Staten Island U-Haul Accident Lawyer

Hit by a Rental Truck? Call Our Staten Island U-Haul Accident Lawyer for Help

Rental trucks are more common than ever on the roads in Staten Island. Whether it is for moving homes or offices, purchasing big ticket items, or even delivery companies using them to help fulfill orders, rental trucks are now an everyday obstacle on the roads. U-Hauls are one of the most common of the rental trucks available to rent. Although they are generally safe, statistics show that there are up to 4.1 rental truck accidents per million miles traveled which is higher than the estimated 3.83 accidents per million miles traveled for regular passenger vehicles. Indeed, U-Haul acknowledges the risk of accidents on moving day, including because rental trucks are simply much larger and different to drive. Each year in the United States rental truck accidents contribute to roughly 150 fatalities, with driver error being responsible for 44% of those accidents. Unfortunately, our Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer knows that thousands more are seriously injured as a result of a rental truck accident.

Here at the O’Connor Law Firm, we help victims and their families recover compensation after catastrophic or fatal personal injury accidents. This includes U-Haul and other rental truck accidents in Staten Island, where our compassionate and skilled legal team can investigate the causes of a crash, build a damages claim, and seek compensation for your damages. This includes compensation for not just medical bills and lost wages, but also for conscious pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other harm caused by a negligent defendant. To learn more about how our experienced Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer can help you and your family, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Why U-Hauls are Dangerous

Although tractor-trailers and other large big rigs require a CDL, driving a box rental truck does not. Even though U-Hauls and other rental trucks are easier to operate than semis, they are much different than regular passenger vehicles. Indeed, they require drivers to adopt a defensive driving stance the entire time they are operating a rental truck, including just backing up slowly in a parking lot. That’s because these large rental trucks are also heavy, generating significant momentum even at a low speed. This translates into greater force in an impact, which is more likely to cause serious personal injuries. As a result, victims who are injured in Staten Island U-Haul accidents often suffer disabling and permanent injuries, including some injuries that may be life-threatening or fatal.

In addition to the physics of a rental truck, there are so some inherent differences that make U-Hauls dangerous. This includes the large blind spots that smaller, passenger vehicles just do not have. In addition, drivers often do not have any way to see behind them when they are backing up and must rely on mirrors. Even when a U-Haul has a backup camera, sometimes drivers do not realize there is a lag between the video and what is actually happening. Other times drivers do not realize the depth or markings on the backup camera, thinking they have more space than they do not.

Common Causes of U-Haul Accidents in New York

Our Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer knows that there are many possible causes of rental truck accidents in New York. Generally, most accidents involve the inexperience of a driver who may be using a rental truck for the first time. However, even a driver who has used many U-Hauls before will still only have limited experience in operating these types of unique vehicles. This leads to mistakes in the operation of a rental truck, some which could cause serious motor vehicle accidents.

Some of the most common causes of these motor vehicle accidents involving a U-Haul or another type of rental truck include the following:

• Speeding
• Turning too sharply
• Backing up unsafely
• Improper lane changes
• Unsafe merging
• Unsecured cargo causing a vehicle to shift, roll, or flip
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Failure to yield
• Following too closely and not braking in time
• Not inspecting a U-Haul for mechanical issues prior to use (i.e., damage to tire that could cause a blowout)
• Driving too fast in a roundabout
• Failing to check blind spots or mirrors correctly
• Improper left turns
• Hitch errors with trailers
• Distracted driving, including trying to learn how to use the vehicle
• Drunk driving and drugged driving
• Mechanical problems
• Drowsy driving
• Inattentive driving, and
• Other reckless or careless causes of rental truck accidents that our Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer can help you with.

Can U-Haul Be Responsible for a Rental Truck Accident in New York?

Many of the most common causes of rental truck accidents in New York are caused by driver errors such as speeding, improper turns, and other conduct. However, there are some specific situations where U-Haul and the rental company may be responsible for a motor vehicle accident. These types of cases are very complex, particularly because drivers are responsible for performing a reasonable inspection of their vehicle before driving it.

However, the rental company can still be liable for motor vehicle accidents in certain circumstances. This includes some of the following scenarios:

• Failing to confirm a renter has a valid driver’s license
• Hidden defects on trucks such as brake issues
• Intentionally hidden damage to a tire or another part that could cause an accident
• Improper equipment, such as using the wrong tires or brakes on a truck
• Not providing loading instructions or explaining loading instructions (i.e., not advising renters of load limits to not overload trucks and cause brake failures)
• Failing to regularly maintain vehicles
• Unsafe or improper repairs
• Allowing renters to take unsafe vehicles out, and
• Other negligent actions that could result in serious personal injuries or the wrongful death of an innocent person that our Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer can handle for victims and their families.

What Should I Do If I Was Injured in a Staten Island U-Haul Accident?

After a rental truck accident in New York, make sure to contact law enforcement to have them respond to the scene. They will create a report and do an investigation, possibly issuing tickets to the U-Haul driver or the company for defects. Seek proper medical care and attention too, and follow doctor orders. If you are able to do so at the scene, also take photographs of the crash, signage, traffic control devices, and other relevant things that may help support your claim.

Once we are back home or while you are stabilized at the hospital, make sure to report your claim to the company as soon as possible. However, be careful of providing too much information to the claims representative, as the adjuster will immediately begin to work to minimize your claim and your injuries. Thus, once you have created a claim, it is better to immediately seek legal representation by hiring an experienced Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer like ours at the O’Connor Law Firm.

We can help complete your claim by filing in the facts without falling for insurance adjuster tricks. Our legal team will also begin to build your case, and our lawyer will be able to effectively negotiate with the insurance carrier. If the adjuster fails to properly compensate you, we are prepared to protect your legal rights in court by filing a lawsuit.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Staten Island U-Haul Accident Lawyer?

Although most people believe that lawyers are expensive and even cost-prohibitive, victims and their families are often surprised to learn that it does not cost them anything upfront or out-of-pocket at the O’Connor Law Firm. Unlike some other personal injury lawyers who may charge upfront for medical records of case reviews, our bodily injury law firm pays those costs and is only reimbursed after we recover compensation for you.

Indeed, when you hire the Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer at the O’Connor Law Firm, you get the following:

• Free consultations and case evaluations where you can ask questions and get legal answers, with no obligation to sign up
• Should you hire us and we agree to accept your case, we pay the upfront costs, expenses, and fees of litigation, including medical records, experts, and court costs, which are only reimbursed after we recover compensation for you (no recovery, no reimbursement)
• Our legal fees are only paid after we recover compensation for you (no recovery, no legal fee), and
• Our legal fees are also only from a percentage of the total recovery, meaning you won’t pay out-of-pocket for our services.

Hurt in a Rental Truck Accident in New York? Our Staten Island U-Haul Accident Lawyer Can Help You Today

After a rental truck has caused you or a family member serious personal injuries, or if a loved one was wrongfully killed, contact our experienced Staten Island U-Haul accident lawyer for help. At the O’Connor Law Firm, we are dedicated to representing victims and their families against some of the largest defendants in insurance carriers in the region. We will not let defense lawyers and insurance adjusters protect dangerous drivers, and we will fight to protect your rights to compensation under New York law.

To learn more about our approach and commitment to our clients and their families, call to schedule your free consultation by dialing (866) 927-3809 or by sending us an email through our “Contact Us” box available here. Whether you were injured in a U-Haul, rental truck, or any other type of motor vehicle accident, our compassionate legal team can help you.