Bernstein & Maryanoff

Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
Fighting for Those Harmed in 15-Passenger Van Accidents

For many reasons, different groups of people will rent a 15-passenger van in order to travel to a destination.  While this is often a safe and responsible choice, the unfortunate reality is that things can and do go wrong with these vehicles, and Florida 15-passenger van accidents can easily lead to disaster.  If you or someone you love has been harmed in this manner, you need to seek the help of Florida personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.  Below is a brief overview of this issue.

15-Passenger Vans and the Lack of Safety Features

One of the biggest problems that can arise when a Florida 15-passenger van accident occurs is that many of these vehicles are not properly equipped with safety belts and/or airbags for passengers.  Therefore, when a crash occurs, passengers can be tossed about in the cabin at dangerous speeds and at dangerous angles, and the chance that someone will be ejected from the vehicle as a result of a crash rises precipitously.

In addition to the lack of seatbelts and airbags, many 15-passenger vans are built such that they are extremely top-heavy, which means that even if a collision does not occur, evasive measures that the driver takes can lead to a rollover crash.  Rollover crashes are among the most dangerous types of accidents that can occur for many reasons.

Legal Questions Regarding Florida 15-Passenger Van Accidents

Aside from the dangerous realities that surround the passengers in a 15-passenger van, there are also several legal questions that can arise in the aftermath of a crash.  The most common and the first one that’s usually encountered deals with properly identifying the defendant or defendants.  Generally, either a member of the group that rents the van or an adult supervisor if the traveling group is made up of minors will drive.  In these situations, his or her actions could lead to liability.

In addition, there are situations where the van may not have been properly repaired or managed in terms of maintenance before the trip that led to the accident occurred, and in these situations it’s often the rental company that could be liable for the damages that result from an accident that leads to injuries or worse.

For these reasons and many more, those who have been harmed in a Florida 15-passenger van accident need to seek the help of experienced Florida personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.  Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.