Moving is a very stressful endeavor for the average adult. When Tennessee residents choose to move to a new location, they must pack up all of their belongings and transport them to a new home, apartment or other residence. This is not an easy feat, and most choose to move as quickly through the process as possible, in order to return to daily life. After packing an entire home into boxes of assorted shapes and sizes, the cargo is usually loaded into a truck with the capacity to store all the items for transport. Some choose to use a company that specializes in moving homes, while others pursue the DIY route.
U-Haul is the most often used rental company in the U.S. when it comes to providing trucks and trailers for moving purposes. (Competitors include Penske, Ryder, Budget and others.) Although U-Haul allows thousands of Americans to move their belongings each day, many of the drivers who rent these vehicles do not have ample experience in towing a trailer or driving a 12 + truck. Between driver inexperience and known issues with equipment, U-Haul vehicles are highly susceptible to being involved in a large truck accident.
Throughout the United States, a U-Haul accident occurs more frequently than one might think. With thousands of U-Haul involved collisions on American roadways each year, many motorists have sustained the damages caused by these moving trucks and trailers.
The truck accident attorneys at Greg Coleman Law know the devastation that this type of accident can cause to the occupants, cargo and other involved vehicles. If you have been involved in a U-Haul accident and you or a loved one has suffered injury or even death, you may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death case.
Find out how we can stand up for your rights Simply fill out the Free Case Review form to your right.
Types of U-Haul Rental Trucks
U-Haul rents trucks, vans and trailers for a variety of purposes, as well as additional equipment to assist in the moving process, such as hand-truck dollies and furniture pads. Many of the trucks rented by U-Haul include loading ramps.
Some of the vehicles in U-Hauls fleet include:
- 10 26 moving trucks
- Cargo trailer
- Cargo vans
- Pickup trucks
- Sport trailer
- Utility trailer
These are a few of the common types of vehicles rented by U-Haul. Trucks come in a variety of sizes, and trailers are available to tow additional cargo or another vehicle.
Potential Causes of a U-Haul Accident
The benefits of U-Haul are double-edged, as the company allows for DIY moving for any American with a license and credit card; however many of these drivers are far from possessing a CDL. Aside from sheer inexperience, there are several possible causes for an accident with a U-Haul vehicle:
- Improper maintenance
- Improper loading of cargo
- Equipment failure
- Worn brakes
- Shift in cargo
- Swaying trailers
- Driver inexperience
- Distracted drivers
- Negligent drivers
Fatigue can also factor in when the U-Haul renter is traveling far distances, such as in cross-country moves. In rare cases, another cause for an accident is cargo falling off the vehicle in some manner and creating debris in the roadway.
Dangers of Towing with a U-Haul Trailer
Unfortunately, U-Haul has fallen under the spotlight over the years for negligence regarding both the safety of their trucks and procedures for protecting renters.
Some of the common dangers U-Haul has been known for include:
- Defective trailers
- Failure to have vehicles inspected regularly
- Frequent issues with brakes
- Insufficiently informing renters of safe weight and loading practices
- Little to no screening in driver ability
U-Haul is also the only trailer rental company in the U.S. that allows renters to attach a trailer to the renters own SUV. Between these known issues and a failure to properly educate renters on maneuvering a trailer or large truck, it is common for U-Haul vehicles to contribute to an accident.
Contact Our Knoxville Truck Accident Law Firm for Free Today
Greg Coleman Law has experience in handling U-Haul involved accidents through our many years in practice. We thoroughly understand the complexities in litigating commercial trucking accidents and offer our knowledge and expertise to any Tennessee victims involved in a U-Haul accident.
With over $250 Million in favorable verdicts and settlements for our clients, the legal professionals at Greg Coleman Law passionately pursue maximum compensation in all of our clients cases. We proudly serve clients in the following areas through our main office in Knoxville:
- Powell
- Seymour
- Kodak
- Strawberry Plains
- Corryton
- Clinton
- Oak Ridge
- Farragut
- and many surrounding communities
Learn how you can benefit from our legal expertise call (865) 247-0080 today to speak with our staff about your legal options.
To get started right now, simply fill out the Free Case Review form at the top of this page and we will contact you.
