Personal Injury Lawyer For Limo Accidents

As with any other type of auto and motorcycle accidents, limousine accidents can wreak havoc on the lives of the survivors. Unlike other types of motorized accidents, however, liability for the crash may fall on more than just the driver. The service provider, maintenance crew, and vehicle manufacturer might all be on the hook as well. Unfortunately for the limo crash victims, determining and proving liability is not always straightforward, as many limousine companies operate under large conglomerates with strong legal representation.

Despite these obstacles, there’s still hope for those affected. If you or a loved one have been involved in a limousine accident, contact a personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Michael B. Brehne, P.A. With years of experience representing clients throughout Central Florida, we can be your best ally against greedy insurance companies. 

Schedule a case consultation with us today!

Limousine Accident: Who Is Responsible?

If you were riding in a rented limousine, then liability might not fall entirely on the driver, especially if there were no other vehicles involved in the crash. Determining liability can help ensure that the right parties are held responsible for compensating your injuries. If you’re unsure which parties you could sue in a limo accident, consult a personal injury lawyer right away. The following include some of the most common parties that may be liable for limousine accidents.

• Limousine Driver: The most common culprit behind a limousine accident is the driver. Some common driver errors that could lead to liability include speeding, failing to check blind spots before changing lanes, and driving while drowsy.
• Limousine Company: Limousine companies can be found vicariously liable for an accident as long as the driver was on duty during the incident. Any evidence that the accident was caused by a defective limo or untrained staff can also be used against the company on grounds of negligence.
• Limousine Manufacturer/Retailer: Like the maintenance company, the limousine’s manufacturer is also responsible for ensuring the vehicle operates safely. If the cause of the accident can be traced back to a manufacturing mistake, the case can be escalated to a defective product lawsuit.
• Limousine Maintenance Company: Some limousine companies contract outside maintenance staff. Any evidence that the accident was caused by a lack of maintenance or inadequate hardware service can be used against the maintenance company, which can be held liable for the accident.
• Other Vehicle Drivers: Limousine accidents can also be the result of another driver’s negligence. In such cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance can be held responsible for compensating crash victims.

Liability Insurance Florida Law

Florida Statute 324.032(a) requires that taxicabs and limousines must have a motor vehicle liability policy with minimum limits of $125,000 in bodily injury per person, $250,000 in bodily injury per incident, and $50,000 in property damage liability. Bodily injury insurance, or BIL, covers other people injured by a driver’s negligence and is the policy most likely to cover crash survivors. These mandatory limits help to ensure that a victim receives fair compensation for all damages.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

Crash victims can seek compensation for most medical expenses resulting from the incident, as well as for pain and suffering under certain circumstances. In the event of a fatal accident, family members may also file for wrongful death. In any case, if no favorable settlement can be reached, our car accident attorney will be ready to take the case to court.

Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to minimize what compensation they award by limiting liability, especially when dealing with complex cases such as limo accidents. For this reason, it’s crucial for crash victims to seek professional legal counsel right away before accepting any unfair settlements.

How A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

We can help clients gather all the necessary evidence to maximize their compensation, including eye witness accounts, traffic camera and limo dashcam footage, and expert opinions. We’ll also ensure that all paperwork is filed within the Florida statute of limitations. 

Because of the greater number of parties involved, we’ll also help you determine which parties to include in your initial claim based on the evidence. This step is crucial as plaintiffs usually can not add more defendants once the case is in progress. It can also save you money by combining all lawsuits into one instead of filing multiple ones for each defendant.

In any case, a personal injury attorney can help you determine the best course of action for your case while pursuing the compensation you rightfully deserve. Time is of the essence in every case, so contact us right away to schedule a case consultation.