Though the average rental truck is not as large as a commercial truck, it is much larger than most passenger vehicles. As a result, it is more difficult to drive. Unfortunately, California law does not require any specialized training to drive a rental truck. It is then no surprise that there are many truck accidents each year involving rental trucks.
If you have been involved in this type of accident then you may wonder how is responsible. Keep reading to get a general answer to this question. Then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation to get answers to your specific questions.
The Rental Truck Driver May Be Responsible
It is possible that the party driving the rental truck was responsible for the accident if it was their negligence that caused it. For example, if they ran a red light and hit your vehicle. In most cases, the insurance company of the driver is responsible for paying claims for victims but it is common practice for a car insurance policy to not cover rental truck accidents.
If this is the case, then the driver is personally responsible for the accident. That is, unless they elected to purchase insurance through their rental truck company. In that case, the insurance company from which they purchased supplemental insurance would be responsible.
The Rental Company May Be Liable
There are specific situations under which the rental company may be responsible for compensating a victim for their injuries and property damage. It is the responsibility of these rental companies to ensure that their vehicles are maintained and safe to drive. If the accident is caused by or contributed to as a result of poor maintenance, then the rental company could be held responsible.
Likewise, the rental company has a responsibility to only rent their vehicles to licensed, responsible drivers. If they rent to a person without a valid driver’s license, then they could be held accountable if said person injures someone while driving. If the person renting the truck was clearly intoxicated at the time they rented it, then the rental company could be at fault.
The Truck Manufacturer May Be Liable
In some cases, the manufacturer of the rental truck or the parts used on the truck could be held accountable for an accident. This happens if the cause of the accident is a defective product. For example, if the brakes on the truck are dysfunctional then it may be that the manufacturer is responsible for this.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today to Learn More
If you want to know more about who is liable for your particular truck accident then we strongly encourage you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 at your earliest convenience. We are happy to start with a free legal consultation so that you know what your options are. Call us now!
