CAR CRASH: Family Receives $15M in Wrongful Death Suit
June 22. 2010
Santa Cruz - The parents of the Santa Cruz sisters who died in a fiery crash in 2004 was recently awarded with $15 million for a wrongful death lawsuit they brought against Enterprise Rent-A-Car of San Francisco, reports said.
An Alameda jury found that Enterprise Rent-A-Car is responsible for the deaths of Raechel, 24, and Jacqueline Houck, 20 after the vehicle they rented from the company was found to be defective.
Reports indicate that Raechel had rented a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser and was travelling on Highway 101 near Bradley when their northbound vehicle crossed the median and hit a big rig that was heading south. The girls were said to be driving from their mother’s home in Ventura.
Before the accident, Chrysler had announced a recall on the PT Cruiser because of power-steering fluid leak. The girls’ parents, Chuck and Caroll Houck later discovered that enterprise failed to repair the said vehicle and that their daughter was the fourth one who rented the vehicle after the recall.
The parents also hired experts who determined that the crash was caused by the steering problems that caused the recalls.
For five years, Enterprise has denied their liability in the accident and said that Raechel’s driving caused the accident but in May, they admitted their negligence that caused the accident.
The damages were awarded June 9 and Enterprise is given 30 days to decide whether they will appeal the verdict.
OFFICE ADDRESS
