According to a San Luis Obispo Tribune article, a jury has awarded $15 million to the parents of two daughters who both died in a fiery crash in 2004. Plaintiff’s experts found that, due to a power-steering fluid leak, the daughter who was driving the vehicle lost steering ability, causing the accident. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Enterprise Rent-A-Car and its corporate parent, who acknowledged prior to trial that they were negligent and that “their negligence was the sole proximate cause of the fatal injuries”.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser that the two daughters rented from Enterprise had been included in a safety recall only a month before the fatal crash. The recall notices declared that the power steering hose in 435,000 PT Cruisers from 2002 through 2005 could leak and cause a vehicle fire. Enterprise’s records demonstrated that the company did not repair the power steering problem in the PT Cruiser rented by the two daughters. Moreover, the same vehicle had been rented four times after the recall was announced – the fourth rental was to the daughters.
When wrongful death accidents are caused by another person’s negligence, whether the party responsible is a reckless driver or the manufacturer of a defective vehicle, family members of victims may seek compensation for their losses.
The California wrongful death lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for family members who have lost loved ones due to negligent drivers, automotive defects, tire defects and other types of negligence. The firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California, as Trial Lawyer of the Year by various organizations, and consistently by Super Lawyers® and Best Lawyers® publications. With its experience and success record, you can rely on Panish Shea & Boyle LLP to help you through the legal process. Call our nationally recognized plaintiff’s law firm today at 877-800-1700 for a free consultation.
