Uber has expanded greatly in its time as a transportation giant. What initially started as drivers using their own vehicles to pick up passengers at their leisure has become a multi-vehicle operation. Now, scooters and bikes can be rented by users, and car rental companies have partnered with Uber to offer short-term rentals to those who need the cars. There are many perks and deals available for those who wish to rent cars through companies like Hertz. Hertz is known for providing rental cars, but its recent partnership has opened more doors. However, with many more companies jumping on board this system, there are also many more opportunities for accidents and injuries to occur, and therefore, more liability and lawsuits. Our expert attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group have meticulously investigated trends, laws, and rules that are related to the Hertz and Uber partnership, and if you are in need of legal assistance, we will gladly help you.

Uber Benefits

One of the primary reasons that individuals choose Uber as a part time or full time gig is because of the freedom to drive when you want to. They can turn on the app at any time, collect passengers, and end whenever they wish. This allows a freedom of scheduling that is not dependent on the needs of another company; instead, their usage is determined by location, time of day, and more. One of the initial hurdles, though, was using your own vehicle to drive. All of the excess miles driven in a day often resulted in an increased amount of vehicle maintenance. There was also the issue of not owning a vehicle in the first place, which would disqualify many prospective drivers from getting behind the wheel. Hertz and Uber partnering up allows drivers to work while not needing to pay for car ownership, which would include insurance, loans, and more. There is also no long term contract with Hertz, so you are not roped in to paying for the car longer than you need it, whether that is a week or three months.

How to Get a Car through Hertz?

In order to get a car through Hertz to drive for Uber, you must first sign up for Uber and be a registered driver. You can then select the Hertz option when navigating the Uber app. After you have signed up, you can reserve a car. A 7-day reservation period is required for every vehicle. After you have made your reservation, you can pick up the car of your choice from the specific Hertz location. After driving for the 7-day period, you have the option to renew the rental. You can renew the rental 3 times in total, leading to a maximum rental period of 28 days. The car must be returned upon being rented for 28 days for routine maintenance and inspection. You should have the original paperwork upon returning the vehicle. There are a few requirements within these simple steps, though. For example, you must have an account with good standing with Hertz, and you must not have poor credit. Hertz will conduct a credit check that will not affect your credit score. You must also be 25 years old or older to rent, which is a higher age requirement than other companies have. You must further have a valid driver’s license and credit card or debit card with which to pay for the rental. When you acquire a Hertz rental car, you will receive unlimited miles, liability insurance coverage, basic maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, loss and damage protection, and more.

Costs of Renting a Hertz Vehicle for Uber

Each rental vehicle from Hertz costs $214 per week, excluding taxes, fees, gas, and other costs. The security deposit that is refunded upon the return of the vehicle is $200. This is a steeper price than other companies charge; Fair, for example, charges $185 for its rental fee and $185 for its security deposit. Uber does offer certain perks and reimbursements if you complete a set number of rides, though. If you complete 75 trips, you will have $80 credited to your account; 90 trips, $185 credited to your account; and 125 trips, $240 credited to your account. Thus, if you complete around 18 rides per day, your Hertz rental will pay for itself and you will have a profit of $26. If you have other questions concerned the costs of the rental, you can speak with one of our Hertz rental accident lawyers.

Hertz and Uber Insurance

You will receive the Hertz Loss Damage waiver, which allows you to be relieved of any financial responsibilities over the $1000 deductible in the event of loss or damage to the rental car while you are not driving for the Uber app or when you have the app on but have no passengers. The costs are included in the weekly fee. If you have the car and the app is not on, Hertz will provide you with liability protection at the minimum limits. Uber does not provide any insurance during the time when the app is turned off. If the app is on but you have no passenger, Hertz provides physical damage protection for up to $1000 per accident, while Uber offers liability protection in the form of $50,000 for injury, $100,000 in total, and $25,000 in property damage. While on a trip, Hertz does not provide any insurance. With a passenger in the car, you are covered for $1,000,000 in liability, $250,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist injury, and contingent collision and comprehensive for up to the actual cash value (with a $1000 deductible).

Where can I rent a Hertz vehicle for Uber?

All Hertz vehicles must be picked up at Hertz rental locations and returned at them as well. The Hertz rental program partnership with Uber is available in Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Austin, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Lousiana; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington.

What should I do if I’m in an accident while driving a Hertz rental vehicle during an Uber trip?

If you have been in an accident while driving a Hertz rental vehicle during an Uber trip, you should make sure that you are not injured. Your priority should be your health. Call the paramedics or go to the emergency room if need be, even if you feel slightly injured or even uninjured; you may have damages that are unseen or are masked by adrenaline. You should also hold on to the medical receipts and notes you receive from the treatment to show that you were examined. You should then take pictures and videos of the damages. You can photograph the damage done to the cars, the scene of the accident, the injuries you suffered, and more. Some cars may have dashboard footage available for you to use in your evidence package as well. If you think videos are a good addition, you can record them as well. There may be witnesses, passengers, pedestrians, bystanders, and others who saw the accident happen. You can ask them to write down their statements and testimonies so you can add them to your claim, as having multiple perspectives is beneficial and can bolster your lawsuit. The police may show up to the scene of the crash; if so, you can request a copy of the police report once it has been finalized and submitted to the station for record keeping. The police may also charge someone with a criminal charge, like reckless driving. You must alert Uber and Hertz to the accident by filing an accident report with both companies. You may need to return the car immediately to Hertz for inspection. Finally, it is in your best interests to reach out to an attorney experienced with Uber lawsuits and Hertz rental car accident claims. You may not be able to sue Hertz specifically unless there was a malfunction with the vehicle or if the company allowed someone to drive who should not have legally been able to. No matter what the situation, you should reach out to an attorney.

Compensation from a Hertz or Uber lawsuit

If you have been injured in an accident, you may be able to receive a fair amount of compensation. These damages can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, property damage, wrongful death expenses, punitive damages, and more. The value of your claim will be determined by the insurance agent responsible for handling it. We will work to negotiate a better offer that will cover all of your expenses.

Choosing Our Firm

The Downtown LA Law Group has been at the forefront of lawsuits against Uber and Hertz for many years. We have settled hundreds of cases for our clients and recovered over $100 million in compensation for accident victims. We know the best methods to securing you every penny you deserve, and our aggressive lawyers will strive to provide you with the best care available. We will not give up until we are satisfied with the outcome. If we need to go to court to win your case, we are will to do so, and we will defend your rights in front of a judge and jury. Call our offices today at (855) 339-8879 for a free legal consultation. All of your personal details will be kept confidential, and you are invited to ask us anything you wish. We will tell you how much we think we can win for you and what your best path to success is. If you want to hire us to represent you, we will give you our zero fee guarantee. This promises that you won’t have to pay for any legal fees throughout the case, win or lose. We will get reimbursed by the insurance company if we win, and if we lose, we eat the costs ourselves and you owe no money to our firm. To sue Uber or sue Hertz for a rental car accident, reach out to the Downtown LA Law Group today.