Different moving companies offer affordable services for people that need to move locally and out of state. Just like driving any motor vehicle, accidents can and always occur when you least expect it.
Accidents involving moving vans occur more frequently than you may realize and are caused by a host of factors such as inexperienced drivers, negligence on the part of the moving company, blind spots, and unroadworthy vehicles.
When moving vans get involved in traffic accidents, they often cause serious injuries and even death. If you are involved in a moving van accident, you may have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and damages suffered. A New York truck accident lawyer is ready to stand by and assist you.
You don’t have to handle the case alone. Contact Morelli Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with a New York moving van accident lawyer.
Common Causes of Moving Van Accidents
There are many reasons as to why moving van accidents may occur. According to our New York personal injury lawyers, some of the most common ones include:
Distracted Driving
With the prevalent use of cell phones, distracted driving is a major safety concern on the roadways. Distraction occurs when the driver shifts their attention from operating the vehicle to other tasks such as texting, eating or drinking, adjusting the GPS, or watching videos. These distractions can endanger the driver and other motorists on the road.
Negligent Driving
Negligence happens when a driver fails to fulfill their duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of others on the road. Falling asleep behind the wheel, failing to yield the right of way at an intersection, and making turns without using proper signals are some of the negligent deeds that could cause a road accident.
Reckless Driving
Moving van accidents occur because of human error and other preventable circumstances. However, when a driver acts recklessly while behind the wheel, they aggravate the risk, making road accidents almost unavoidable.
Reckless driving is a willful disregard for the safety of persons or property and endangers the lives of every other motorist. Common examples of reckless driving include but are not limited to:
- Running red rights
- Failing to signal turns
- Tailgating
- Speeding
Van Defect
Due to the intricacies of moving vans, a single error could be the reason you were involved in an accident and suffered serious injuries. For the moving van to be safe to operate, it must be regularly inspected and well-maintained. Additionally, they must be free of defective parts. Parts that were defectively designed or manufactured pose a great risk of causing serious accidents.
Lack of Training on the Driver’s Part
Despite the strict laws under the Department of Transportation, some of the moving companies may rent out the vans even though the driver may not be qualified to drive these vans. When a driver without qualifications gets behind the wheel, they are likely to cause devastating accidents as they don’t have the right training nor experience to operate such vehicles.
Weather and Road Conditions
According to the Department of Transportation, 22% of all property damage-only accidents occurred in bad weather in 2016. Even though no one has control over the weather conditions, a moving van driver has a legal duty to operate their vehicle safely by making the right adjustments.
We Can Help Establish Liability in Moving Vans Accidents
When you are involved in a car accident and are seeking compensation, it is crucial to determine the party liable for your injuries. Unfortunately, determining liability in a moving van accident can be complicated as multiple parties, not just the driver, may have been involved. Nonetheless, our lawyers can investigate your case, gather evidence, and help you establish the liable party.
If the driver is an employee of the moving company that owns the van, the driver may be liable, and so may the employer. Take, for instance, a moving company that rents out a van to someone and provides them with someone to operate it. In such a situation, you may hold the company liable for any injuries you suffered as a result of the driver’s negligence.
Moving van companies may not be liable for any accident that may occur in their leased moving vans. This is true in cases where the van was operated by someone other than the company’s employee. However, if the company engaged in any negligence, they may be held liable. The moving company’s negligence would include:
- Moving van company renting a van to an intoxicated driver
- Failure of the company to inspect the vehicle before renting it, and resultantly, the defects cause an accident
- The moving company renting a moving van out to someone who does not hold a valid driver’s license
You Have the Right to Fair Compensation for Injuries Related to a Moving Van Accident
If you have been injured in an accident with a moving van due to the driver or the moving company’s negligence, our lawyers will fight for you and pursue maximum compensation that the law allows. We may help recover damage like:
- Medical costs: Both for the ongoing and future treatment related to the accident.
- Lost wages: For the days you were hospitalized or were at home recovering, you may recover damages for lost wages and lost opportunities.
- Pain and suffering: You may recover what is fair for the physical and emotional turmoil you suffered due to your injuries. If you suffered permanent injuries, that might also be taken into consideration when assessing the value of the pain and suffering.
A New York Moving Van Lawyer Will Fight on Your Behalf
When you are involved in a moving van accident and suffer injuries, pursuing compensation can be difficult to handle on your own. We encourage you to consult with a New York moving van accident lawyer to evaluate your case for free and pursue compensation that you are entitled to. We never expect payment unless we have successfully recovered your damages. Contact Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800 to get help today.
