Limousines are a great option for groups of people looking for a safe transportation option for a night out, which was why a group of friends and family decided to book one from Prestige Limousines in upstate New York.
They were on their way to a local brewery. They never made it there. The resulting tragedy took the lives of 20 people and made national headlines. The crash is currently under investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Prestige Limousine has been shut down while it is underway. No matter the outcome of this investigation, we are reminded of the importance of limousine safety and the many lives that depend on it.
Contributing Factors In Crash
The supersized limo in question had recently failed inspection and, as New York Gov. Cuomo put it, “the owner of this company had no business putting a failed vehicle on the road.” In addition, the driver was not properly licensed and therefore was likely not trained to drive such a vehicle.
To compound this, the intersection where the accident occurred is known to locals to be a problem area. The limo ran a stop sign at the intersection and slammed into a parked SUV next to a local cafe. Law enforcement hasn’t identified why this happened, including if drugs or alcohol were involved. Two pedestrians standing nearby were also killed.
This crash is the deadliest transportation accident since February 2009, when a plane crash near Buffalo, New York, killed 50 people. While there have been only 12 limousine-related fatalities between 2012 and 2016, compared to 171,508 deaths across all vehicle categories, this tragedy highlights the importance of safety regulations in the industry. The vehicle in this case was a reconstructed Lincoln Town Car, which had been cut apart and rebuilt to accommodate passengers.
While no details on the integrity of this particular vehicle have been released, past incidents have demonstrated the dangers that these modified vehicles present. In 2015, a crash involving a similarly modified limo resulted in the death of four women after it was struck by a pick-up truck. This accident prompted a grand jury to call on Governor Cuomo to assemble a task force on limousine safety. Traditional limos comply with strict safety standards, but modified vehicles often remove many essential safety features.
While this crash happened in New York, the same safety issues can affect individuals anywhere in the country. If you’ve been seriously injured in a limo accident, or any other vehicle accident, in Alabama, you need an experienced lawyer who can help you build a strong case. Contact us to learn how we can help.