The Dangers of U-Haul
A recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times suggests that U-Haul International's practices are leading to deadly accidents on the road. About four years ago, Marissa Sternberg rented a U-Haul trailer to move her belongings to her new school and had attached the trailer to her Toyota Land Cruiser. Sternberg's friend, Corina Maya Hollander, who was taking a turn driving, said that she felt the trailer begin to swing from side to side and she "knew something bad was going to happen. We both knew." Sternberg's Land Cruiser flipped and bounced along the road before the trailer broke free and flew off the road. Sternberg was thrown from the SUV in the accident; Hollander was able to crawl away from the wreckage. Hollander and Sternberg fell victim to "trailer sway:" a leading cause of severe towing accidents. Trailer sway occurs when a sharp gust of wind is encountered and the trailer begins to swing from side to side. Few drivers are able to regain control of their vehicles once this occurs.
Trailer sway has long been a concern of U-Haul. U-Haul maintains that they are "highly conservative" about safety. The safest way to tow is to tow with a vehicle that weighs significantly more than the trailer. However, bad brakes are a recurring problem in U-Haul trailers and may have contributed heavily to the Sternberg accident.
Related Links:
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U-Haul Has History of Losing Key Evidence When Sued
U-Haul Says Towing's Just Safer
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