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Man Injured By U-Haul Truck Sues Company
April 16, 2008

At his age, Tamaradge Waldrip shouldn't have to be confined to bed for reasons that have nothing to do with age. He is an antiques dealer with an active life, and before a U-Haul truck managed to crush his body, had plans of an active life to the very end. Today, Tamaradge spends 20 hours a day in bed being tended to by his wife of 53 years. He has been that way for about a year now ever since the fateful accident.

In September 2006, Waldrip was helping his daughter move some belongings. He rented a U-Haul truck and stopped by a warehouse. The truck was in park and the engine was turned off. Tamaradge stepped down from the truck, and before he knew it, the truck had managed to roll over, crushing his body beneath the left front wheel. The truck rolled over his midsection. His back was broken, and his organs were crushed. Since that day, Tamaradge has struggled to be able to handle even his basic needs. The once energetic man is a shadow of his former self.

Now, the Waldrips have filed a lawsuit against U-Haul, and the case goes to trial next week. In the lawsuit, Tamaradge alleges poor inspection of his truck. The brakes were old, and had old worn out pads, and the gears were worn down. According to the Waldrip's attorney, the truck that Tamaradge was driving had an expired inspection sticker, and had managed to accumulate more than 200,000 miles on the odometer. The truck was 19 years old, and had a history of problems with its brakes.

The trial promises to be a tough one for U-Haul as the Waldrip's attorneys have found a video that shows another U-Haul truck moving ahead after being put in park. The attorneys allege that poor maintenance of its vehicles is a regular affair at the company. The company knows that it will be held accountable for the injuries suffered by innocent customers, and they choose to pay compensation rather than have their fleet maintained.

To have a company like U-Haul, which rents out trucks and trailers to so many Americans every year, be so blase about the maintenance of its fleet and the safety of its customers, is extremely disturbing. The Waldrip lawsuit, if they win it, could result in them being paid million of dollars, but money isn't the point here. Of what use would money be to an energetic man with a vigorous lifestyle who has been condemned to live the life of a near invalid? Having the money won't really improve the quality of Tamradge's life.

The prospect that there are thousands of people driving U-Haul trucks on highways right now - trucks that are old, unserviced, dirty, worn out and not inspected - is a frightening one.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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