U-Haul Moving Van Accident Lawsuit
Following a serious accident with a moving U-Haul van, your first priority should be to get treatment and begin your recovery journey. But you may find that difficult to achieve because insurers often try to reduce or deny pay outs, and this may force you to pay out of pocket. This could plunge you and your family members into a roller coaster of financial problems. That is why you need to contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. The lawyer will deal with your claim so that you can focus on getting better.
Liability And Insurance In U-Haul Van Accidents
A person injured in an accident with a U-Haul van or truck can pursue a claim against the driver if the driver caused the accident. Note that the at-fault driver is the person that rented the van in this case. The injured party should seek compensation through that U-Haul driver’s personal auto insurance policy. But it is possible to seek compensation through U-Haul’s insurance instead if the truck itself caused the accident.
For example, a U-Haul van can cause an accident if it experienced mechanical failure. Mechanical failure in vehicles may be caused by lack of adequate maintenance. In this case, the driver who rented the van is not liable for the accident, and the rental company is responsible because it has a duty to maintain its vehicles.
When To File A Lawsuit
When the insurance company of the driver or U-Haul deny your claim, your lawyer can file a lawsuit against them. Your car accident lawyer can investigate your case with the help of experts to determine who is liable for your injuries. Your lawyer may also help you calculate how much your U-Haul accident claim is worth.
Why U-Haul Truck Accidents Happen
What most people don’t know is that driving a truck or a large van is not similar to driving a normal passenger car. A truck weighs more than 12,000 pounds when empty while a normal passenger vehicle can weigh between 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. A U-Haul truck gets even heavier when you load all your stuff onto it. You will need more extra space to change lanes and your turns will be wider when you are driving a U-Haul truck or any other truck.
Your may also experience difficulty spotting smaller motor vehicles on the road such as motorcycles. This is why you cannot drive commercial trucks without receiving adequate training. But since rental trucks such as U-Haul are not categorized as commercial trucks, anyone with a driving license is allowed to drive them.
Moving Van Or Truck Accident Stats
About 35.5 million Americans move every year according to move.org. A significant number of the people moving use U-Haul vans and trucks and other rental trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicates that daily rental trucks or vans were involved in 145 fatal crashes over just five years. Half of these crashes were caused by the truck or van drivers. Each severe crash involving a rental truck or van costs about $10 million according to the FMCSA. There are other additional costs such as compensation for people involved in the accident, damaged property, and more.
