Steven A. Bagen | December 27, 2024 | Car Accidents
Taxis provide a valuable service when people do not want to drive or do not have the means to do so. However, you put your safety in the hands of a stranger whenever you hail a cab. While you trust that a professional driver should be safe on the road, taxi drivers make mistakes like anyone else. They can also be notorious for speeding or aggressive driving to get to destinations faster and pick up more fares in a shift.
Even if a taxi driver is safe and defensive, other drivers might not be. Another driver can violate traffic laws and crash into the cab while you are a passenger, causing you injuries. In any situation, you should know your rights to compensation if you suffer injuries in a taxicab accident.
First, you should contact a seasoned Daytona car accident attorney experienced in taxi accidents who can benefit you in many ways. They should offer free consultations, during which you can tell your story and ask any questions you may have. If you hire a lawyer, you can expect them to benefit your car accident case in many ways.
Investigate Responsibility for the Accident
The first step in any vehicle accident case is to determine liability. Often, injured victims seek compensation from the insurance companies of liable parties, so having a taxicab accident attorney investigate responsibility for the accident is critical.
Either the taxi driver or another motorist in the accident is likely at fault for what happened if you were a taxi passenger. Alternatively, you might have been another driver who was hurt in a crash with a taxi driver. Either way, you need to pinpoint who was to blame for the accident before you file a claim or lawsuit.
A taxi accident attorney can fully investigate the crash with an eye toward determining who was to blame and who you can sue. They will then gather the evidence necessary to back up your claim when you file it. Your taxi accident lawyer may speak with witnesses to the accident, or they may perform an investigation at the scene of the crash. The aim is to gather sufficient evidence of negligence so you can seek financial compensation for your injuries.
A taxicab driver is an employee of the taxicab company, not an independent contractor. This fact is important because you can sue the taxi company for your damages under the legal principle of respondeat superior when a driver causes your injuries. Regardless of whether the taxicab company self-insures or has purchased an insurance policy, they are legally responsible for their driver’s actions. Since they likely have a large insurance policy, identifying when the taxi company is liable can mean access to more compensation for your injuries.
Quantify Your Damages
Your taxi accident compensation is supposed to compensate you for both past and future damages, but you need evidence that shows exactly how you have suffered since the accident and what you may go through in the future. You must prove your damages the same way you must demonstrate liability for the crash, and the insurance company will likely question the extent of your damages in any way they can.
A taxi accident lawyer will review your medical records and work with expert witnesses as necessary to determine how much you should ask the responsible party to pay in a claim. They will ensure your claim covers current and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Work for You to Obtain Full Compensation
Even when you are legally due compensation, getting all you deserve is not necessarily easy. Remember that companies, whether the taxi company or insurer, do not want to cut into their profits by paying injured accident victims. Even if they know they’re liable, companies can make the process difficult.
You may need to go through extensive negotiation, or even be forced to file a lawsuit before you finally receive fair payment. You should never let the taxi company or their insurance carrier off the hook by accepting less than you are due in compensation.
If you try to approach the insurance company on your own, adjusters may not take you seriously and assume they can push you into a low settlement. Most unrepresented claimants have little idea what their claims are worth and regularly accept much less than they deserve under the law. Do not accept anything without legal advice and representation for this reason.
The insurance company will likely treat you differently when you have a taxi accident attorney. First, adjusters realize attorneys do not fall for the same tactics as unrepresented claimants. Insurers also know the potential risks of litigation they now face with an attorney handling the claim. They may have more of a sense of urgency to settle your case on fair terms to avoid litigation if liability is clear. When a taxi company or insurer sees you hired a taxi accident lawyer, they take it as a show of force they often respect.
When to Hire a Taxi Accident Lawyer
The taxi company is going to aggressively work to protect itself from liability for financial and perhaps reputational reasons. Representatives may even contact you in the days after the accident to try to get your version of events. Even if their driver’s liability is clear, they may be looking for reasons to shift blame to others involved in the accident. Similarly, the insurance company may try to pressure you into accepting a settlement that pays you less than you deserve when they see that you are not represented by a taxi accident lawyer.
It does not cost you any money upfront to get the legal support you need after suffering an injury in a taxi accident. The only thing you must do is schedule a free consultation and allow the attorney to evaluate your options. The initial consultation is free, and there is no further obligation on your part to pay a taxi accident lawyer unless you win your case.
Contact a personal injury law firm near you to get started now.