Rent a car with a driver in Dubai. In these cases, you are not renting a car but a complete service with a driver that the company provides. Thus, you would not be responsible for the damages in most cases.
However, if you have rented a car without a driver, you will be responsible for the damages, even if you are not driving the car. Such cases happen when a third party hires the driver, and it is not recommended for this exact reason. If you happen to be in such a situation, you will have to contact your insurance services, and the compensation offered by them varies based on your plan and package.
There are two types of basic car insurance in Dubai, including;
It is the least expensive insurance available for rented cars in the UAE. Since it is mandatory to get rental insurance in UAE, most people pick this service because of its price. This insurance covers the damages to the car and passengers of the party you have collided with. However, it does not cover the compensation for the vehicle you are driving. So, you will have to pay for the damages from your pocket.
Comprehensive coverage is a bit expensive, but it covers the damages to both parties. You would not have to pay a dime with this insurance. Furthermore, it also covers damages such as theft, fire, and other accidents. Indeed, it is expensive, but it offers far more benefits.
It would be best to hire a professional Executive car hire Dubai because you would not have to worry about insurance, as pretty much everything is the company’s responsibility. However, if you opt for the other way, ensure that the car is insured and that insurance covers the following points;
You have to get this insurance because it is mandatory. It limits your liability by setting an excess amount, which is essentially the amount that the insurance company will provide in case of accidents. Typically, the excess amount is between 1,500 to 5,000 AED. If the damages exceed this amount, you will have to pay it.
It is an upgraded form of the previously discussed insurance, but it is not mandatory. Although it is expensive, it covers the complete cost of vehicle damages. So, you will not have to pay anything for the rental services.
It is also optional insurance that covers the medical cost of the driver and the passengers. However, there is a ceiling to the amount that the insurance companies offer, and the courts in UAE often decide the cases.
Again, it is not a mandatory service, but it expands the coverage of your claims. The claims in this category range from roadside safety nets to flat or damaged tires.
No one wants to get into accidents, especially in rental cars, but one must be prepared to deal with all sorts of circumstances. Hiring professional services such as Pilot & Car Transport Services to avoid unforeseeable but dangerous accidents would be best. Our drivers are highly trained and skilled for the roads and traffic of the UAE, minimizing the likelihood of accidents. Furthermore, the prices and range of services are also unmatchable in the UAE. We offer Airport Transfer Service and Chauffeur Services all under one roof.
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