I Was Hit by a Moving/Rental Truck. Who’s Responsible?

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our personal injury attorneys protect your rights when you’ve been hurt in an accident. We provide compassionate and strong representation. Call us today to set up a consultation in one of our Newark, Wilmington or Seaford offices.

If you’ve ever moved from one home to another, you probably know how expensive it can be to hire professional movers. Depending on where you’re moving, professional moving companies can cost into the thousands of dollars. Many people choose to cut costs by renting moving vans or trucks and doing the moving themselves. It’s certainly a more affordable and convenient option, but it also allows inexperienced large vehicle drivers on the road.

Dangers and risks of moving trucks

Moving trucks are much larger than regular passenger vehicles, but smaller than tractor-trailers. They’re often called “box trucks” due to their size and shape. Because they’re so large and heavy, they’re harder to maneuver than a regular car. These trucks also have a great deal of blind spots, and drivers can’t see behind them. Inexperienced drivers may not even know to pay attention to the rear of their trucks – in some cases, rental truck drivers have even left the back latch open, spilling cargo onto the highway behind them, causing serious car accidents and injuries.

Renting and safely driving a moving truck or van requires the following skills:

• Compensating for blind spots
• Increased sense of caution
• Obeying all traffic rules (including height restrictions)
• Navigating wider turns
• Securing all latches and doors tightly
• Using a spotter or other guidance when reversing
• Understanding the size of your truck

If you’re involved in an accident with a moving truck, you might wonder who’s responsible for your injuries and damages.

Liability for a moving truck accident

In most types of traffic accidents, the at-fault driver is typically liable for the accident and resulting injuries. However, the rental company can also be held responsible. Some circumstances where the company may be held liable include:

• When a company rents a truck to someone without a valid drivers’ license
• When a company rents a vehicle to someone who’s clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• When a company fails to conduct required maintenance and safety checks on their vehicles

However, even if the rental company can be held liable, the driver isn’t off the hook for their own negligence.

There’s one other scenario where a third party could be held liable for your accident. If the rental truck was defective in some way – the brakes failed or a tire blew – the manufacturer of the vehicle may be held responsible under product liability law.

You should not be responsible for your injuries and damages when someone else causes an accident. The car accident attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help you get the compensation you need for your injuries, damages and losses. We represent clients in the Wilmington, Seaford, and Newark areas. Call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form today.