Who is Liable for Your Injuries if You’re In a Limousine Accident in Lawrenceville?

Usually, our Lawrenceville accident attorneys tend to represent people who were injured in an ordinary motor vehicle accident. However, every now and then, a client comes to see us after being hurt in a limousine accident. These cases can become very complicated, very quickly, and it can be hard to figure out who you need to sue.

Can Your Limo Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville Determine Who Caused the Crash?

When you’re driving and get into an accident, you can tell your limo accident lawyer in Lawrenceville what happened. This isn’t the case when it comes to limousine accidents. Since you’re in the backseat, usually hanging out with friends or family, you have no idea what’s going on up front.

This can make it much harder for your Lawrenceville accident attorney to prove fault. All they’ll have to go on is the police report. They’ll also review any statements made by the drivers involved and any witnesses. Of course, this is never as good as learning what happened from your own client.

There May Be More Than One Driver at Fault in Your Limousine Accident

Chances are, even if your limo driver wasn’t primarily at fault, they played a role. This means that your limo accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will have to pursue more than one party.

Your Limo Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville Will Have to Pursue the Other Driver

If the other driver involved in the crash was responsible, then you’ll have a potential claim against them. Your limo accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will file a claim with their insurance carrier.

If your claim isn’t paid, you may have no option but to sue the other driver personally. Of course, their insurance company will be required to represent them. And, if you do settle or win your case, the insurance company is the one who will have to pay.

There’s a Chance That Your Lawrenceville Accident Attorney Will Need to Sue the Limousine Driver Too

When you’re a passenger in a friend’s car and they get into an accident, it can get uncomfortable really quickly. You don’t want to sue your friend. Even if it’s their insurance company that has to pay, you still feel bad.

It’s a lot different when your Lawrenceville accident attorney is pursuing a stranger. You don’t have any ties to the limo driver. In fact, they had a duty to keep you safe and they failed to do so.

The Limousine Company Will Also Be a Potential Defendant in Your Case

It is already complicated when your Lawrenceville accident attorney has to sue two insurance companies. However, it can get much more difficult to navigate when you add the limousine company into the mix.

If the limo driver was even partially at fault, their employer will more than likely be liable as well.

limo accidents can be complex to navigate.

According to Georgia Statute §51-2-2, an employer can be liable for the acts of their employees. As long as your limousine accident lawyer in Lawrenceville can prove the following things, there’s a good chance the limousine company will be found vicariously liable:

  • The driver (or employee) was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident and.
  • The defendant was an employee or servant of the company.

It will not be difficult to prove either of these things when it comes to your limousine accident in Lawrenceville.

Your Limo Accident Lawyer May Have No Choice but to File Suit

One of the problems with limousine accidents is that there are usually numerous plaintiffs. If you were hurt during the crash, there’s a good chance the other passengers were injured as well.

This means that, instead of having to cover one person’s injuries, the defendant’s insurance carriers will have to pay damages for several people. The odds of the defendant’s policy covering the total damages are low.

What Happens if the Insurance Policies Don’t Cover Your Damages?

The way auto insurance works is that you choose what kind of coverage you want. According to Georgia law, all drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

  • $25,000 bodily injury per person – What this means is that anything over $25,000 won’t be covered by the defendant’s insurance.
  • $50,000 bodily injury per accident – This means that, if there were ten people in the limo (including yourself), there will only be approximately $10,000 per person.
  • $25,000 in property damage – Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about this. Since you were a passenger, you won’t suffer any vehicular damage.

The Defendants Will Be Responsible for Paying the Remainder of the Total Damages

Depending on how you look at it, the defendants will be personally responsible for any damages that exceed their policy limits.

The good news is that you may be able to pursue more than one insurance policy. However, even with that in mind, your damages will almost certainly exceed the policy limits. This is made even worse given the number of possible plaintiffs involved.

When our limo accident lawyers in Lawrenceville try to explain this to their clients, it can be confusing. Some of our clients are happy to learn that the defendants will be personally liable for their damages.

The problem with this is that it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to collect damages from individual defendants.

It’s In Your Best Interest to Retain a Skilled Lawrenceville Accident Attorney Right Away

If you were involved in a limousine accident and suffered serious injuries, you should call our office immediately. You have no idea how quickly the other passengers may file suit. Your Lawrenceville accident attorney will make sure your claim is filed quickly and properly.

We like to offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives us the chance to review your case and see if it’s worth pursuing. It also allows you to sit down with a limo accident lawyer in Lawrenceville and ask any questions you may have.