[nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-2"]

​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
& CHICAGO Injury Lawyers

U-Haul Truck Accidents

Chicago Lawyers Helping Victims of Major Motor Vehicle Crashes

Most people do not realize when they are renting a U-Haul truck how devastating a U-Haul accident would be, particularly for others with whom they share the road. It is a lot of responsibility to get behind the wheel of a U-Haul. While U-Haul and other rental truck companies advertise that driving these trucks is easy, these are large trucks, and an inexperienced driver may make a mistake that costs someone else significantly. If you are injured in a crash, the experienced Chicago U-Haul accident lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca are ready to assist you.

U-Haul Truck Accidents

Many people who rent U-Hauls are reassured that they are able to drive a heavy truck, and they assume that the rental company will give them a safe truck to drive. However, driving a large truck is challenging. The trucks and trailers that are provided by U-Haul and other rental companies are different from a standard passenger vehicle, even though no commercial license is needed to drive them. Issues that may arise include decreased speed capacity, limited maneuverability, the need to leave enough room in case it is necessary to stop suddenly, and instability. A moment’s inattention or inexperienced handling can result in a devastating accident.

If you were injured by a U-Haul driver in the Chicago area, a U-Haul accident attorney may be able to hold the driver directly liable for his or her negligence. This means showing the duty of the U-Haul driver, a breach of duty, causation, and actual damages. There is a wide range of ways in which the driver of a U-Haul may breach the duty to use reasonable care.

U-Haul drivers who do not correct their driving when a rented trailer starts to move out of control may breach the duty to use reasonable care. Similarly, a U-Haul driver who fails to check blind spots or does not know how to check them may cause an accident by traveling into an occupied adjacent lane. Sometimes, because of a higher center of gravity, a U-Haul driver causes a truck to roll over due to a sudden movement or taking a curve much too fast. Either of these may be a breach of the duty to use reasonable care. A U-Haul’s rollover can affect the other cars around it. Sometimes a U-Haul driver loses control of the truck due to the cargo being unevenly distributed by a renter who does not understand how to properly distribute the cargo when moving. Other factors that our Chicago U-Haul accident attorneys know can cause accidents include speeding, distracted driving, substance abuse, and negligently maintained vehicles.

U-Haul may rent a vehicle that has inadequate service records or that has not been inspected for appropriate safety concerns. Often, the rental truck company has limited its liability in the terms and conditions that the renter signed upon renting the truck. However, there may be some way to pursue damages from the rental truck company. For example, when it knew or should have known that a renter is unable or too inexperienced to drive the rental truck safely, and this inability to drive safely causes an accident, it may be possible to recover damages under a theory of negligent entrustment.

If a rental company negligently maintains the U-Haul truck that caused the accident, it may be possible to hold it liable under a theory of negligent maintenance. Sometimes liability is split between a rental truck company and a manufacturer of a rental truck when defective manufacturing or design, as well as negligence in safety inspections, causes an accident.

Discuss Your Claim with a U-Haul Accident Lawyer in Chicago

If you were injured in a U-Haul truck accident, you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we represent people in Chicago, Aurora, Springfield, Champaign, Rockford, and Quincy, as well as other cities in Cook, Kane, Sangamon, Champaign, Winnebago, and Adams Counties. You can call us at 312-724-5846, or contact us online, for a free consultation.