Houston Rental Truck Accident Lawyer

Houston Rental Truck Accident Attorney

Rental truck collisions can result in catastrophic injuries when novice drivers are behind the wheel of a box truck, moving van, or cargo van. If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a rented truck accident, a Houston rental truck accident lawyer with Stevenson & Murray can help you understand your rights and work toward getting the financial compensation you deserve.

Hire a Rental Truck Accident Lawyer

Stevenson & Murray has over 80 years of combined experience representing people hurt in serious transportation accidents in Texas. We know how to handle the complex claims and litigation arising from rental truck accidents, including insurance coverage disputes, maintenance and repair issues, and driver qualification matters.

We take a strategic approach to every case with thorough investigation, proven litigation experience, and personal attention. We are dedicated to providing strategic advice and dependable representation to clients injured in rental truck accidents, ensuring that every potential source of recovery is carefully and professionally considered.

Causes of Rental Truck Accidents and Possible Liable Parties

Rental truck accidents can arise from numerous preventable causes. Large rental trucks have braking characteristics different from those of passenger cars. They also have a higher center of gravity and wider blind spots. The combination of inexperience, mechanical problems, or cargo-loading errors can quickly lead to a dangerous collision.

Potentially liable parties can include the driver, the rental company, the truck’s maintenance or repair service, and even a third party responsible for loading cargo. Determining the liable parties is an important part of understanding how to build a successful claim. Typical causes and liable parties for rental truck accidents include:

• Driver unfamiliarity with the size of rental trucks
• Improperly loaded cargo or unsecured freight in the truck
• Brake or tire malfunction from lack of maintenance
• Poor visibility or misaligned mirrors in the rental truck
• Driving at excessive speeds for the truck’s weight or the road conditions
• Abrupt stops, wide turns, or poor judgment of stopping distance

What Rental Truck Accidents Entail and How They Cause Catastrophic Injuries in Houston

Renters of these large trucks face a high risk of accidents because they are often unprepared for the large size and unique handling. On U.S. 59, I-45, FM 1960, and the Katy Freeway, there are too many cars and trucks, and a lot of merging and lane shifting in tight spaces.

Rental trucks also don’t always have enough room to merge and have to navigate at all different speeds. Inexperienced drivers can’t always react fast enough. Catastrophic injuries that can occur from rental truck accidents include brain injuries, broken bones, soft-tissue damage, and even lifelong mobility issues and disabilities.

Rental trucks are large, and the force of an accident is greater than what a smaller passenger car would face. Damages, claims, and litigation are crucial to help with these costs now and in the future.

Evidence That Is Important to Prove Fault in Rental Truck Accident Cases

Evidence that shows a rental truck was in working order, how it was driven, and how the truck rental company conducted business can help determine who is at fault for a given accident. Statistics from crash data validated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also help understand current crash risks. In 2023, 114,552 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, and a total of 5,472 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes.

Information that can help with a rental truck accident claim includes rental contracts and logs, pre-trip inspection reports, maintenance history, driver depositions, dash-cam or traffic-camera video, and bill of lading or other cargo loading records. If a truck has a black box, retrieving data from it can help reveal pre-crash braking and speed. Gathering evidence of the facts is important to understand the causes of a crash and who is liable.

FAQs

How Does the Different Handling of Rental Trucks Affect Liability?

Rental trucks have wider turning requirements, longer braking distances, and larger blind spots than standard passenger vehicles. When a renter misjudges these differences, liability may depend on whether the driver exercised reasonable care under the circumstances.

If the rental company failed to provide a safe vehicle, proper maintenance, or clear operational guidance, responsibility may shift to the company. Assessing liability requires examining how the truck’s handling characteristics contributed to the collision.

What Should I Do if the Rental Company Contacts Me Following the Accident?

Should a rental company contact you, don’t make a recorded statement or sign anything until you talk to a lawyer. Rental companies often ask for information that can affect liability, or in an attempt to settle quickly. Prematurely discussing details can jeopardize your right to recover full compensation. Instruct all inquiries to go through your attorney to protect your rights and ensure accurate documentation of the event.

Can Mechanical Problems Impact Liability for a Rental Truck Collision?

Brake problems, tire defects, steering issues, or lighting malfunctions can be a result of poor maintenance. Rental companies must ensure the safety of their vehicles before allowing the public to use them, and maintenance issues can factor into liability. Investigators may examine inspection logs, service records, or vehicle condition reports to see if a mechanical failure caused the collision, which can affect the claim.

Contact a Houston Rental Truck Accident Attorney

The upheaval caused by a rental truck accident requires you to understand your legal rights and options. These types of collisions often raise questions about vehicle conditions, renter responsibilities, and the actions of various other parties.

If you’ve been injured in a rental truck collision, you have rights, and Stevenson & Murray can help you understand them. Through our experience in representing people injured in these types of accidents throughout Houston, we have the necessary knowledge to review your case and assist you in carefully considering your options.

When you book a consultation, we can review the details of your accident and discuss potential liability and how to move forward to seek compensation. Contact our firm if you were injured in a rental truck accident and want to hire a rental truck accident lawyer.