Hi all. Looking for some help.

We were involved in a car accident in new orleans whilst on holiday. We live in Australia.

Little did we know there was no insurance on the rental car, nor were we offered the option to puchase any at the time. We have since learned that it is illegal not to have insurance in Lousianna but the rental car company is still saying it was our job to purchase insurance for the car. Why they think an aussie couple would have insurance for a Louisiana rental car, I have no idea.

We are now looking at a $6000USD bill for the rental vehicle damage, $2000USD for the other vehicle damage, $990USD for rental out of pocket for the other party and an undisclosed medical cost. The other party is claiming injury which seems suspicious as everyone was fine after the accident and it was a low speed impact. Further the 3rd party told us at the time she was happy for the accident as she was wanting to buy a new car anyway (we smell a rat).

The rental contract states that Enterprise can settle on our behalf and we have to pay out.

We are trying to figure out what our course of action will be. Can anyone here advise: * If we do not pay the bill what happens? * is there a way to fight all of this? * what happens if the debt is given to a collection agency. Either in the US, in Australia or an international one.

Thanks