Ryder and U-Haul Accidents

Truck Crash Lawyers Serving Los Angeles and Surrounding Cities

It may be expensive to move from one place to the next. In order to save costs, many people choose to rent U-Hauls or other trucks and trailers. Over the years, there have been numerous towing accidents, some of which are attributable to bad brakes or driver inexperience. Many people fail to learn how to properly load the trailer or respond to a swinging trailer. If you have been hurt in a Ryder or U-Haul accident, you can consult the Los Angeles truck accident attorneys at Sharifi Firm for guidance on your options.

Assert Your Rights After a Ryder or U-Haul Accident

Unlike most truck accidents, collisions caused by rented Ryder or U-Haul trucks do not usually involve a commercially licensed driver. These drivers are not experienced and do not need to meet the strict federal and state standards for commercial drivers. At the same time, they are operating a heavy piece of equipment that may cause significant harm to others on the road. In some cases, they can potentially be held liable for negligence, just as they might be in a lawsuit involving a car. Drivers of rented trucks who drive distractedly, at an excessive speed, or without paying attention to road conditions may be held responsible for negligent driving.

Rented moving trucks sustain heavy use by their drivers and must be maintained carefully and properly. Even if a driver is using reasonable care, they may not have received sufficient maintenance and repairs from their owner. It is important for your attorney to carefully investigate the crash to find out whether the rental company may be held liable for issues with the truck like brake failure. If brake failure or another defective part or repair is at issue, you may be able to seek compensation from the trucking company rather than the driver’s auto insurance.

In some cases, rental truck liability is limited by a waiver in the terms and conditions that need to be signed in order to rent the vehicle. Even in those situations, however, it may be possible to sue the rental company for renting to an unfit driver or to sue a parts manufacturer for making a defective trailer or hook. If the company renting out the moving van rents it to someone who is obviously intoxicated or does not have a valid driver’s license, it may be possible to sue the company for negligent entrustment of the moving van.

If a part of a rental truck is defective, the manufacturer may be held strictly liable. This means that you will not need to prove a lapse of care but instead will need to prove that a design, manufacturing, or marketing defect caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. Other possible theories of liability in this situation include negligence or breach of warranty.

Contact a Los Angeles Attorney for Your Truck Accident Case

It is important to retain an attorney who understands the different angles by which your moving truck case may be approached in order to pursue compensation. At Sharifi Firm, APC, our experienced Los Angeles lawyers may be able to help you bring a claim after a Ryder or U-Haul accident. We understand the different theories that may be relevant in your case and can bring all of the potentially responsible parties into the litigation. Contact us online or call us at (866) 422-7222 to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney. Our firm also represents victims in Riverside, Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, and other Southern California cities.