Enterprise Rent-A-Car admits negligence in crash

[OpenRoad]

Enterprise Rent-A-Car admits negligence in crash that killed Santa Cruz sisters; court awards $15 million to family - Santa Cruz Sentinel

[R.J.]

I'm sorry, but that lawsuit was a large steaming pile. While losing power steering will increase steering effort at low speeds or in a parking situation, it's extremely easy to steer at highway speeds even with the slight increase in effort, especially a small crapbox like the PT Cruiser. The article also fails to explain that the steering wheel is mechanically connected to the steering rack and will still respond to inputs despite the loss of fluid leading the average reader to assume they were unable to control direction. While the article also mentions the recall, it doesn't provide any evidence that indeed the vehicle in question lost hydraulic assist.


It's just another lawsuit by the parents to find closure for themselves and the refusal to accept their daughters inabilty to maintain control of the vehicle.

[OpenRoad]

I'm sorry, but that lawsuit was a large steaming pile. While losing power steering will increase steering effort at low speeds or in a parking situation, it's extremely easy to steer at highway speeds even with the slight increase in effort, especially a small crapbox like the PT Cruiser. The article also fails to explain that the steering wheel is mechanically connected to the steering rack and will still respond to inputs despite the loss of fluid leading the average reader to assume they were unable to control direction. While the article also mentions the recall, it doesn't provide any evidence that indeed the vehicle in question lost hydraulic assist.


It's just another lawsuit by the parents to find closure for themselves and the refusal to accept their daughters inabilty to maintain control of the vehicle.

I fully agree. If this were a big Cadillac, then maybe. I also did not see where any post crash investigation revealed a leak.

However, I did once lose power steering in my Toyota 4-Runner, and it was nearly undrivable. Very difficult to turn the wheel, and scary as hell. Luckily I was a mile from my work - so hobbled into the parking lot.

[category4]

At 24 years old, not the most experienced driver. Probably has never driven a car without power steering either.

Probably lost control when they over reacted when the power steering went out. If you have never driven a car without power steering, and being female probably never pushed a car towards it's limits I can see problems occurring. Especially if they did not notice the power steering was gone and needed to make an emergency maneuver.

For a company to come out and admit they were the sole cause the evidence must have been overwhelming!