insurance
Car rental company
<p>Is it worth it to talk to a lawyer about car rental company not providing details on the cost of a cracked front windshield, I need the document to fill a claim with my insurance company.</p>
<p>I rented a car 4 months ago in California, while driving the car back to the airport a rock chipped the front windshield.
I declined the company insurance policy and decided to use my credit card provided one.</p>
<p>The company charged me $500 and they told me once they have the final statement from the company changing the front glass they will give me back some money as they estimated will be cheaper than $500.</p>
<p>The insurance company doesn't want to process my claim as they request:</p>
<p>&quot; Please provide, from the rental company, a copy of the repair estimate for the damage and also the demand letter detailing repair cost and associated fees.&quot;</p>
<p>And the car rental company refuses to give me a final statement on the cost of the front glass repair.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to contact a lawyer?</p>
<p>Update: I'm located in Texas and car rental happened in California but company has presence in Texas.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Is it worth it to contact a lawyer?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No. The amount at issue indicates that the matter would have to be litigated in Small Claims court, where typically parties are not allowed to be represented by a lawyer. Furthermore, litigating in Small Claims court will give you some exposure to judicial proceedings. Being able to advance your legal arguments in court is useful, and this seems to be a great occasion to gain experience of that sort.</p>
<p>The rental company's uncooperative behavior is unreasonable and can forfeit its entitlement to <em>at least</em> a sizeable portion of its actual expense. In many jurisdictions, the legislation provides treble damages in claims of fraud. Although claims of fraud and breach of contract oftentimes overlap, your entitlement to treble damages is not something to rule out. At the outset, the company's initial promise to give you the final statement most likely supports a finding of <em>reasonable reliance</em>, one of the prima facie elements of fraud.</p>
<p>It is unclear whether the rental company made the aforementioned promise <em>in writing</em>. For evidentiary purposes, make sure that all your subsequent interactions with the rental company are in writing. That will make it harder for the company to disavow its verbal representations.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Is it worth it to contact a lawyer?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Almost certainly no. Lawyers typically charge a few hundred dollars an hour.</p>

<p>I would probably decline to represent you because my fees (probably more than $500 when all is said and done) would exceed the value of the benefit I could reasonable expect to provided to you.</p>
<p>Some lawyers will do a brief consultation for $100 or so on a flat fee basis (I used to do them when I was less busy). That might be worth it, but it would be a close call.</p>
