National Initiative Pushes Rental Car Companies to Fix Recalled Vehicles

Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) October 27, 2011 – A national initiative is gaining support to ban rental car companies from renting or selling unrepaired, recalled cars. The Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2011 was recently introduced in the Senate after two sisters were killed when they rented a Chrysler PT Cruiser that Enterprise Rent-A-Car had not fixed. The vehicle had been recalled by Chrysler due to a defect that caused power steering fluid to leak onto the engine or the catalytic converter. This design defect could lead to a fire. The recall was ignored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and they rented the PT Cruiser three times before the fatal incident happened to the Houck sisters.

“Millions of people rent cars when they are on business trips or vacation,” said Chicago wrongful death lawyer Robert I. Briskman, Esq. “They should know that the car is compliant with safety standards, but unfortunately there is no mandate to enforce the manufacturer recalls.”

When passed, the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2011 will ban rentals with safety-defect recalls until the vehicles are repaired, and also prohibit sales of rental cars with uncorrected defects. This bill will also initiate two studies with the oversight of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The first study examines new rental cars and will determine if companies are ordering new autos without side air bags and other safety features. The second study focuses on rental companies selling cars that are under recall. Rental car companies sell close to 86 percent of their fleet each year.

“When consumers do not receive appropriate warnings from car rental companies, fatal consequences can occur that no family should ever have to go through,” said Briskman. “Auto dealers are required to fix cars with recall notices, but not rental car companies. This is a huge safety concern.”

Rental car companies do receive recall notices but have largely neglected these safety notices. The NHTSA reports that rental companies only repair half of their fleet within three months of a recall notice. When this bill passes rental car companies could face up to $11,000 per day per violation in civil penalties. The Federal Trade Commission and state Attorneys General will enforce the regulations.

Loved ones with a family member who died from an incident involving a rental car need to contact a Chicago wrongful death attorney to promptly investigate the case. These types of cases are complex and need quick action to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and have a thorough investigation. The law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has successfully litigated a wide variety of accident cases. They are known for treating clients like family and offering solid legal counsel and support every step of the way until the case has been resolved. To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).

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