When people move across town or across the country, they may hire a moving company, or they may rent a vehicle and do the driving themselves. Either way, it is possible that the driver involved does not have much experience operating this type of vehicle.
Such inexperience could cause the driver to make a mistake that may lead to an accident with other drivers on the roadway. A moving van weighs more and takes up more space on the road than a typical passenger vehicle, and the car driver and their passengers could suffer significant injuries in this type of crash.
After a crash with a moving van involving injuries, you may want to protect your right to seek awards for your medical bills, pain, and suffering. Consider hiring a Rockford moving van truck accident lawyer to help with your case. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our team of attorneys may represent you in negotiations with the insurer and in court. Call us at (800) 794-0444 for a free review of your case.
Determining Liability in a Moving Truck Accident
Figuring out the liable party in an accident between your car and a moving truck can involve a tricky process. Sometimes, a moving company hires a driver to handle its truck. Other times, the driver may have rented a truck, meaning the rental company may have some liability.
Driving a Moving Truck Legally
In the state of Illinois, you do not need to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive a rental truck for moving. Instead, you need only a Class D driver’s license, according to Illinois Rules of the Road.
The Class D license allows operation of a vehicle with a gross weight of 16,000 pounds or less. According to the state of Illinois, when operating a rental vehicle to carry your own personal property or that of a friend or relative, you can use the Class D license to operate a vehicle up to 26,000 pounds.
A professional moving truck driver may have a CDL license because they may also drive other types of trucks.
Risk of Inexperienced Drivers
When any Class D license holder operates a large rental moving van truck up to 26,000 pounds in weight, this could lead to an accident. The driver probably does not use this size of truck often, and this inexperience could prove dangerous for other drivers on the road.
Some of the potential mistakes a moving van driver could make, causing an accident, include:
- Drowsy driving
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving too fast for the weather or road conditions
- Reckless driving
- Failing to maintain a lane
- Failing to signal a turn
- Following too closely
- Changing lanes unsafely
If you believe the other driver made an operational error that led to the crash and your injuries, you may choose to hire a Rockford moving van truck accident lawyer. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may stand by your side throughout negotiations with the insurance company, as well as in court, if the case reaches that point.
Operating a Moving Truck Safely
With a moving truck full of personal possessions, driving the truck safely can present a challenge for a few different reasons, including:
- Loading the truck: where an improperly loaded or overloaded truck may cause the weight of the truck to shift unexpectedly, causing the driver to overcompensate and to potentially lose control.
- Profile of the truck: where because a truck sits taller than an average vehicle, it can sway in heavy winds, possibly causing a driver to overcompensate and lose control.
- Condition of the truck: where perhaps the rental company did not maintain the moving van in the proper condition to keep it running safely, such as poorly maintained brakes or balding tires.
For a free legal consultation with a Moving Van Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Rockford, call (800) 794-0444
How an Attorney May Help
Hiring a Rockford moving van truck accident lawyer to help with your case may relieve you of several legal tasks, including the following.
Negotiating with Insurers
Dealing with calls from an insurance adjuster while you are trying to heal and care for your family may cause you to struggle. Adjusters may have a lot of questions about a crash like this, asking you to go over the same information again and again. An attorney may take over the negotiation phase for you, giving you more time to focus on the healing process and on your family.
Studying the Facts
Figuring out how to present the facts in your case requires studying police reports and interviewing eyewitnesses. An attorney may help you understand what happened in the crash and how it has affected your life. If needed, we can bring in an accident recreation expert who can testify on your behalf.
Determining a Fair Settlement
Because you, as a victim in a car crash, likely do not deal with moving van accident settlements on a regular basis, you are at a disadvantage against experienced insurance adjusters. An attorney may help you calculate your future medical costs, determining whether an offered settlement amount is fair.
Rockford Moving Van Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
We Do Not Shy Away from Taking Tough Cases
If someone driving a moving truck struck your passenger car, causing injuries to you or your passengers, you have the right to seek compensation for your pain, suffering, and medical bills. The negligent party should have to pay for your physical treatment, as well as your mental trauma.
When you hire the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, you will receive advice on whether you have a viable case and whether the insurance company is offering a fair settlement for your ongoing health care, emotional trauma, and any reduction in your quality of life going forward.
Contact us at (800) 794-0444 as soon as possible for a free consultation. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you do not pay us any fees up front.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form