People are moving from one place to another across the country, whether it be across town or multiple state lines. Many people hire a professional delivery service to transport their belongings, but others choose to rent a moving van and drive themselves.
Moving vans are generally large vehicles that must be driven carefully, not only to preserve the condition of the objects they are carrying but also for the safety of other motorists. It only takes a split second for an accident to happen, but a split second can lead to a lifetime of grief.
If you were injured or had your property damaged in an accident involving a moving van, a Long Island moving van accident lawyer might be able to help you with your case. Call Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800 today to see if you qualify to pursue compensation.
Moving Van Accidents Might Have More Than One Liable Party
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a moving “van” can range in size from a standard Econoline pack van to a long tractor-trailer truck. Someone who is not trained to operate a large moving van might have a higher risk of getting into an accident due to being unable to maneuver the vehicle according to its size and carrying capacity.
Moving van rental companies, such as U-Haul, rent large vehicles to customers who might have had no prior experience driving a vehicle of that size. If someone is unfamiliar with driving a large vehicle, such as a box truck or a cargo van, they might underestimate the power of the vehicle or forget how large their blind spots are while driving in traffic or parking. Also, they might not know how to properly load a moving van, which might cause loads to fall out of the vehicle during travel.
Employees might not have enough experience to drive a moving van if they did not receive proper training or have sufficient credentials to drive and operate larger moving vans. Moving vans can also undertake a fair amount of wear and tear from being driven for long distances. Once a van is returned to a rental hub, it must be inspected and repaired if necessary.
Since moving vans can exchange many hands in the moving industry, different parties may be found liable for causing a moving van accident. These parties might include:
- The driver of the moving van: Whether the driver is an employee or a customer renting the van, they might be held liable for accidents they cause. Employees and customers who drive moving vans might become fatigued after long drives, drive under the influence, or become distracted.
- The company that owns the van: If the company does not perform proper inspections or necessary repairs for a van before renting it out to a customer or assigning it to an employee, they may be held liable for damages.
- The van’s manufacturer: The manufacturer might be held liable if the van was not properly assembled or contained defective parts that made it unsafe to operate.
- The maintenance worker assigned to the van: If a company hires a third-party mechanic, they might be found liable if they neglected to properly repair the van.
Evidence of the Accident
When building your case, your lawyer may be able to help you gather evidence to support your claims. Evidence, such as footage of the accident from surveillance cameras or dashcams, can be extremely helpful in proving the fault of the defendant.
Other types of useful evidence include medical records from your health care providers. Documents that describe your injuries in detail add value to your claim and illustrate that you also experienced other intangible damages, such as pain and suffering.
When you are in the process of moving, it can be helpful to take photos of the personal property that is being moved before and after being loaded into a moving van. Keeping an inventory checklist with the value of the items can serve as a record of your losses during a move.
Collecting and preparing evidence can be vital in supporting your claim, but you might have a limited amount of time to do so. When filing a lawsuit, you should be aware of the statute of limitations in your state. In the state of New York, plaintiffs must file their lawsuits within three years of their accident, according to the New York Civil Practice Law & Rules (CVP) § 214.
Need help filing your personal injury claim? Call Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800 to get started on your case.
Starting the Road to Recovery
A Long Island moving van accident lawyer can provide you legal counsel and support during this difficult time. As you recover from your injuries, you might wonder what will happen if you are unable to afford your medical bills, if you are going to be able to return to work, and what will happen to you or your family. You might also be dealing with trauma from the accident and require treatment from a mental health professional.
Our attorneys want to help put your worries to rest. We know that the recovery process is not a straight line. There are categories of compensation that might help you get your finances back in order if you win them. You might be entitled to damages that cover the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Damage to your personal property, such as your vehicle or furniture
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
Long Island Moving Van Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Our Team Wants to Help You Fight for Compensation
Whether you were injured in an accident involving a moving van or had your possessions damaged during a move, you might be entitled to receive compensation. We believe that people should be held accountable for their actions and that all victims deserve justice. A Long Island moving van accident lawyer can protect your rights and fight to have your side of the story heard.
Were you injured? Did your property get damaged in a moving van accident? Call Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800 today to see if you might be entitled to receive compensation.