Pennsylvania residents may have heard about a July 19 limo crash that killed four young women and injured four others in New York. The incident is the latest in a string of similar accidents that has authorities questioning the safety of limousines.

According to police, a limo carrying eight members of a bachelorette party had just left a local winery when it was broadsided by a pickup truck. Three women died at the scene of the crash, and another woman later died at a hospital. The pickup driver is suspected of drunk driving. It is not known if any of the limo victims were wearing seat belts, and limo passenger cabins are not equipped with airbags. Statistics show that 55 percent of all backseat passengers who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2013 were not wearing seat belts. However, only 28 states currently require seat belts for backseat passengers.

In response to the 2014 limo bus accident that injured actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, the National Transportation Safety Board is crafting new safety recommendations for limousines. States are also taking action. California passed a law requiring an additional safety exit and passenger safety education after a 2013 limo fire that killed five women. Since 2000, at least 45 people have died in large limo crashes.

A person who has been injured in a car wreck may benefit by consulting with an attorney. Depending on the details of the incident, legal counsel may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for the crash. If the claim is successful, the injured victim could receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and any other damages a court deems appropriate.

Source: CBS News, “Deadly Long Island crash raises questions about limo safety,” Kris Van Cleave, July 20, 2015