Car Was Being Returned To Palm Beach International Airport When AVIS Worker Sped Away — With Renter in Trunk!
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — AVIS Car Rental is facing a major lawsuit in Palm Beach County after a man, retrieving luggage from the back of his rented Ford Mustang, was allegedly critically injured as the AVIS agent sped away without seeing the man partially in the car.
According to the suit just filed, Kenneth Mass was returning the rented Ford Mustang to the AVIS location by Palm Beach International Airport on June 22nd, 2021. That’s when the unnamed AVIS employee apparently failed to look around the car after checking it in.
Mass was partially in the trunk, pulling out his luggage, when the AVIS driver took off in the Mustang. Wrote attorneys:
“AVIS carelessly operated the subject vehicle; failed to observe that the plaintiff was retrieving luggage from the trunk; carelessly and negligently moved the car while the trunk was open; failed to train (the employee) in the safe and careful manner in accepting a rental return; and failed to properly wait for the trunk to be closed before moving the car.”
As a result of AVIS’ alleged negligence, “the plaintiff’s arm was yanked and pulled by the subject vehicle and suffered bodily injury, resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and mental anguish.” Mr. Mass, according to the suit, required shoulder surgery.
The suit, filed by Attorney Lambros Lambrou in Fort Lauderdale, seeks in excess of the $30,000 statutory minimum. AVIS has not yet filed a response.
