U-Haul Injury Accident Liability Lawsuit
There have been hundreds of accidents involving U-Haul trucks in the past few years, and many individuals have gotten injured from these crashes. All too often, inexperienced drivers get behind the wheel of large U-Haul trucks and do not know how to drive. If you have been hurt in a crash, you can contact a U-Haul truck accident attorney to help you with your lawsuit. Our team of attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group has spent years handling cases against the business, and we have recovered millions for our clients.
Causes of U-Haul Truck Accidents
There are many reasons that truck accidents happen, most of which are not unique to U-Haul crashes. Often, truck accidents are simply caused due to inattention or reckless driving. Some of the most common causes include:
- Texting while driving or using the phone to talk to other individuals
- Speeding
- Tailgating other cars
- Turning without using a signal
- Drunk driving
- Driving while tired
- Running stop signs
- Running red lights
However, there are many truck-specific problems that drivers face. One of the biggest issues with U-Haul truck rentals and other companies renting out trucks is the lack of a need for CDLs, or licenses which are earned after learning how to drive a commercial truck. CDLs signify a driver’s ability to deal with the nuances of large vehicles. Some of the reasons inexperienced drivers get into accidents while in U-Haul trucks can include:
- Turning too sharply and tipping over
- Incorrectly or inadequately loading the bed or container, which can cause poor weigh distribution, fishtailing, tipping, and more
- Using a GPS or map and not paying attention to the road
- Getting stuck under bridges and structures for not following clearance listings
- Failure to properly stop because of the increased size and load
Further, U-Haul trucks are used by multiple individuals each week, sometimes with very fast turn-around periods. This means that proper inspections for every vehicle may not be happening as sufficiently as they should be, if at all. As a result, some trucks may be put back on the road with obvious mechanical failures or defects. A few malfunctions include:
- Brake failure
- Hitch detachments
- Broken lights
- Improperly filled tires
- Faulty steering
- Faulty wiring
If you detect a mechanical failure with the U-Haul, you should immediately return it for another vehicle. You should not risk your life and anyone else’s because of a defect.
Victims of truck accidents should reach out to us if there are any questions about U-Haul accident liability. We can help you receive the compensation you deserve and will gladly work with you to ensure that you are protected. We will take action against the responsible motorist and against U-Haul if necessary.
Truck Accident Injuries
Because U-Haul vehicles are much larger than normal cars, the injuries can be correspondingly huger. Trucks traveling at the same speed as cars can cause even deadlier damages, including the following:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severed limbs and digits
- Fractures
- Closed head injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Paralysis
- Permanent neck and spinal cord injuries
- Coma
- Death
U-Haul Insurance Coverage
Individuals who drive a U-Haul truck must have their own auto insurance or they will not be able to rent any vehicles. If there are any accidents or damages, the individual’s auto insurance policy can kick in and cover expenses. Regardless, U-Haul also offers its own insurance packages to supplement any private policies that its customers have.
U-Haul’s insurance, Safemove, provides coverage that includes freedom of responsibility from damage to the truck; protection for your goods and belongings up to $25,000 for out of town or one-way rentals and $15,000 for in-town rentals; and medical and life coverage, which gives you and your passengers up to $1,000 in medical bills, $25,000 for loss of life for the lessee, and $15,000 for loss of life of any passengers.
There is an upgraded package available, Safemove Plus, that provides all of the above as well as supplemental liability insurance, which affords you $1,000,000 in damages caused by third-parties separate from the rental (and other monetary benefits, like no out of pocket fees or a deductible).
If you have been involved in an accident while driving a U-Haul truck or with someone operating a U-Haul vehicle, you can contact our firm for more help collecting the compensation you need. We will make sure that you are fully compensated through the insurance policy U-Haul offered. Call us to speak with an attorney with experience in U-Haul accidents.
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$599,000
$360,000
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Fault in U-Hail Accidents
U-Haul accident liability can vary from party to party. If a driver of a U-Haul was simply acting recklessly and got into an accident, you can hold the driver responsible. However, U-Haul can be held responsible in a few different ways.
