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A U-Haul truck accident in McKinney, Texas can flip your entire life upside down in seconds. These large rental moving trucks weigh far more than a typical passenger car, and when they collide with smaller vehicles on roads like US-75 or State Highway 121, the injuries are often severe. If you or someone you love was hurt in a U-Haul truck accident near McKinney, the personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys in Denton, Texas are ready to help you fight for the compensation you deserve under Texas law. Call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Table of Contents
- Why U-Haul Truck Accidents Near McKinney Cause Such Serious Injuries
- Who Is Legally Liable After a McKinney U-Haul Truck Accident
- The Graves Amendment and What It Means for Your McKinney U-Haul Claim
- Texas Law on Crash Reports and What Evidence You Need to Protect Your Claim
- What Compensation You Can Pursue After a McKinney U-Haul Truck Accident
- FAQs About McKinney U-Haul Truck Accidents
Why U-Haul Truck Accidents Near McKinney Cause Such Serious Injuries
U-Haul moving trucks are much larger and heavier than the average car or SUV. A fully loaded 26-foot U-Haul can weigh up to 26,000 pounds, and that mass does enormous damage when it strikes a passenger vehicle. The physics alone explain why victims often walk away with broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding.
McKinney sits at the intersection of some of North Texas’s busiest roads. US-75 (Central Expressway) runs directly through the city, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH-121) cuts across its southern edge. Moving trucks frequently travel these corridors during peak moving seasons, and inexperienced drivers behind the wheel of a large rental truck on these high-speed roads create serious risks for everyone nearby.
Unlike professional commercial truck drivers, most people who rent a U-Haul have never driven a vehicle that size. They are not trained to handle wide turns, extended stopping distances, or large blind spots. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.351, every driver must operate at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for conditions. A driver who misjudges the stopping distance of a 26,000-pound truck on a busy McKinney road violates that standard and can be held liable for resulting injuries.
Overloaded or improperly secured cargo adds another layer of danger. When cargo shifts inside a moving truck during a turn or sudden braking, it can cause the driver to lose control. Accidents like these happen near residential areas along Eldorado Parkway and on the stretch of US-380 heading west toward Denton County. The results can be catastrophic for anyone in the path of that truck.
Who Is Legally Liable After a McKinney U-Haul Truck Accident
Texas is an at-fault state for vehicle accident liability. The party whose negligence caused the crash is responsible for the resulting damages, and Texas law allows injured victims to pursue claims against every party whose negligence contributed to the collision.
The driver who rented the truck is usually the first party examined. If that driver was speeding, distracted, following too closely, or driving with willful disregard for others, they can be held personally liable. Texas Transportation Code Section 545.401 prohibits reckless driving, and a driver who violates that statute while behind the wheel of a U-Haul faces direct liability for your injuries.
U-Haul International, as the vehicle owner, may also share responsibility. A rental company has a legal duty to maintain its fleet in safe operating condition. When a crash results from faulty brakes, underinflated tires, or a steering malfunction that proper maintenance would have prevented, U-Haul may be held responsible for those failures. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the federal agency that oversees commercial vehicle safety, requires that vehicles be properly inspected and maintained. Failures in U-Haul’s pre-rental inspection process can support a direct negligence claim against the company.
Texas also recognizes the doctrine of negligent entrustment. Under this doctrine, a company that rents a vehicle to a driver it knows, or reasonably should know, is unfit to operate that vehicle can be held liable for resulting accidents. If U-Haul failed to verify a renter’s license or ignored warning signs before handing over the keys, that failure can be used against them in court.
If a moving company hired the driver, or if a third party loaded the cargo improperly, those entities may also share in the liability. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001 governs Texas’s modified comparative fault rule. You can still recover damages even if you share some responsibility for the crash, as long as your share of fault is less than 51 percent. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, so identifying every liable party works directly in your favor.
The Graves Amendment and What It Means for Your McKinney U-Haul Claim
The Graves Amendment, codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 30106, is a federal law that directly affects U-Haul accident cases. Congress passed this law in 2005 to protect vehicle rental and leasing companies from vicarious liability, meaning a company cannot be sued simply because it owned the vehicle involved in a crash.
For McKinney accident victims, this means you generally cannot win a lawsuit against U-Haul based solely on the fact that U-Haul owned the truck. That approach will not work under the Graves Amendment. However, the law does not protect U-Haul from all liability. It specifically does not shield a rental company from claims based on the company’s own negligence or criminal wrongdoing.
So if U-Haul failed to inspect the truck before renting it, rented it to a driver with a known history of unsafe driving, or failed to warn the renter about known mechanical issues, those claims survive the Graves Amendment and can still be pursued in a Texas court. The distinction between vicarious liability and direct negligence is critical in these cases.
