Car accident involving rental vehicle leads to injuries
Learning that one’s child has been hurt in an automobile crash can be daunting and traumatizing. Unfortunately, a car accident can occur at any time and cause serious injuries due to driver negligence or even vehicle defects. One recent case in California revolves around an injury accident in which the driver claimed that his brakes failed.
The accident happened when a driver, who is 48 years old, was going down an off-ramp in his car. He told police that he was navigating a car he was renting and that the car’s brakes did not engage. As a result, he ran a light and ended up striking another car.
Three teenagers, all females, were in the other car. Two of them suffered injuries, while the third one had to receive life support. Authorities continued to investigate the crash and, at the time, said it was too soon to say if criminal negligence contributed to the accident. Police said their preliminary focus was on ruling out a mechanical defect. The rental car company, Hertz, said it was cooperating with police with regard to their investigation.
The parents of the injured teens reserve the right to pursue personal injury claims. Personal injury lawsuits may be filed against the rental car driver who is deemed responsible for the car accident, or possibly against the manufacturer, distributor or installer of dangerous or faulty equipment on the automobile that was involved in the crash. Liability must be established in a way that satisfies the civil court in California before financial damage claims are considered.
Source: abc7.com, “Driver who hit 3 girls in Valley Village was in rental car“, Leo Stallworth, June 6, 2014