A limousine can be a fabulous way to see the city on a special night out with friends, move from one wedding venue to the next, celebrate a birthday, or a great way to cap off celebrations for your graduation. That being said, these are no ordinary cars on account of their sheer weight and size, making them a danger to passengers as well as other road users should they get involved in an accident.
Limousine companies are required to train their drivers on safety issues as well as the special needs that come with driving such a large vehicle. In addition, they are expected to take care of their vehicles by making sure that any repairs are done in a timely manner and that they are maintained on a year-on-year basis. Failure to do these things will constitute some form of liability on their part should their limousine be involved in an accident on our roads.
Limousine companies are also known for their greed when it comes to making as much profit as possible, working their drivers to the bone as well as to the point of exhaustion. A fatigued driver shouldn’t be on the road, and making them work past their legally sanctioned weekly hours will end badly since driver fatigue has been shown to affect cognitive decisions on the road, making it hard for limousine drivers to make snap decisions to avert an accident.
Here are 3 of the most common limo accident types:
- Side swipes – This happens due to limos striking something on the side of the vehicle such as another parked or moving car
- Rear-enders – These supposedly cause 1 in 4 of all limo accidents, this according to Lancer Insurance Company
- Striking parked cars – The process of pulling out a parking lot usually needs a lot of care when dealing with limousines. Limo drivers should exercise utmost care pulling into and out of a parking lot.
In order to recover compensation, you must first prove that you sustained an injury as a direct result of someone else’s negligence (in this case, this would be the driver or the limo company). In addition, your injuries must be substantial enough to have caused you pain and suffering as well as put you out of work or require long-term medical attention. This is something Michael McCready has experience with, having worked in personal injury law for decades.
Get Legal Help Today!
If you’ve been injured in a limousine accident, don’t wait. Doing so will complicate and minimize chances of resolution and compensation. Please call us today at (773) 906-4159 for your free consultation into these types of accidents. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.