How to Handle a Car Accident Involving a Rental Truck
A rental truck car accident is not like a regular fender-bender. You may be dealing with a massive vehicle weighing over 10,000 pounds, an inexperienced driver behind the wheel, and a confusing mix of insurance policies and liability shields that protect billion-dollar rental corporations. Whether you were injured by a rental truck or you were driving one when the accident occurred, the aftermath can be legally complex and emotionally exhausting.
At Roxell Richards Injury Law Firm, we understand how overwhelming these crashes can be. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive 3000-word guide designed to answer your most pressing questions, help you protect your rights, and prepare you for every step in the claims and recovery process.
🚚 Table of Contents:
1. Rental Truck Crashes: A Growing Safety Concern
2. What Makes Rental Truck Accidents So Complicated?
3. Immediate Steps to Take After a Rental Truck Car Accident
4.Rental Truck Accident FAQs
5. Common Causes of Rental Truck Accidents
6. Determining Fault and Liability
7. Who Can Be Held Liable?
8. Insurance Challenges and Policy Gaps
9. Real Case Studies: How These Accidents Unfold
10. Damages You Can Recover in a Rental Truck Accident
11. Legal Tips for Protecting Your Case
12. Why Hire Roxell Richards Injury Law Firm
13. Call To Action
Rental Truck Crashes: A Growing Safety Concern
Over 11 million Americans move each year, and a large portion do it themselves using rental trucks from companies like U-Haul, Penske, Budget, Ryder, or Enterprise. Most of these vehicles are heavy-duty box trucks that don’t require any special license to operate, despite their commercial-grade weight and size.
The result? A surge in accidents caused by:
– Inexperienced drivers
– Poorly loaded cargo
– Overworked or fatigued movers
– Mechanical failures
– Blind spots and wide turns
Rental trucks are overrepresented in rear-end collisions, rollover incidents, and low-bridge strikes. When they collide with standard vehicles, the results are often catastrophic.
What Makes Rental Truck Accidents So Complicated?
- A driver
- A rental company
- One or more insurance providers
- A moving service or third-party loading crew
- Possible vehicle defects
Worse, federal laws like the Graves Amendment protect rental truck companies from being automatically sued just because they own the vehicle.
Without a skilled lawyer, accident victims often:
- Don’t know which insurance covers what
- Missed filing deadlines
- Accept lowball settlements
- Fail to recover enough for medical costs, lost wages, and pain
Immediate Steps to Take After a Rental Truck Car Accident
If you’re in a rental truck crash, here’s what you must do:
- Move to safety if possible
- Call 911 immediately for medical and police response
- Photograph all vehicles, damages, license plates, debris, and road conditions
- Get names, contact info, and insurance details from all drivers
- Ask witnesses for statements and contact information
- This is crucial for insurance claims and future legal action
- Get the officer’s name, badge number, and case number
- Even if symptoms are delayed, getting checked can detect:
- Whiplash
- Internal bleeding
- Concussions
- Your medical report becomes part of your injury claim
If you rented the truck:
- Follow the reporting instructions in your contract
- Don’t admit fault
- Ask for a copy of the rental agreement and insurance forms
Rental Truck Accident FAQs
Treat it like any major accident:
- Call the police
- Get medical attention
- Document everything
- Contact a lawyer to begin a claim against the driver or rental company
This is, unfortunately, common. Your UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist) coverage may help. Otherwise, a lawsuit may be needed to recover damages directly from the driver or their assets.
- The truck was defective
- The company failed to maintain it properly
- They rented to someone unfit to drive
- Exclude large trucks over 10,000 lbs.
- Only offer partial coverage
- Exclude business or commercial use
Common Causes of Rental Truck Accidents
- Driver inexperience
- Improper lane changes or wide turns
- Speeding or failure to brake early
- Overloaded or unsecured cargo
- Tire blowouts or brake failures
- Fatigued driving from long-distance moving trips
Determining Fault and Liability
- Witness statements
- Traffic camera or dash cam footage
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Driver qualifications and rental agreements
- Vehicle speed
- Timing of braking
- Road condition impact
- Load balance and cargo shifts
Who Can Be Held Liable?
- Distracted
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
- Violating traffic laws
- Failed to inspect or maintain the vehicle
- Rented to an unlicensed or dangerous driver
- Ignored safety recalls
- Failed to secure the cargo properly
- Overloaded the vehicle
- Violated safety protocols
- Brake failure
- Steering issues
- Faulty tires or airbag deployment
Insurance Challenges and Policy Gaps
Most rental companies offer several layers of insurance, each with different purposes and many exclusions:
- Covers damage to the rental vehicle
- Often doesn’t cover injuries to others
- Increases third-party liability limits
- May still leave gaps in coverage
- Covers medical bills for the renter or passengers
- Excludes damage to other vehicles or people
- Protects property being moved
- Doesn’t cover bodily injury or third-party claims
Real Case Studies: How These Accidents Unfold
A Texas couple is rear-ended at a red light by a Budget rental truck. Investigation reveals worn brakes with no service records for months. The rental company had ignored past complaints.
💥 Outcome: Roxell Richards Injury Law Firm secured a six-figure settlement from the rental company for negligent maintenance.
🧾 Case 2: Unsecured Load
A family moving across the state has their furniture shift during a turn, causing the truck to tip and hit another car. The loading crew used by the rental company had failed to secure the cargo.
💥 Outcome: Our firm proved negligence by the third-party loaders and secured compensation for the injured victims.
🧾 Case 3: Driver Underinsured
A college student driving a rented U-Haul hits a pedestrian. He declined all insurance coverage and had no personal auto policy.
Damages You Can Recover in a Rental Truck Accident
🚑 Medical expenses (hospitalization, rehab, prescriptions)
🏠 Home modifications (if disabled or injured long-term)
💼 Lost income and reduced earning capacity
🧠 Emotional distress and psychological trauma
🚗 Vehicle repair or replacement
🧾 Out-of-pocket expenses (transport, caregiving, etc.)
⚖️ Punitive damages in cases of reckless behavior
Legal Tips for Protecting Your Case
📅 Act quickly – evidence disappears and memory fades
📝 Keep a journal of your pain, symptoms, and treatment
📁 Save all receipts and bills
🚫 Don’t talk to the other insurance company without a lawyer
🗂️ Avoid signing anything before your legal team reviews it
Why Hire Roxell Richards Injury Law Firm
We understand that after a rental truck car accident, your life can be turned upside down. You’re juggling doctor visits, missing work, dealing with insurance adjusters, and trying to heal physically and emotionally.
That’s where we come in.
We’ve handled thousands of injury cases, including complex rental truck and commercial vehicle crashes.
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover money for you.
You’re not just a case number. We listen, explain your options, and fight with your best interest in mind every step of the way.
Call To Action
Roxell Richards Injury Law Firm. Your justice is our mission.
Let us help you get the compensation you deserve and start rebuilding your life today.
Houston, TX z7057
Phone: (713) 974-0388
Fax: (713) 974-0003