Injury Claims in Recreational Vehicle (RV) Accidents

Recreational vehicles, commonly called as RVs, are generally vans or buses that are equipped with living space and home amenities such as a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and a living room.  Not to be confused with mobile homes and motor homes, RVs are intended to be used mainly for brief leisure activities such as vacations or camping, or occasionally as mobile offices for business travelers where a vehicle is fitted with custom-built amenities like extra desk space, a generator, an upgraded electrical system, and satellite Internet.

RV Accidents

However, recreational vehicles, like other vehicles, also get involved in road accidents. In fact, the US Department of Transportation reported that thousands of people were killed in road accidents involving RVs annually.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also noted that more than 70,000 people are injured in RV crashes and collisions each year.

These federal agencies also noted that most RV accidents involved older drivers who often have difficulties in vision and steering, or reacting to road conditions. Hence, crashes and collisions involving recreational vehicles are caused by the following factors:

• Driving error due to fatigue
• Excessive speed
• Poor driving conditions
• Bad manufacturing defects
• Poor design of vehicle

No Special License or Permit is Required

Compared to the average automobiles or cars, recreational vehicles are bigger and therefore more difficult to handle under various driving conditions. Despite this, there are no state laws that require special driving permits for RVs. Recreational vehicles are therefore governed by the same federal and state laws that apply to other vehicles such as cars and automobiles.

On the other hand, some accidents involving recreational vehicles may also be attributed to manufacturing defects or poor vehicle design. In some cases, improvements or alterations to the RV may also affect the stability of the vehicle when it is driven under extreme conditions such as slippery roads.

Proving Fault in an RV Accident Case

Liability in most vehicle accidents is often established based on who is reckless or negligent. Under the law, victims of vehicle accidents are entitled to receive compensation for the damages they suffered as a result of the negligence or recklessness of the party at-fault.

When proving the fault of a party in an accident, it would help to have well-documented evidence that included the following:

•    Medical report
•    Police accident report
•    Eyewitness account
•    Information about the offender or the party at-fault, such as the name, address and contact number, among others

Accident and Injury Claims Steeming from RV Accidents

Pursuing a claim against the party at-fault in a RV accident may require the skills and experience of an expert personal injury lawyer. Handling an RV accident case may also involve complex laws, hence you should seek an attorney who is not only well-versed in analyzing the legalities of liability, but also knowledgeable with diverse insurance policy issues and structure, including litigation and settlement negotiations.

Since the filing of personal injury claims are restricted by the statute of limitation, having a lawyer to assist you in filing your claim will not only ensure that it will be done properly, it will also increase your chances of getting maximum amount for your claims.