Thousands of trucks and trailers are rented out each year by large corporations such as U-Haul®, Penske® and Budget®.  These corporations are responsible for maintaining the equipment properly and educating their customers about loading and safety.  However, in a surprisingly large number of cases, the equipment is poorly maintained and inexperienced customers are not provided with much, if any, safety information.

Trailer sway is one of the most common problems leading to traffic accidents.  This typically occurs on downhill grades.  The trailer begins to swing from side to side, sometimes so violently that the passenger vehicle is pushed or pulled off course.  This type of sudden movement often causes the driver to lose control.  The passenger vehicle can be pushed off the road or flipped over.  A significant number of consumers have suffered major injuries or death as a result of trailer sway.

In other cases, poor maintenance of trailer and truck components have led to accidents that might have otherwise been avoided.  Rental companies sometimes fail to perform the required routine inspections as scheduled.  Inspections that should be performed on a monthly or bi-monthly basis are delayed for a few months up to more than a year.  During the delay, the equipment might be rented out to several customers who put wear and tear on parts that are already on their last legs.  At some point, braking, suspension or engine components can fail, leading to consumer inconvenience at best and catastrophic injury at worst.

In general, consumers should be provided with basic information regarding safe operation of any rental equipment.  Unfortunately, renters of trailers are often uninformed that the towing vehicle should be heavier than the total loaded weight of the trailer.  Renters might be unaware that trailers should be loaded with the majority of the weight in the front.  And Spanish speakers are at extra risk since the majority of available safety information is in English only.

Excerpts from June 24, 2007 Los Angeles Times article
Excerpts from June 25, 2007 Los Angeles Times article
Excerpts from June 26, 2007 Los Angeles Times article

We Can Help

If you or a loved one has rented truck or trailer equipment and suffered an injury as a result, we can help.  We are proud to be partnered with a nationally recognized team of law firms focused on obtaining the maximum recovery possible for you.  In these increasingly complex times, it is necessary for firms to work together to most efficiently utilize manpower and financial resources in the fight against negligent corporations.  We believe our team is best  equipped to handle your case.  Brochures are available upon request.

For a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation, please fill out a form, send us an email, or call us at (800) 333-0000. Your call or email will only be handled by caring, understanding, and experienced case evaluators. Your confidentiality is guaranteed! Serving all of California, and now in Arizona with offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. We’ll Fight For You!™

(Arizona clients will be liable for expenses regardless of the outcome unless the repayment of such is contingent upon the outcome of the matter and the percentage fee will be computed before expenses are deducted from the recovery.)

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The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, Inc. is not affiliated with U-Haul®, Penske® or Budget®.  These trademarks are being used for informational purposes only.