Atlanta Budget Truck Accident Lawyer

Budget Truck Rental company, which started back in 1998, has grown to be a nationwide network of over 1,600 corporate-owned and dealer locations across the county. This massive growth has helped facilitate countless safe transportation projects, but it’s also resulted in an increase in accidents, too.

If you get involved in a Budget truck accident that leads to significant losses, then it might be best to consult with an attorney before moving forward with any claims. Depending on the situation, multiple parties and insurance companies will likely all play a role in how your claim plays out. Learn more about budget truck accidents in Atlanta and how to deal with the losses associated with them below.

How to Recover Your Costs After a Budget Truck Accident

A Budget truck accident can lead to a huge number of losses, especially if there are serious injuries or you were transporting your personal property that gets damaged in the collision. When losses are substantial, you need to know how to recover from the expenses.

First, always call the authorities when you experience a Budget truck accident. Not only will emergency responders ensure that everyone gets the medical attention they need, but they’ll also file an official police report to document what happened. If other parties were involved, then the police will also gather that information and start an initial investigation into what happened, too.

As soon as you are physically safe and able, you should file a Budget accident report by contacting the company’s claims office at 800-551-5998. After speaking with the agents, you’ll be directed to fill out a Budget accident report form to more fully outline what happened and what you’ve lost. While it’s not a necessary step, it might be best to speak with a lawyer before talking to the company’s claims office. That way, you can be prepared to handle any questions while keeping your rights at the forefront of your mind.

Next, you’ll need to consider what or who caused your accident. You also need to know what insurance policies are in place. Together, these factors will determine how to recover from your losses. You may get compensation through either an insurance settlement or personal injury lawsuit.

Partial Fault in Georgia

Another factor that will influence your ability to seek out compensation is Georgia’s partial fault laws. When filing Budget truck accident claims, your own level of fault in the accident does matter. If you were partially at fault for the accident, then your overall compensation award will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. If you were 50% or more at fault for the accident, then you won’t be able to seek out a claim for damages.

If you’re not sure whether your own actions may have contributed to your accident, then it’s best to consult with an Atlanta trucking accident lawyer about what happened. They’ll be able to help you determine your best course of action.

How a Budget Driver Can Be Held At Fault For an Accident

A Budget truck accident can happen for many reasons, and sometimes that reason is due to driver negligence. A Budget truck driver can be held at fault for an accident when their own recklessness caused the crash. Common reckless driving behaviors include:

• Driving while intoxicated
• Fatigued driving
• Getting distracted while driving
• Speeding
• Driving recklessly
• Tailgating
• Aggressive driving or road rage behaviors

Unfortunately, if you’re at fault and you didn’t have an appropriate insurance policy in place, then your options for recovery will be limited. Talk to an attorney to learn more.

When Budget is Responsible for an Accident

Budget rental accident claims are usually pretty complicated. There are times when Budget, the company, can be held responsible for an accident. For instance, if your Budget truck accident was caused by Budget’s failure to perform regular maintenance on the vehicle, then the company might be held negligent and liable for the incident. The company might also be held financially responsible if you purchased optional insurance coverage through them and are eligible to receive compensation from that policy.

If you believe Budget might be responsible for paying the losses associated with your crash, then it makes sense to get in touch with a lawyer who can help.

It also makes a difference what company you rented your truck from. If you’re working with a company other than Budget, then it makes sense to hire a lawyer with experience working with claims from that company. Each rental company has its own unique rental agreement. An Enterprise or UHaul truck accident lawyer will have experience looking over these contracts.

Truck Defects Might Lead to Accidents

Sometimes, an accident is caused by defective truck parts. When that happens, the company that manufactured or designed those truck parts might be held financially responsible for the accident. These types of Budget truck accident claims are difficult to prove because you’ll need to identify how the part failed and why it’s defective. Commonly cited defective parts that result in accidents include:

• Brakes
• Tires
• Wires
• Wheels
• Faulty or defective tie-down equipment
• Seat belts

Unbalanced Cargo Causes Rollovers

One of the most common types of Budget truck accident claims involves unbalanced cargo that ultimately causes a rollover accident. These claims are very complicated because Budget truck’s rental agreement and personal accident insurance coverage policy is clear in saying that they will not cover damages caused by improper packing, improper stowage, or the mishandling of cargo.

If you’re not sure what caused your rollover accident, then it’s worth investigating. Not every rollover or tip over is the result of unbalanced cargo. The right tow truck accident lawyer can help you identify other potential causes of your crash.

How Insurance Coverage Works with Budget Truck Rentals

Before you go about filing Budget truck accident claims with your insurance provider, there’s something important you need to know. Your own personal car insurance provider likely does not cover rental trucks. There’s a chance you have coverage if you purchased coverage that applies to rental trucks, but in general, most car insurance policies won’t cover an accident that happens in a rental truck.

Instead, you may need to rely on the insurance provided by the Budget truck rental agreement you signed. In the Budget truck rental agreement, it states that if the truck is rented for personal use and no violation of the agreement occurs, then Budget will provide limited liability protection for bodily injury and property damage resulting from the use or operation of the truck. This type of coverage is optional, though, so you’ll need to be sure that you purchased this insurance before renting out the truck.

On top of that, you’ll need to be sure that your incident is covered under the agreement. For instance, if you purchase optional personal accident insurance through a Budget truck rental agreement, then that coverage won’t include damage that happens as a result of load shifting, running into a curb, or hitting a bump in the road. You might still be held responsible for losses that stem from those types of accidents. To get a better understanding of what’s covered and what’s not, it may be best to have a lawyer review your rental agreement in full.

If you did not purchase optional insurance and your own insurer doesn’t provide coverage, then you may need to look at your other options for recovery, which may include filing a claim against a negligent party that contributed to your crash.

If you worked with a different company, then it might be necessary to review your rental agreement or find a specific U-Haul or Enterprise truck accident lawyer to help. A lawyer who has experience working with the rental truck company you used will prove to be a big advantage as you go along through the claims process.

Talk to an Atlanta Budget Truck Accident Lawyer for Free Today

Have you recently experienced a Budget truck accident in Atlanta? Are you coping with significant financial losses? If so, then it’s important to understand your legal options for recovery. Depending on the insurance policies you have in place, you might be able to get some compensation from an insurance provider. If your losses are substantial or you didn’t have coverage, however, then you might need to look into other options.

If someone else’s negligence contributed to your accident, then it’s worth your time to investigate whether seeking out a claim against that party is worth it. The other party might be held financially responsible for your losses if they were at-fault for the accident.

Since every Budget truck accident situation is unique, the best way to determine your options for recovery is to speak with an attorney. If you’re in Atlanta, then we want to hear from you. Leave your contact information on our online form to talk to an Atlanta Budget truck accident lawyer for free today.