Charleston accident attorneys want to warn you that numerous people have been injured while using U-Haul equipment. After a multiple deaths occurred while clients were driving a Ford Explorer and U-Haul had to settle wrongful death suits out of court, U-Haul decided to implement a new policy banishing the use of a U-Haul trailer product with a Ford Explorer.
In many of the cases drivers were towing a U-Haul trailer behind an SUV. When any SUV reaches interstate speed the trailer in tow begins to sway and fishtail. Most drivers break to prevent this but breaking only stops the automobile, not the trailer. An instance such as this can cause serious personal injury to the driver and other drivers on the road. Drivers should be very cautious when towing anything and also check the mileage the trailer or truck has already endured. Wrongful death accidents are commonly associated with poorly maintained high mileage cars.
U-Haul was recently sued $84 million dollars in a negligence suit. Talmadge Waldrip an elderly man from Texas, rented a U-Haul truck and when he went to park the truck it rolled over on him. Waldrip won $63 million in punitive damages for the company’s failure to conduct regular maintenance on their equipment and meet truck and trailer safety requirements.
Source: South Carolina Lawyers Weekly- “Lawsuits trail U-Haul nationwide.” December 21, 2009.
