Wedding Season Woes: Limousines Forego Safety for Luxury

Traveling in a limousine usually brings to mind the excitement of a wedding, prom or other special occasion. What is less likely to come to mind is the danger associated with riding in a limo. An accident that took place last wedding season, killing four women, highlights the tragic consequences of forgoing safety for luxury.

Eight young women were traveling in a Lincoln Town Car in Long Island, NY, out celebrating an upcoming wedding, when their vehicle was broadsided by a pickup truck, sending the passengers on the left side of the car flying across the cabin. Three women died almost instantly and a fourth died at the hospital. Six other people were injured in the collision.

The accident brings to light the issue of safety in limousines and other entertainment buses, which get around laws requiring seatbelts and side-curtain airbags through a loophole in the law. Commercial vehicles with perimeter seating or that contain fewer than eight forward-facing seats are exempt from meeting the normal safety requirements issued by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Limousines, large party buses and some shuttle buses are among vehicles that fit into this exemption.

The exemption borders on absurdity when you consider that one in four accidents involving stretch limos are side collisions. The Center for Auto Safety says it has tried for years to bring attention to the issue with little traction. We wonder how many incidences it will take to convince federal regulators to take a hard look at the law and make some long-needed changes.  

“We don’t know if these women would still be alive if there were seatbelts and airbags in that vehicle, but the statistics show they would have had a better chance,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer today. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities

 

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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