By now, most people in the Tampa area who pay attention to the news have probably heard of the horrifically tragic limousine accident in another state.
The point of this blog post is not to re-hash those details as families grieve, but to emphasize that the accident raises broader safety concerns about stretch limousines, including those that operate in Florida.
Authorities are still trying to figure whether the accident happened because of a driver’s error or a mechanical failure of some sort, but they have already indicated that the limo company was in violation of some state rules at the time of the accident.
However, some have raised concerns about the way many limousines, particularly stretched limousines, are fabricated. Usually, these sorts of vehicles, especially the longer ones, are extensively modified. Sometimes, the body is even cut apart and put back together after additional segments of the vehicle are added.
Oftentimes, these modifications both affect the ability of the driver to control the vehicle effectively and make the vehicle more vulnerable to collisions should they occur. Longer limousines have been known to literally split apart in a crash.
Moreover, when these vehicles get modified, some features, including seatbelts for passengers in the back, get discarded. While this might make the ride in the back more enjoyable, it can cost lives in the event of an accident.
The point is that for a lot of reasons, these sorts of vehicles have to be operated and maintained with the utmost care. Not taking reasonable precautions can lead to passengers and others suffering very serious injuries in a commercial vehicle accident.