Rental Vehicles Might Pose Safety Risk to Drivers

California residents who rent vehicles should be aware of a loophole in the law that might be putting them in serious danger. In fact, this loophole might even cost some residents their life or alter their life because of a traumatic brain injury.

As the law now stands, car rental companies are not required to disclose information on vehicles that have been subjected to a recall and remain unfixed. In the case of the Takata airbag recall, any oversight could have devastating results if the airbag were to deploy. In one fatal accident involving the Takata airbag recall, a female motorist was fatally injured in the neck by a 3-inch metal fragment. Her death certificate listed traumatic brain injury as the cause of death, likely because of the blood loss caused by that laceration.

People who intend to rent cars should, therefore, keep a list of recalled vehicles handy. If you have to rent a vehicle that was part of the Takata recall, find out if the necessary work has been done to rectify the recall.

Meanwhile, if you were unaware that the vehicle you rented was a part of the recall, and you are subsequently hurt in an accident, you might opt to seek compensation for the injuries you suffered. Learning about California laws pertaining to personal injury claims might help you to decide how to proceed. It can also help you to determine who should be listed as a defendant in the personal injury claim.

Cases that can Lead to Traumatic Brain Injury

In 2004, an 18-year-old painter fell from a scaffold, injuring his leg and shoulder. The young painter also suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given his young age, he may require care for the next 50 years. In 2012, with persistent help from his lawyers, he was awarded an $8.9 million workers' compensation settlement for his lifetime injury, making it the largest workers comp payout in California history.

TBI is caused by a sudden blow to the head, causing the brain and the skull to collide, possibly damaging the brain or nerves connected to it upon impact. The severity of a TBI depends on the location and extent of the damage.

The occurrence of TBI is not limited to any specific age group. There are various cases that can lead to this condition, among which are the following:

• Falls - Most common in young children and older adults.
• Motor vehicle accidents - Disproportionately affects fifteen to nineteen-year-olds.
• Struck/by against - Commonly resulting from sports, accounting for as many as 3.8 million TBIs annually. The NFL and NCAA have been sued by former players alleging that improper head protection caused neurological conditions.
• Assault - The leading cause of TBI-related deaths. Ninety percent of firearm-related TBI victims die, almost two-thirds by suicide.

The total cost of TBI is as high as $60 billion annually, with the individual costs possibly including extended medical care, lost earnings, and mental anguish.