At the outset of your limo accident case, it is important for your attorney to determine all responsible parties. While most accident cases can be attributed to negligent or reckless acts by the driver, some limo accidents can be attributed to negligence that occurs even before the limo driver gets behind the wheel and turns on the engine.

Liable parties in a limo crash case include the following:

• Limousine Driver: Limo drivers have the duty to get their passengers to their destination without incident. Unfortunately, momentary lapses in energy levels or judgment can cause drivers to fail in this duty. Examples of negligent driving include violating traffic laws, speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, and driving recklessly in general. Most limo drivers are employees, which means they are covered by their company’s insurance provider rather than their own (as long as they were acting in accordance with standard operating procedure).
• Limousine Company: Limousine companies are responsible for the safety of their operations. This means they should maintain qualified staff and fully functional vehicles. If a limo accident occurs due to a defective limo, a bad driver, or other improperly trained staff member, this can constitute a failure of duty of care and thus creates grounds for negligence.
• Limousine Maintenance Company: Some limousine companies contract out vehicle maintenance work to an outside company. If a maintenance company fails to provide reliable service and this results in a dysfunctional limo causing a crash, that maintenance company can be held accountable for all resulting damages.
• Other Motorists: When another motorist, not the limo driver or company, is responsible for a limo accident, victims can make a claim against the liable driver’s insurance. If the accident occurred while the limo driver was working, compensation may be pursued from the limousine company’s insurance as well.
• Limo’s Manufacturer and/or Retailer: Just like any other company that sells vehicles to the public, limo manufacturers and retailers are responsible for distributing safe vehicles without significant defects. Failure of this responsibility creates justification for a lawsuit.