Limousine Accidents
Riding in a limousine or party bus comes with a false sense of security, especially if passengers are not wearing seatbelts; in fact, the majority of fatalities that occur in limo collisions were not wearing seatbelts, according to USA Today. Limos are difficult to maneuver, are slow to stop, and drivers face tough working conditions. Unfortunately, many limo accidents end in severe injury, or even with tragic death. Whether you were injured as an occupant, driver, pedestrian, or other third party, you deserve to be compensated by the negligent party responsible for causing the collision. Call the law offices of Mark H. Wright, PLLC today to schedule a free consultation.
Injured as an Occupant and The Limousine Company Was at Fault
Common causes of limousine collisions include limousine driver distraction, driver intoxication, driver aggression/speeding, and limo driver drowsiness. Other crashes occur due to improper maintenance (a limo crash that killed 20 people was caused by improper brake maintenance according to USA Today), defective parts, overcrowding within the vehicle, and improper driver training. In all of these scenarios, you can file a claim with the limousine company.
In other scenarios, passengers can become injured even if no crash occurs due to the driver taking a turn too quickly, or potentially if the passenger was intoxicated and caused an injury to themselves. No matter how the injury occurred, you need to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney before discussing matters with the other party.
Injured as an Occupant and Another Party Was at Fault
Just because you were injured while riding in a limousine does not mean the limo driver or limousine company was at fault. In this case, you will have to exhaust the other party’s insurance policy before you can recover damages from the limousine company. And, some limousine companies may not have a policy that applies for collisions caused by other parties.
Injured as a Pedestrian, Cyclist, Driver, or Other Third Party
Non occupants, or third parties, also have a right to sue the limousine company if they were injured because of the limousine driver’s actions. Speeding, aggressive driving, DUI, drowsy driving, and distracted driving are top causes of injury to nonoccupants such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The same is true for occupants and drivers within other vehicles.
Why You Need an Attorney
It is in the best interest of the negligent party’s insurance company to reduce the value of your claim, or to deny wrongdoing altogether. If you were an occupant in the limo, the other party may claim that your intoxication or rambunctious acts led to the crash. If you were a driver of another vehicle, the other party may claim that you cut the limo driver off, or that you were speeding or failed to use your turn signal. The case may seem clear cut to you, but there is simply never a personal injury claim that is accepted by the other party and paid in full without a legal fight.
Call Our Lawyers Today
Regardless of the severity of your damages, or how the crash was caused, you need an attorney to represent you in out-of-court negotiations as well as in the courtroom. Call the law offices of Mark H. Wright, PLLC today at 813-425-2020 to schedule a free consultation.
