If I'm Not a United States Citizen Do I Have to Pay Accident Fees?

[JellBlelp]

During May 2007 I have rented a car. I had an accident. Since I didn’t take any insurance, the rental car company wants me to pay the amount of $10,000. At the moment I am unemployed and I don’t have money (or any real property, a car etc) to pay the amount. I will try to write the facts to you:

1. I am not a United States citizen or a permanent resident I was here as a student.
2. I have rented the car with my country's driving license and paid with a credit card from my country. (I also lost the credit card during the accident so the card was cancelled)
3. The rental car company has my old address (in the US), my cancelled credit card number, and my old telephone number.
4. I will have to leave the country since I couldn’t find a job here.

I wonder what the consequences can be if I leave the country without paying it? And should I call them and tell them that I won’t be able to pay the amount since I don’t have money and leaving the country? (What I am wondering is if they will come after me in my country? The rental car company has offices in my country.)

[sarbina54]

If you attempt to evade responsibility for this:

a) expect a bench warrant to be issued. If you go home and never return there is basically nothing that can be done to you.

b) If you come back you are screwed big time. Did you want to come back. If so, grow up, take your medicine and learn to live up to your obligations. If not, go home, do the same thing anyway, and take it as a cheap lesson that helped build character.

My advice would be the same to you if you were a citizen. In fact, it would probably be double.

You should try to come up with some negotiation to pay back the $10,000, or part of it, no matter how long it takes unless you plan to go home and stay there. In that case, the $10,000 would simply be too much of a burden. Live and learn my friend.

[Esxitogf]

First of all, it is wrong on a personal basis AND on a legal basis to run away from your responsibilities. Since you are asking this in a forum for future lawyers (who are supposed to represent a client outside of their moral bias anyways), I think it is genuine of anyone with legal knowledge to share advice and thoughts about your options.

Your options are very simple, but MIGHT become trickier if you are not sure about your future intentions with the United States:

A. If you do not intend to ever return to the United States of America (USA) and can live with this thing personally, I would advice you to go home, wherever that is and NEVER come back again. Although even SUCH things have statute of limitations, I wouldn't rely upon it. So again, if you DO decide to leave and not pay for it, then do not count on returning either.

It is possible, but not very likely that the company can go after you in your own country, regardless, although I wouldn't go to them and rent any cars..

B. If you DO intend to stay or return later on (remember FOREVER is a long time), then I would advice you to get some assistance and try to work out your differences concerning the payment. Again, if you are genuine and act straightforward about this, most companies will cut you some slack and be willing to work with you. If you cannot pay them, there is not much you can do anyways.

Again, 10K is not the worst crisis in life and with decent payment options here, you should be able to deal with it in due time. Personally, I would have tried working out something with them, but if you choose not to, that is your choice and you have the right to make Your own decisions in life..

Good luck to you in whatever endeavor you choose to implement.