What Happens if I was Hurt in a Turo Crash?

It seems so long ago. Before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States, people loved sharing things. In fact, sharing was so popular that people created businesses to capitalize on the practice of sharing.

Airbnb allows people to make money renting out part or all of their homes. Uber provides a ridesharing alternative to taxis and mass transit. And then there is Turo. Turo is a platform that allows people in need of transportation to lease cars from individual owners – rather than rental companies – for short periods.

As fears about COVID-19 fade and we adjust to a new normal, Turo’s business model will still pose the same old question. What happens if you are hurt in a Turo accident? Here is what you need to know.

A basic guide to Turo

According to its website, Turo is a “car sharing marketplace” that serves as an affordable alternative to car rental companies. Owners or “hosts” can make their vehicles available to rent through Turo, and “guests,” or people who need short-term rentals can pay to use them.

Turo is now available in more than 5,500 cities throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Las Vegas and Seattle are listed among the top U.S. cities for Turo users.

Turo insurance and how it works

Owners that list their vehicles on Turo can choose the insurance coverage that meets their needs. The coverage options available through a well-known insurance provider include up to three-quarters of a million dollars in liability insurance and other benefits. Among other things, this means the owner is most likely covered if anyone else makes a claim.

Turo also offers “guest protection” plans with various terms and benefits.  With certain exceptions, drivers that book vehicles through Turo can apply for insurance that provides:

• Coverage for bodily injuries and property damage.
•  Personal injury protection (PIP) in states where such coverage is mandated and cannot be waived; and
• Coverage in the event of losses incurred in accidents with uninsured or underinsured motorists.

In this context, it is important to note that the “guest’s” own car insurance policy always takes precedence over the policy provided through Turo’s “protection plans.”

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By comparison, the Nevada minimums are only $15,000 in bodily injury per person, $30,000 in personal injury per accident, and $10,000 per accident for property damage. Whether you’re a passenger in the ride-sharing vehicle or you’re a driver or passenger in another car while they have passengers, if the ride-share driver is responsible for the accident, you should be able to recover from the ride-share company’s insurance policy.In any case, someone who has rented a vehicle through Turo will probably have some sort of insurance including coverage for personal injury accidents.

What to do after an accident

If you are involved in a traffic accident with someone driving a Turo rental car, take the same steps as you would after any other collision. Get the driver’s contact information and insurance information. Call the police and an ambulance if necessary. Seek medical attention even if you do not initially suspect you were badly hurt. Many factors impact whether you immediately feel pain. Be sure to get a copy of the police report and keep any medical records. Consult a Personal injury lawyer about your right to compensation and how to obtain it.

Turo advises “guests” who are involved in accidents to report the matter to the company using its online claims resolution center, and to the vehicle owner. The company says this should be done as soon as possible.

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Turo says “guests” who are involved in collisions with other vehicles should get the other driver’s contact information, insurance information and make a police report. If they fail to do so, Turo owners or “hosts” should report damage within 24 hours of the end of the trip.  Owners that do not report an accident within 24 relinquish their eligibility for physical damage reimbursement under applicable protection plans.

In summary

Turo is a platform that allows people to list their cars as short-term rentals.

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 Turo also offers insurance coverage through a national carrier. The coverage is available for both vehicle owners (“hosts”) and the people who rent them (“guests”).  This means that the owner and/or driver of a Turo vehicle will most likely be covered in the event of a personal injury accident.

This also means you need an experienced lawyer to fight for you if you were injured in a traffic accident with a Turo vehicle. Contact Van Law Firm at (702)529-1011 to learn more about how we can help you, today.