Texas adds its own layer to this analysis. Unlike many other states, Texas does not have a general vicarious liability statute that would hold a vehicle owner responsible simply because someone else was driving their vehicle. This means your attorney must build a direct negligence case against U-Haul rather than relying on automatic owner liability. That requires thorough investigation, including a review of maintenance records, rental agreements, and the driver’s history. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles exactly this kind of detailed case work for clients across Collin County and Denton County.
Texas Law on Crash Reports and What Evidence You Need to Protect Your Claim
Preserving evidence after a U-Haul truck accident in McKinney is one of the most important things you can do to protect your claim. The official crash report is your starting point. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065, you have the right to request a copy of the crash report as a person directly involved in the accident or as someone with a proper interest in the collision. That report documents the date, location, vehicle information, and the investigating officer’s findings.
McKinney accident reports are typically filed through the Collin County Sheriff’s Office or the McKinney Police Department, depending on where the crash occurred. If the accident happened on a state highway, TxDOT may also have records. Your attorney can obtain these reports on your behalf and use them to identify witnesses, establish the sequence of events, and support your liability argument.
Beyond the crash report, a strong U-Haul accident claim depends on additional evidence. U-Haul’s maintenance records for the specific truck involved, the rental agreement, the driver’s license verification records, and any pre-rental inspection documents are all directly relevant. If a mechanical defect contributed to the crash, those records may show that U-Haul knew about the problem and failed to act.
Photographs from the scene, witness statements, and your medical records also play a major role. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will look for gaps in your evidence, and they will use those gaps to reduce or deny your claim. Acting quickly to gather and preserve evidence gives your case the strongest possible foundation. The team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, located at 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205, begins this investigation as soon as you call.
What Compensation You Can Pursue After a McKinney U-Haul Truck Accident
Texas law allows injured accident victims to pursue compensation for the full range of losses caused by someone else’s negligence. These damages fall into two broad categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages cover your out-of-pocket losses. These include past and future medical expenses, lost wages from time missed at work, reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term, and property damage to your vehicle. A serious U-Haul crash can result in surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, and long-term care, all of which carry significant financial costs.
Non-economic damages cover the personal toll the accident takes on your life. These include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for a spouse or family member. Texas law does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, which means your full human experience of loss can be part of your claim.
In cases involving a fatality, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.002 provides a wrongful death cause of action. Under this statute, a person is liable for damages arising from an injury that causes an individual’s death if the injury was caused by that person’s wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, or unskillfulness. Surviving spouses, children, and parents may bring this claim. If a U-Haul truck accident near McKinney, Prosper, or Frisco took the life of someone you love, you have the right to pursue those damages.
Texas law also imposes a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. That deadline begins on the date of the accident. Missing it generally means losing your right to sue. Do not wait to contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500.
FAQs About McKinney U-Haul Truck Accidents
Can I sue U-Haul directly after a truck accident in McKinney, Texas?
You can sue U-Haul directly if its own negligence contributed to the crash. The Graves Amendment, codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 30106, prevents you from suing U-Haul based solely on its ownership of the truck. However, if U-Haul failed to properly maintain the vehicle, rented it to an unfit driver, or failed to inspect it before the rental, those direct negligence claims are not blocked by the Graves Amendment. An attorney will investigate the facts and determine whether a claim against U-Haul is viable in your specific case.
What if the U-Haul driver had no insurance or declined optional coverage?
If the renter declined U-Haul’s optional Safemove or Safemove Plus protection plans and their personal auto policy excludes large moving trucks, you may need to rely on your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Texas law does not leave you without options simply because the at-fault driver is uninsured. Your attorney can identify every available source of coverage and help you pursue the maximum compensation available under the circumstances.
How long do I have to file a U-Haul accident claim in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, a court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you lose your right to recover any compensation. Two years may seem like a long time, but evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and insurance companies use delay against you. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Do I need to get a copy of the crash report, and how do I get one?
The crash report is an important piece of evidence in your case. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065, you are entitled to request a copy of the crash report as a person directly involved in the accident. You can request the report from TxDOT, the McKinney Police Department, or the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, depending on which agency responded to the crash. Your attorney can also obtain this report on your behalf and use it to build your claim.
What should I do immediately after a U-Haul truck accident near McKinney?
Call 911 so the accident is documented by law enforcement. Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor, because some serious conditions like traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding do not show immediate symptoms. Photograph the scene, the vehicles, and any visible injuries. Collect the names and contact information of witnesses. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. Then call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 to discuss your rights and options at no cost to you.
Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is responsible for the content on this page. Principal office: 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in Texas. Past results in individual cases do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts and applicable law.
