Deadly Limo Crash: Who is to Blame and Are Limos Safe?

TYLER and LONGVIEW, Texas. A deadly limo crash in upstate New York has left 20 people dead and has left many state regulators wondering what went wrong. The limo accident happened when a limousine carrying 18 passengers failed to stop at what is known to be a notoriously dangerous T-intersection in upstate New York. The limo barreled through the intersection, hitting a parked car, colliding with two pedestrians, and eventually ended up in a ravine. All 18 passengers in the limo died and the two pedestrians were also killed. The accident is being called the worst transportation-related accident in New York in 9 years.

What went wrong? Regulators are still trying to understand what contributed to the accident. According to the New York Times, the limo failed state inspections, the driver didn’t have the commercial driver’s license required to carry passengers, and the limo wasn’t designed to carry so many people. The owner of the limo company has also come under scrutiny for his history of fraud, service as an FBI informant, and bankruptcies. According to NBC News, the widow of the driver killed in the limo crash allegedly complained about the state of the vehicle he was hired to drive. The driver of the limo had 20 years’ experience driving a tractor trailer before he was hired to drive a limo.

The accident has highlighted potential dangers that limos pose. Many limousines were originally passenger vehicles that have been sawed in half and converted into limos. When companies retrofit these vehicles, they may not always do so with safety in mind. In fact, recent reports have indicated that these vehicles may not have side impact airbags, the brakes on these vehicles may not be sufficient to handle the extra weight, and the vehicles may lack rollover prevention or proper exits in the event of an emergency.

If you’re thinking of booking a limo for your next special occasion, how can you know that your limo is safe? Because regulation hasn’t yet caught up, your best bet is to ask questions. Ask if drivers hold proper commercial licensure. Ask if the company uses converted or retrofitted limousines. Ask about the company’s safety policies, driver requirements, and car safety features. Still, in coming months we might see more pressure put on federal regulators to increase safety standards in limousines to prevent tragic accidents like this from occurring again in the future.

The Cooper Law Firm are personal injury lawyers in Tyler and Longview, Texas whose thoughts are with the families whose lives have been impacted by this tragic accident. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident, you may have certain rights under the law. Investigations are currently underway to understand what went wrong in the limo crash in upstate New York. When it comes to accidents closer to home, victims of crashes also deserve a proper investigation into what went wrong. If you or a loved one was hurt in a car accident in Tyler or Longview, visit our personal injury law firm at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ learn more.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037