Limousine Accident Attorneys Serving Chicago & Illinois Communities

Motor vehicle accidents involving limousines are often the result of the negligent driving by the limo chauffeur. Usually, limousine accidents can be catastrophic and leave the victim with permanent injuries due to the physical weight and size of the vehicle. Many times, accident victims require immediate emergency room attention.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represents passengers and motorists seriously injured in Chicago motor vehicle accidents involving limousines. If you suffered injuries in a collision with a limo or were as a passenger in a limousine, we encourage you to discuss your circumstance with a personal injury attorney who can explain your legal options without any cost or obligation to you. Complete our online form, and an attorney will be in contact with you within 24-hours.

Passengers Expectation Of Reasonable Care By Chicago Limo Drivers

The large Chicago metropolitan area roadways are often filled with "for-hire vehicles" including chauffeured limousines. Passengers riding in a limousine expect to be treated with "the highest degree of care" due to the fact that Illinois law categorizes limousines as a 'common carrier'. This means that Illinois limousine companies have a higher level of responsibility to protect their passengers compared to passenger vehicle drivers.

However, the duty of a limousine company or driver to provide reasonable care can be breached when an accident occurs and causes serious injuries including broken bones, brain trauma, lacerations, and other life-threatening conditions.

Because of their breach of duty, the limousine service, driver, and insurance carrier can be held liable. Passengers suffering physical or emotional trauma caused by an accident and the neglectful action of the driver can file an insurance company claim or lawsuit for financial compensation.

Other Motorists and Pedestrians Involved In Collisions With Liveries

Because a state of Illinois regulated limousine service is a common carrier, the company owes the community a heightened level of care beyond normal. Because of the length, width, and weight of a limousine, limo companies are expected to hire the best drivers that are fully trained to handle the equipment through any road issues or weather conditions.

Often, limousine drivers make an error in judgment when driving, and cause catastrophic accidents involving other motorists (visit page), bicyclists (visit page) and pedestrians (visit page).

In some incidences, when too many people are riding inside the limousine, the extra weight can cause an unstable hazard while moving. When a limousine service puts their profits ahead of customer safety, it places passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians at risk because the vehicle is too heavy making it difficult to maneuver and stop safely.

Legal Liability Of Driver And Limousine Company To People Injured In Accidents

The limousine company and driver are licensed as a common carrier by the state of Illinois and must follow specific rules of operation. The limo service and driver are required to provide the utmost diligence and care when providing safe carriage for every passenger.

Also, the vehicle must be adequately maintained to ensure maximum safety at all times. When the company or driver's negligence causes a crash, they can be financially responsible for any personal injury and damage proximately caused by their breach of duties.

The owner of the limousine service is often held liable, even if it is only the driver at fault for actually causing the accident. In fact, the limo owner may also be legally responsible if it can be proved they hired unqualified drivers or did not provide proper training or background checks for the driver operating the limousine.

The Influx of Rideshare Services in the Chicago Area

As attorneys who regularly represent car accident victims, we have witnessed the growth of rideshare use in the Chicago area. Today we are seeing more auto accidents involving Uber and Lyft than we ever have in the past.

While these rideshare services may be new players in the chauffeured ride service industry, they generally fall under the same regulatory laws as limousines. The U.S. Department of Transportation groups rideshare companies together with limousines as common carriers, meaning there is no legal distinction if you were injured in an accident with a limousine company, taxi driver, or rideshare company such as Uber.

Financial Compensation Available To Those Injured In A Chicago Limo Accident

A limousine accident lawyer may be able to build a solid case for passengers, other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians involved in a limo crash. By gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, and developing a claim against the insurance company of the limo company, an injured party can be compensated for a variety of damages available under Illinois law that include:

• Ongoing Medical Bills – Funds can usually be obtained to pay off emergency room services, hospitalization, visits to the doctor, rehabilitation, physical therapy, chiropractic care, x-rays, MRI’s and others.
• Lost Wages – Many times, victims of a limo crash are hurt so severely that they are unable to continue working. A skilled limousine accident lawyer can often help the victim recover lost wages and any potential future earnings even if the client is self-employed or has commission-based income.
• Pain and Suffering – An experienced personal injury attorney can perform a thorough evaluation and assessment of the severity, nature, and duration of the client’s injuries to compute actual damages involving pain and suffering. Calculations of the case's worth are based on the impact on the injured victim's quality of life and the disruptive effect the pain has on routine daily activities.

Talk to an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney About Your Chicago Limousine Accident Case Today

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC specializes in Chicago motor vehicle injuries including limo crashes. From the time we are retained in a case, we begin gathering important evidence to help us in securing the most favorable settlement for you. This usually means:

• Ordering the police report from the investigating public safety department
• Requesting copies of all medical records and bills
• Taking statements from witnesses to the accident and other passengers
• Contacting the liability insurance company to negotiate a settlement

Our attorneys offer their clients the highest level of experience and professionalism. If you suffered severe injuries because of an accident caused by driver negligence or that of the limousine service, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC for a free, no-obligation consultation at (888) 424-5757. We can advise you if your legal rights and explain the legal process for getting a settlement in these cases.