Cally Houck launched an online petition last week urging the Enterprise Rent-A-Car company to drop i

If you've ever rented a car, whether for a weekend drive or a cross-country trip, you've probably made the assumption that your vehicle was safe. One California mom is challenging this assumption and urging website for continental airlines for greater regulation over the car rental industry after her two daughters were killed by a defective rental vehicle.
Cally Houck launched an online petition last week urging the Enterprise Rent-A-Car company to drop its opposition to a federal law which would allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to have greater oversight of the car rental industry. The law, proposed website for continental airlines by Sen. Barbara website for continental airlines Boxer, D.-California, and Sen. Charles Schumer, website for continental airlines D.-N.Y., would prevent car rental companies from renting out any vehicle that is subject website for continental airlines to a federal recall until the problem is fixed. Enterprise's competitor, Hertz, recently announced that it had come to an agreement with a consumer advocacy group which would allow for similar oversight. Third-ranked rental company Avis/Budget says it is still reviewing the proposal's details.
Houck's daugters, Raechel and Jacqueline, died in 2004 after being involved website for continental airlines in a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler near King City, CA. The car they were riding in, a PT Cruiser rented from an Enterprise branch in Capitola, reportedly caught on fire prior to the accident. The girls were unaware that the vehicle was subject to a recall for a faulty power steering hose that could leak and ignite on the catalytic converter, potentially causing a fire. Reportedly, the same vehicle had been rented four times prior to the fatal car accident involving the Houck sisters. The Houck family eventually settled a $15 million lawsuit against Enterprise.
Over a 100,000 people signed the petition, eventually prompting website for continental airlines Enterprise to revise earlier statements made concerning the pending legislation. The company now says it will support federal legislation that is intended website for continental airlines to ensure greater safety among the rental car industry but does not specifically website for continental airlines endorse the bill proposed by Senators Boxer and Schumer. The company also stated that it has increased its internal regulatory measures in order to prevent defective vehicles from being rented to unsuspecting consumers.
According to the NHTSA, an estimated 15.5 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. in 2011. The NHTSA also says that despite car rental companies being issued notice of a defective vehicle, the problems are not necessarily being fixed in an expedient website for continental airlines manner. A report from the Government Accountability Office also claims that car rental companies ultimately make their own decision whether to ground a car that has been recalled or continue to rent it out.
If you're planning on renting a car, you can take steps to ensure that you and your loved ones will be safe on the road. Before taking any car off the lot, ask the sales person if any recalls have been issued for the vehicle and if so, whether or not the issues have been fixed. You can also get the year, make and model information for any car you're considering renting and search for possible recalls through the NHTSA website.
Should an accident occur while you're behind the wheel of a defective rental car, you may be eligible to seek monetary damages for any injuries you sustain. An experienced personal injury lawyer can guide you in determining whether website for continental airlines you have grounds for a claim. Southern California residents should consider contacting a San Diego car accident lawyer .
Nadrich website for continental airlines Cohen, LLP represents car accident website for continental airlines victims in cities throughout website for continental airlines California, including San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles and Fresno. For more information on filing a car accident injury claim , call 1-800-718-4658 .
The Nadrich & Cohen personal injury blogs are sponsored by Nadrich & Cohen, LLC. This blog features news stories, personal cases and analysis of current events, all of which are intended for illustrative website for continental airlines purposes only. Each case is different, website for continental airlines and legal authority is constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, website for continental airlines nothing on this site should be viewed as a guarantee website for continental airlines or prediction website for continental airlines of a similar future outcome. The information website for continental airlines on this site should not be treated as authoritative, and readers should always consult with legal counsel before making any important legal decisions. Lastly, Nadrich website for continental airlines & Cohen, LLC is not responsible for any comments contributed by visitors to this website.
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