The SUV stretch limousine that crashed in upstate New York on Saturday failed an inspection last month and, according to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, should not have been on the road. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and state police have not yet determined if the crash was the fault of the driver or a vehicle malfunction, but the result is the same: 20 people are dead in a car accident.
Factors That Could Have Led to Limo Accident Fatalities
The stretch limo carrying 17 passengers ran a stop sign, careened into a parking lot, hit an unoccupied car that struck two pedestrians, and ran off the road. All the passengers in the limo were killed, as well as the driver of the limo and two pedestrians.
There is plenty of speculation as to how these deaths could have been prevented:
- The driver was not properly licensed. The driver of the limo did not have the commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement that is required to operate a limo in New York. Driving an SUV is not the same as driving an SUV stretch limo. Not knowing how to operate that kind of machine properly can lead to accidents and fatalities.
- The vehicle was not street legal. According to Governor Cuomo, the limo was a “chopped vehicle,” also known as a Frankenstein vehicle. This means that the SUV had been cut and elongated to allow for custom, after-market modifications for the accommodation of more passengers. Modified vehicles can lack important safety features, and a federal certification is needed to ensure that the elongation of a vehicle is compliant with the law – and this SUV did not have that certification.
- The passengers may not have been wearing seatbelts. Limos can feel like tanks and give passengers a false sense of safety. Passengers often do not wear seatbelts in the backseat of a vehicle, let alone a limo. Should a crash occur, passengers can be thrown around inside the vehicle, against each other and against hard surfaces. In some instances, lack of seatbelt use can lead to being thrown out of a vehicle.
Protect Yourself from a Michigan Car Accident
There has been a deadly limo accident every year in the United States since 2000, and they have been responsible for at least 68 deaths. Saturday’s limo crash is believed to be the deadliest transportation accident of any kind in the United States since 2009. The limo was rented as part of a 30th birthday celebration and killed four sisters, three of who died with their husbands.
This car crash has raised new safety concerns for the limousine industry, and it has highlighted the incredible importance of wearing safety belts, being aware of your surroundings as a pedestrian, and realizing that life is fleeting. Car accidents can kill in an instant. If you have lost a loved one in a car crash, contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation to discuss your case. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today.
