People rent trucks for a variety of reasons, such as using an Enterprise, Budget, Ryder, or U-Haul truck to move homes as well as needing a truck for work-related duties or recreational activities. Unfortunately, although many drivers are equipped to handle a regular-sized vehicle, trucks are much more difficult to maneuver. As a result, serious accidents may result when drivers of rental trucks act carelessly behind the wheel. The Miami truck crash lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon help victims who have been injured in a rental truck accident receive compensation from liable parties. Whether the rental company, the driver, or another person or entity is to blame, The team work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served. Our firm represents victims throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as elsewhere across South Florida. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one as a result of an accident involving a rental truck, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation regarding your legal rights and options.
South Florida Rental Truck AccidentsIn Florida, approximately 7,000 motor vehicle collisions involve a medium or large truck yearly. Often, people who rent trucks are not familiar with their size and blind spots, or how to properly load cargo into a trailer or truck bed. Major, nationwide rental companies allow customers to rent a variety of larger-sized vehicles, including panel trucks, trailer attachments, pickup trucks, and large moving trucks. Renters are often untrained, with no guidance or instructions as to how to operate these cumbersome vehicles properly. Thus, serious accidents can occur if a rental truck driver is unfamiliar with an area or is speeding to get to their destination. Careless drivers are of course responsible for their own actions and should be held accountable for injuries that they cause. However, some rental companies may also be to blame if they knew, or should have known, that a driver was not fit to operate the vehicle entrusted to them, or if they failed to provide a properly maintained vehicle to customers.
Determining Responsibility for Rental Truck AccidentsRenters are usually encouraged to obtain insurance when they rent a truck or car. However, many people, either believing that they will be covered by their own policies or not wanting to spend the extra money, refuse that coverage. Even with insurance, the policy benefits may not be adequate to cover the costs associated with a catastrophic injury, making legal action necessary for a rental truck accident victim’s recovery.
Victims injured due to a rental truck accident may seek damages from parties responsible for harming them by retaining an attorney to file a personal injury lawsuit. These claims are based on proving that one or more parties acted negligently. Negligence involves showing that a defendant breached an owed duty of reasonable care, that breach caused the victim’s injuries, and damages were sustained as a result. All drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles as a reasonable and prudent person would under similar circumstances. Additionally, rental companies must properly inspect and maintain the vehicles that they own to make sure that they are safe for the roads. A driver who fails to check blind spots, for example, may be found negligent. Meanwhile, if a collision is caused by tires that have not been properly inspected or replaced, the rental company can be held accountable. Damages available to injured victims may include past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Hire a Truck Crash Lawyer in the Miami AreaInjuries sustained in a truck accident range from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, any of which, at the very least, requires time to heal. The Miami attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon help victims receive the financial support that they are due to aid in their recovery. If you or a loved one has been injured in a rental truck accident, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online today for a free consultation to learn more about our legal services. We represent injured people in Miami, West Palm Beach, and other South Florida cities.