Archive for category Car Accident Lawyers
Why Do Some Car Rental Companies Risk Lives by Choosing Not to Repair Recalled Cars?
Posted by Lawyer in Car Accident Lawyers on July 6, 2012
According to a June 24, 2012 article in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Senator Barbara Boxer asked car rental companies to make a public pledge “not to rent or sell any vehicles under safety recall until the defect has been remedied.” So far, only Hertz has agreed to the pledge, while their competitors rejected the challenge. For anyone planning to rent a car from one of those non-compliant companies, this means that the consequences of unrepaired mechanical defects, such as faulty seatbelt car wreck injuries or defective brakes whiplash, could not only mar their holiday fun-they could risk lives.
The Knoxville, Tennessee personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of G. Turner Howard III believe car safety recalls should be heeded by both consumers and car rental companies, and hope that Hertz’s response may set a precedent for other auto rental companies to follow suit.
In a letter addressed to Sen. Boxer, Hertz said the pledge reflected a “long-standing Hertz policy.”
New legislation sponsored by Sens. Boxer and Charles Schumer would make it a legal issue, forcing car rental companies to stop renting recalled cars until needed repairs or modifications have been made. Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety says
Hertz has been lobbying with her, Boxer and Schumer to write the policy into law.
A nationally publicized defective car accident lawsuit sparked Boxer’s challenge to car rental companies and the subsequent proposed legislation she co-authored. The case involved a malfunctioning rental car rented by two young college-age sisters in 2004. Jacquie and Raechel Houck were fatally injured in a rental car crash when they lost control of their Enterprise Rent-a-Car PT Cruiser due to leaking steering fluid. During the accident, a fire erupted under the hood and both women lost their lives. After protracted litigation, Enterprise admitted liability two years ago, and accepted a jury verdict that awarded $15 million to their family.
Shahan says that Enterprise and Avis Budget Group are two of several rental car companies seeking to water down the legislation. One of their suggested changes would make it possible for them to attend to repairs “as soon as practicable” rather than before renting the vehicles out to customers. Another change to the legislation would allow them to still rent out unrepaired cars as long as they let car-rental counter customers know about what repairs needed to be made.
Unfortunately, the hazardous vehicle rental risks go beyond the car rental counter, since many car rental companies also sell their previously rented cars on the used-car market. That means many cars will end up on roads and highways that have, in fact, been recalled, which translates to a greater risk of car accident injuries and fatalities across the country. It is, therefore, a case of both renter and buyer beware.
At the offices of Tennessee personal injury lawyerG. Turner Howard III , we do all we can to ensure that our clients who have suffered car accident injuries are informed of their rights and any car recalls that may pertain to their Tennessee car crash. If you or someone you love has been involved in defective rented car accident, call us today for a free consultation at 1-800-HURTLINE or complete our online contact form. We are compassionate, experienced aggressive legal representatives who can seek justice for your injuries.
The Law Offices of G. Turner Howard III
5915 Casey Drive
Knoxville, TN 37950
Dealing with an auto accident in Connecticut? Learn what’s legal. Contact us
Posted by Lawyer in Car Accident Lawyers on June 6, 2012
Driving in New England can be challenging any time of year. Sudden blizzards or violent rainstorms. Aggressive drivers on Interstate 84. Confusing street patterns created by Colonial settlers based on chaotic cow paths.
Add to the list the dramatic differences in state traffic laws throughout New England. What’s legal in Massachusetts can often be against the law in Rhode Island or Vermont. Here are some of the highlights from a recent article published by The Boston Globe.
Take Connecticut’s confusing traffic laws. Connecticut is a hands-free state in terms of cell phones. This means you need a headset if you want to make calls on the road. Talking on a cell phone without a headset while driving can result in a $125 fine. The same fine applies to texting while driving in Connecticut.
Connecticut has a “primary” seat belt law, which means a police officer can pull you over and fine you whenever an officer sees someone unbelted in either front seat. As for passengers riding in the back seat, Connecticut’s seat belt laws only require passengers under 16 years old to buckle up.
Connecticut’s child safety restraint laws are also unique. Children under 7 years old or less than 60 pounds must sit in either a child booster or car seat that’s belted into place. All others must be buckled up. Meanwhile in Massachusetts, children must be strapped into a car safety seat until they are either 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, a Waterbury Connecticut personal injury lawyers at our law firm can work with you if you’re dealing with a car accident. We know what’s legal or against the law in Connecticut.
That might sound simple. But keeping up with Connecticut’s constantly changing laws can be complicated. Allow us to help you cut through the red tape and decide what’s the best thing for you to do, including whether to file an auto accident lawsuit in Ct.
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AR, KS, MO, OK safety study shows states not doing enough
Posted by Lawyer in Car Accident Lawyers on June 1, 2012
Think every state takes steps to prevent people from sustaining a serious injury in an auto accident or another dangerous situation? Think again. Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma recently received low grades in a nationwide safety study. On a scale of 10, all three states each received a scored of five.
The same report included each state’s ranking for injuries caused by auto accidents and other violent incidences. Oklahoma (ranked 6th) and Arkansas (9th) finished in the top 10 for the highest accident rates. Missouri (16th) finished close behind, along with other Midwestern states like Kansas (27th).
Accidents happen fast, even to the safest drivers, especially during the summer, one of the most dangerous times of year on the road. (Many of the most dangerous days for drivers occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.) In an instant, you can sustain a life-altering injury. Even worse, a death can occur due to a car accident in Missouri. Just recently, a 20-year-old Springfield, MO pedestrian was killed after being struck by a car, according to news-leader.com.
At Tolbert, Beadle & Musgrave, our Missouri personal injury attorneys understand the dangers faced by families every day on our roads. Serving clients in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, our attorneys have dedicated their careers to helping auto accident victims just like you.
Lawyers News Hotel Workplace Injuries More Common Than In Many Other Jobs
Posted by Lawyer in Car Accident Lawyers on May 25, 2012
Working in a hotel can be a challenging job, as staffers scramble to keep guests happy. Hotel work has its rewards for those who like to stay busy on the job and meet individuals from all walks of life.
The hotel industry, however, can pose serious risks for workers. Hotel workers actually have an injury rate 25 percent higher than all service workers, according to studies. And while some hotels may appear glamorous to visitors, the work can be gritty. If you or someone you know was injured at a hotel, talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer. Most on-the-job injury attorneys provide free consultations. See: Workers Compensation Attorneys
Housekeepers experience the most on-the-job hotel injuries, according to a study published recently in The American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
Most housekeepers are women, and research shows they are 50 percent more likely to be injured than men who work at hotels. Researchers even found that Latina women are twice as likely to be injured compared to white women working as housekeepers.
