Q. What does “car type” or similar mean?

A. Car rental companies can never guarantee a specific model or car. When renting a car, companies will give you an idea of what you can expect – you may get the car type that was advertised or you may get one similar in size or model.

Q. How old are rental cars?

A. Depends on the car rental company. Larger suppliers like Hertz and Avis carry cars on their fleet that are about 3-4 months old. Smaller companies can carry cars up to 4 years old.

Q. Can baby seats be requested?

A. Yes, the majority of car rental companies do carry baby or booster seats and can be requested before collection.

Q. What happens if my rental car breaks down?

A. Most car rental companies should include 24 hour roadside assistance in the rental rate. If you do break down, help is only a phone call away.

Q. Can I pick up a rental car in one city and drop it off in another?

A. This is known as a one way rental. It depends on the supplier and the country – sometimes a fee will apply. Ask when booking!

Q. Can cars be driven into countries other than the country the vehicle is collected in?

A. In most cases, yes but conditions and restrictions do apply. In Europe, there are restrictions about travelling into Eastern Europe and some vehicles cannot be driven in Italy. In the USA, cars cannot be driven into Mexico. Always check at the time of booking.

Q. Are there age restrictions on drivers?

A. Yes. Maximum and minimum ages vary depending on suppliers and car type. Additional fees may also apply for younger or older drivers.

Q. Can anyone drive the rental car?

A. Additional drivers must be added to the rental contract before collection. There may be a fee for additional drivers.

Q. Can my prepaid rental be extended after the vehicle is collected?

A. Yes. In most cases, the renter pays the supplier directly for any extensions. However, this is at the local rate which is often higher than the pre-paid rate.

Q. What do I do if I return the vehicle early?

A. This is possible, however no refund of unused rental days is allowed by the car rental companies.

Accidents involving commercial trucks often result in serious injuries or death. Every year, thousands of people are killed because of reckless truck drivers.

If you have a loved one that was killed in a commercial truck accident, an experienced truck accident attorney or law firm, like Bush Lewis P.L.L.C. in Beaumont, Texas can help you file a wrongful death claim after a truck accident.

Ken Lewis is an experienced Texas truck accident attorney. “I understand the rules and regulations involved when filing a wrongful death claim after a truck accident. This can be a difficult and confusing process for someone without experience,” says Lewis.

Truck accidents are often more serious than regular accidents because of the size of the commercial truck. A commercial truck accident can involve trucks that are as much as 20 times the size of a regular automobile. This means that the repercussions from a truck accident can be much more serious.

Driving a commercial truck well takes skill, knowledge, and experience; because of this, truck driver are required to follow different rules and regulations. Unfortunately, not all truck drivers follow the rules they are supposed to, and driving a commercial truck recklessly can lead to tragic accidents.

Reckless driving involves driving a vehicle in an unsafe, negligent, or dangerous manner. This can include:

· Speeding

· Weaving in and out of traffic

· Tailgating

· Disregard for safety

· Disregard for property

· Disregard for people

When the person driving recklessly is behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound commercial truck, accidents that result can be disastrous. State and Federal Laws limit the amount of time a truck driver can be on the road because when a truck driver is tired or fatigued they may be prone to driving recklessly. If the driver has been driving for too many hours, the commercial trucking company the truck driver works for may be held liable for the truck accident.

Also, reckless truck drivers may have a history of causing truck accidents. This can show that the driver is a hazard on the road, and that they have a habit of driving their truck recklessly.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit attempts to establish that the reason your loved one passed away was a direct result of the truck driver causing a truck accident. Many different things can cause truck accidents, and reckless driving is one of them. Filing a wrongful death claim can be difficult, and an experienced truck accident attorney can aid you with the process.

An in depth study by a well respected vehicle insurance company with a specialist van insurance division has revealed that 75 per cent of van drivers are self employed.

These self employed van owners have been described as pillars of our community, vital to a thriving economy made up of home grown talent.

The study was carried over a number of months and look at the van usage habits of over 65,000 customers of Swinton commercial vehicle insurance.

It was carried out in anticipation of the launch of a new easy to use van insurance policy by Swinton van insurance called ‘Quote and Buy.’

The quote and buy scheme is set to be big news on the van insurance scene, with introductory rates which offer a third off all new van insurance policies taken with the company.

The study also revealed that the vast majority, 96 per cent, of van drivers were male and they have an average age of 37.

This may not come as a surprise, after all, it is the infamous ‘white van man’ who is widely despised by drivers across the country, not the white van woman.

The study showed that most van owners were traditional tradesmen, usually self employed in jobs such as building and painting and decorating.

Builders made up the largest group of van users, with 17 per cent of van owners being in the building trade. This was far higher than any other group, with the second and third most common jobs being painters and decorators and joiners, both of which made up 5 per cent of van owners.

Carpenters were another significant group of van users, making up 4 per cent of the total van usage market.

Steve Chelton, Insurer Development Manager for Swinton, said: “As builders, painters, plasterers, and other tradesmen, commercial vehicle drivers play a vital role in our economy and we should celebrate the work they do every day – especially at this difficult time. And to help workers through these difficult market conditions we are offering motorists 1/3 off all new commercial vehicle policies.”

The detailed study also revealed that van drivers are creatures of habit, with the Ford Transit remaining a firm favourite with van drivers, with 23 per cent of van drivers opting for the classic van.

Statistics from Ford have revealed that despite the credit crunch, new Ford vans remain popular, with one in three new van insurance policies being for a Ford.

During the month of March the company had a stronghold on the van market, selling over 10,000 vans and taking a 28.8 per cent share of the market.

These figures signal the highest monthly proportion of van sales the company has achieved in over eight years.

A spokesman for Ford said that the reason for their popularity was down to the van’s reliability and credit crunch busting economical performance.

Spokesman Steve Kimber commented: “It is further proof that, especially in the current climate, operating costs are at the fore of everyone’s mind.”