Accidents and Renting a Recreational Vehicle

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Though the summer may be over, it could be the best time to get away for a long weekend trip with your family. Renting a recreational vehicle can be the easiest and most convenient way to do this if you know what you are doing. Because RVs generally are full-service vehicles that include places to sleep and cook, you can save some money as well. According to CBS Chicago, knowing the responsibilities of both the renter and the rental company is paramount to taking a short family vacation with an RV, as well as understanding the renter’s liability. Being sure that you are aware of and briefed on all costs is extremely important, as is double-checking that either your personal car insurance or rental insurance covers all possible incidents.

Yet there are several things of which to be aware if you are planning on renting an RV for your next adventure. A 2008 analysis conducted by KiroTV revealed that braking problems, collapsing walls, and poorly secured cabinets were the “RV industry’s deadliest secrets.” KiroTV also found that while the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration requires multiple crash and rollover tests for SUVs, trucks, and buses, several of the largest recreational vehicles on the consumer market are exempt from similar testing requirements.

One executive of an RV manufacturer told KiroTV that there are federal standards in place only for front-end crash and brake tests for the empty chassis only. “Once all those studs and sidewalls and TVs get installed,” reports KiroTV, “it’s up to each manufacturer to decide how best to hold parts together in a crash.”

The State of Illinois does not keep specific records of motorhome or recreational vehicle injuries or deaths. In Virginia, however, a state that would likely be comparable, crashes involving motor home and recreational vehicles accounted for less than one percent of all crashes in the state in 2012. The vast majority of these people were over the age of 60 at the time of incident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving a motor home or recreational vehicle in which you were not at fault, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact a Waukegan accident attorney today to learn more about your options.