Limo Rides Carry Serious Risk Of Injury

For many of us, riding in a limousine denotes a special occasion. Your first ride in a limo may have been after high school prom, or as part of a wedding party. Now you may want to book a limo to go wine tasting, for a special anniversary dinner, or just for a night on the town. However, it is important to remember that a limousine is just like any other hired transportation, and may be involved in an accident, causing you and the other passengers serious injury.

Last month in Illinois, one person was killed and six others injured in a limousine accident on Interstate 90. The driver, 20-year-old Aaron Nash, said he was blinded by the sun, and hit a median barrier, flipping the car upside down. The six passengers were on their way to the airport for a vacation in Mexico.

Federal investigators ordered Lyons Limousine to suspend service for violating federal safety regulations, including letting an underage driver operate the limousine. In addition to being too young to drive the limo, Nash had at least five traffic offenses since 2012, including violations for speeding and tailgating, and was driving on a suspended license. Now, two of the injured passengers have filed a lawsuit against the driver and Lyons for their injuries.

The limousine company was also out of compliance with their federal interstate carrier requirements. Federal investigators found that the company failed to conduct background checks, failed to keep maintenance records, and did not have the minimum insurance liability. The company had been inactivated for failure to file its safety registration for the past three years.

Last year in New York, four women were killed, and four others injured in a serious limousine crash. The eight friends were touring wineries in Long Island when the driver made a U-turn and was struck by a truck. The driver of the truck tried to flee, but was caught by police. Now the truck driver, limousine company, and limo driver are named as part of a lawsuit by one of the injured passengers.

In addition to a civil lawsuit, the limo driver is facing a criminal indictment for his role in the deadly accident. According to an investigation, the limo driver could not see around the vehicle in front of him when he made the U-turn, and did not come to a stop before putting the limo into the path of the truck.

However, not all limousine accidents involve a crash. A woman is filing a personal injury claim against a limo bus company for a broken pelvis. As part of a bachelorette party, friends were touring southern California wineries. The limo was equipped with a “stripper pole,” which one of the women was spinning on when the limo swerved. She lost her grip on the pole, and fell on her side, fracturing her pelvis.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a limousine accident, the Gilman & Bedigian team is fully equipped to handle the complex process of filing a personal injury claim. Our attorneys have decades of litigation experience dealing with hired transportation companies, including limo services. We will focus on getting you compensated, so you can focus on healing and moving forward.