Pre-Rental Checklist
Every car rental company will perform a pre-rental checklist with the renter. During this “walk around”, the rental companies are checking for previous physical damage caused by other renters. However, physical damage is rarely the cause of an accident. Before driving away, make a mechanical pre-check of the car and note any issues – even minor – before leaving the lot. A good mechanical checklist includes these seven points:
- Tires – Look for proper inflation and signs of damage
- Brakes – Listen for noise and check stopping ability
- Gauges – Do they function?
- Fluids – Manually check oil level and coolant before the car warms-up
- Pedals – Check that function is smooth and responsive
- Windshield Wipers – No broken parts and full range of motion
- Lights – Brakes, running lights and night lights
Fifteen minutes to check these seven items can tell you everything about the car’s mechanical foundation. In the event that you’re injured in a rental car accident, having this information can be vital to determining the cause and determining fault. The McKinney accident attorneys at the McCraw Law Firm work with auto accident recreation specialists that can help piece together the reasons for the accident.