You are excited about moving and the big day has finally arrived. You decide to save money and not hire a moving company, but instead enlist your family and friends to load up the gigantic U-Haul that you rented.
Just as everything is loaded and you take off to begin life in a new home, you have an accident in the rented vehicle! Now what…
Rental Truck Accident Dangers
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average person moves 11.7 times in their lifetime. Twenty million moves a year occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day alone. Three-fourths of the moves are done by “do-it-yourselfers” as opposed to hiring a company with their own insurance policy.
Accidents in rental trucks happen more often than you might think.
Although most truck rental companies are hesitant to give out the information as to the exact statistics, they do acknowledge how most of the accidents occur. Decreased speed capacity, less maneuverability, weight and load distribution issues, limited rear visibility and lack of knowledge in driving a large vehicle are all factors that contribute to these accidents.
Before you rent a truck, check with your auto insurance company to see if you are covered. Most likely you aren’t and will need to buy supplemental insurance from the rental truck provider. Most rental companies offer a variety of policies including auto tow protection, supplemental liability insurance, personal accessory and cargo insurance or a damage waiver.
Your Legal Rights
Unfortunately, most rental truck companies aren’t concerned if you are comfortable driving the truck. Navigation of these big rigs is not as easy as they say. Therefore, before you take off in something that makes you nervous, let them know that you need assistance and a little training. If they are unwilling to answer questions and help you out, consider renting elsewhere.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a rental truck, big rig, semi or another large commercial vehicle, you may be in need of a personal injury attorney who can fight on your behalf to receive just compensation.
For further reading about the dangers of trucking accidents, read: Common Causes of Truck Accidents.