For one, U-Haul must only rent vehicles to individuals who have a driver’s license. If they rent o anyone who has no valid license and the customer gets into an accident, the company can be held wholly responsible for the injuries to other parties. Similarly, the driver must have some kind of insurance or U-Haul will be held accountable.
U-Haul can also be held at fault if they have mechanical failures with trucks and do not repair them or replace them. U-Haul will likely try to claim that the defect happened during the ride, but if there were multiple previous about the problem and it persisted, it would show that the truck was never serviced. In fact, U-Haul has one of the highest rates of failure when it comes to truck inspection, so you should be prepared as soon as you get behind the wheel.
It is important that you pinpoint the proper party responsible for the accident or contributed to the accident, and our U-Haul truck crash attorneys will be more than happy to help.
Evidence for a U-Haul Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you were involved in a truck accident with a U-Haul vehicle, you should take legal action to get the compensation you need. We recommend following these steps for the best chance of success.
First, it is crucial that you get medical attention as quickly as possible after the accident. You may need to go to the emergency room or you can be treated at the scene by paramedics. There are times when victims refuse treatment because they do not feel hurt, but the shock of the event and the adrenaline can mask many injuries. You should get treatment regardless in case injuries show up later or manifest at another date. The longer you wait to get treatment, the more negatively it will impact your claim; the insurance agent can state that you were not hurt in the incident and you are merely blaming it for the injuries you suffered elsewhere.
Next, you should take pictures of your injuries, the damage to your car and the U-Haul truck, and the scene of the accident. You can also request surveillance footage if the accident happened near a business or gated or monitored apartment complex.
Passengers, bystanders, and eyewitnesses can provide you with sufficient testimony and statements about what happened in the accident if they saw it.
The police may have come to the scene of the accident to conduct an investigation. You can request a copy of the police report later on to add to your claim.
If you were the lessee of the truck, make sure you hold on to your receipt, rental agreement, bank statement, proof of rental, and anything else that will show you to be the lawful customer and renter of the truck. It will also be to your benefit if you have pictures taken of the truck before you started driving it.
You should make sure to write down the other driver’s contact details, insurance information, and more so that you can easily contact him or file a claim with his insurance company.
Finally, you should reach out to a lawyer experienced in U-Haul truck accidents who can handle your case for you. It is highly recommended that you do not go through with a lawsuit on your own, as you may not have the legal experience required to negotiate the fairest deal.
Our skilled U-Haul crash lawyers can make sure that your evidence is sufficiently gathered and submitted.
U-Haul Truck Accident Lawsuit Compensation
Personal injury lawsuits against U-Haul can result in numerous types of compensation. If you were involved in a crash with a U-Haul truck, we can help you receive the maximum restitution available under the law. Our lawyers will work around the clock to get you the maximum coverage for the following:
- Medical expenses from the past and future
- Property damage
- Lost wages from the past and future
- Pain and suffering
There are also punitive damages available if a party acted with gross negligence or tried to harm you and wrongful death damages if a family member or loved one passed away due to complications or injuries from the accident.
Why Choose Us
The Downtown LA Law Group has handled U-Haul accident cases for many years. Our qualified lawyers are aggressive and do not stop pursuing what you deserve until we are satisfied with the result. We will go to court if necessary – your rights are extremely important to us, and we want to make sure you are fairly represented against the responsible party. We will make sure you are kept safe and healthy and will always provide you with updates and check up on you throughout the legal process.
If you are in need of a free consultation, you can call us for more help. We will answer all your questions and provide you with the relevant knowledge you need. Our consultations are confidential and you won’t have to worry about your private information being shared elsewhere. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you will never be left unsatisfied with our help.
If you hire us to handle your U-Haul accident claim, we will give you our zero fee guarantee. This states that you won’t use any out of pocket expenses throughout the case; we will cover the legal fees, and if we win, we will be compensated thanks to the settlement we bring you. If we lose, we earn no money whatsoever, and you can walk away debt-free to our firm.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Downtown LA Law Group to file a U-Haul truck accident lawsuit against the company or the U-Haul driver.
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