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Getting hit by an uninsured U-Haul driver can turn into a stressful situation fast. You are left dealing with vehicle damage, possible injuries, and the question of who should pay when the driver behind the wheel has no insurance.
Even in situations like this, there are usually still ways to recover compensation. It might come through your own insurance policy, a coverage option tied to the rental, or, in some cases, other responsible parties. A Las Vegas crash injury lawyer can help identify possible sources of recovery, including uninsured motorist coverage and any applicable rental or liability policies.
This guide explains who may be responsible after a U-Haul crash and how coverage typically works when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
Many drivers assume their personal car insurance follows them into a rented moving truck. It often does not. Most auto policies put limits on the size and weight of rental vehicles they will cover, and a 20-foot moving truck usually falls outside those limits.
That gap catches people off guard. A renter signs the U-Haul contract, declines the optional protection at the counter to save money, and drives off believing they are covered. If they cause a crash, you may find yourself dealing with a driver who has no real liability coverage for the truck at all.
U-Haul trucks also carry built-in risks that make wrecks more likely:
When an unprepared driver meets a heavy truck, the occupants of nearby passenger cars often take the brunt of the impact.
Responsibility after a U-Haul crash usually depends on two things: what caused the accident and what insurance coverage is actually available.
In some cases, the renter is fully responsible. In others, U-Haul’s coverage or another driver’s policy may come into play. It is also possible for more than one party to share fault, which can affect how compensation is paid.
Because of that overlap, figuring out coverage is one of the first and most important steps in these cases.
Most of the time, the driver of the U-Haul is held responsible if they cause the crash. That might involve speeding, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, or simply struggling to control a large rental truck.
The bigger issue is not fault, it is insurance.
Many personal auto policies do not fully cover larger rental trucks, and if the driver also declined U-Haul’s optional protection, there may be very limited coverage available. That can make recovery more complicated, even in a clear liability case.
The renter can still be held personally responsible, but collecting compensation from an individual without insurance or assets is often difficult, which is why identifying every possible coverage source becomes so important.
U-Haul can share liability if its own negligence contributed to the crash. A rental company has duties to the public, and breaching them can open the door to a direct claim against the company.
Examples include:
Proving company negligence takes evidence, such as the rental agreement, upkeep records, and inspection records. These claims are similar in spirit to other rental car accident liability cases, where the company’s conduct is examined alongside the driver’s.
Sometimes both the renter and U-Haul share blame, and so might other drivers on the road. Nevada law allows you to pursue compensation from multiple responsible parties.
Liability can be divided among them based on each party’s share of fault, which is one reason multi-party crashes benefit from a careful investigation early on.
U-Haul sells protection products at the counter, but they are easy to misunderstand. Knowing what each one does helps you set realistic expectations after a crash. Keep in mind that program titles and conditions change over time, so verify the precise coverage on the renter’s contract.
The takeaway is simple. A damage waiver protects the renter’s wallet for damage to the truck; a liability add-on is what can actually pay an injured third party. Your attorney will request the rental contract to see exactly what the renter purchased.
If the at-fault U-Haul driver has no usable liability insurance, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can become the main source of compensation. It is designed for situations where the other driver cannot pay for your losses.
In Nevada, drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of 25/50/20. That means $25,000 per person for injuries, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. In a serious truck crash, those limits often are not enough. If the renter has no coverage or very limited coverage, UM/UIM can help cover the difference.
A few points worth knowing:
If you are unsure whether you have this coverage, pull out your declarations page or ask your agent. To understand the bigger picture, our overview of Nevada uninsured motorist coverage breaks down how these policies pay out, and our guide to Nevada’s at-fault insurance system explains why fault drives every claim in this state.
Nevada gives most car accident injury victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If an injury was not discovered right away, the clock may instead start from the date you reasonably discovered it, but you should never assume an extension applies to your case.
Two years can pass quickly while you focus on recovery. Evidence also fades. Trucks get returned and re-rented, maintenance records get overwritten, and witnesses move on. Talking to a lawyer early gives you the best chance to preserve proof and protect your claim before the deadline becomes a problem.
For a deeper look at how injury claims move forward, see our walkthrough on how to file a car accident claim.
What you do after the crash can make a big difference later.
Small details collected early often become very important later.
If the renter has no usable liability coverage, you may be able to recover through your own UM/UIM coverage, through a liability add-on the renter purchased from U-Haul, or through a claim against U-Haul, such as another at-fault party if their negligence contributed to the crash.
Sometimes. You can pursue U-Haul if its own negligence helped cause the wreck, such as renting to an unfit driver, failing to maintain the truck, or providing inadequate safety instruction. These claims require evidence such as the rental agreement and upkeep records, so an early investigation is important.
Your own liability coverage does not pay for your injuries when someone else is at fault, but your UM/UIM coverage can. If the U-Haul renter is uninsured or underinsured for the truck, UM/UIM coverage on your policy may pay for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses up to your limits.
A basic damage waiver, like Safemove, generally protects the renter from paying for damage to the truck and may include limited benefits for occupants. It is usually not liability insurance, so, as the other driver, you typically cannot claim against it.
In most Nevada injury cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Some situations involving delayed discovery of an injury may shift the start date, but you should confirm your exact deadline with an attorney to avoid losing your right to recover.
If you were hit by an uninsured U-Haul driver, you should not have to guess which insurance policy is supposed to pay you. The team at Gina Corena & Associates can investigate the crash, identify all available coverage sources, and handle the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better.
Call us anytime at (702) 680-1111 for a free consultation, answered 24/7 in English and Spanish. There is no fee unless we win your case. You can also contact us through our contact page to get started.
Reviewed by Gina M. Corena, founding attorney at Gina Corena & Associates.
As founder of Gina Corena & Associates, she is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the people who suffer life-changing personal injuries in car, truck and motorcycle accidents as well as other types of personal injury. Gina feels fortunate to serve the Nevada community and hold wrongdoers accountable for their harm to her clients.
