Taxicab drivers have a responsibility to fulfill a transportation need for the customer while also keeping them safe during the ride. However, accidents can happen on the road, and taxicabs are not exempt from those.
If you suffered injuries in an accident while riding in a taxicab, or if a taxicab hit your car, you might be able to recover compensation for your physical injuries and other losses. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm’s Los Angeles taxicab accident lawyers might be able to help you work through a taxicab accident claim, and can safely guide you to the compensation you deserve. Contact our team at (800) 794-0444
Types of Taxicab Accidents
There are generally three types of taxicab accidents for which a person can receive compensation:
- A taxicab causes an accident with another car, or multiple cars, injuring the passengers in those cars.
- The passengers in the taxicab are injured as a result of the taxicab’s accident.
- The taxicab causes an accident, but then leaves the scene of the accident. This is a hit and run accident. This type of accident can happen with another car, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian.
A taxicab passenger can bring a legal claim against the taxi company in a normal multi-car collision if the passenger was injured, and can show that the taxicab driver was driving negligent. The injured passenger in the other vehicle can also file a claim in this case. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation today.
Causes of Los Angeles Taxicab Accidents
Taxicabs get into the same type of accidents that private cars do.
The taxicab driver may be looking at a mobile phone map and not see the car braking ahead. The driver also could have been talking on the phone, missed a turn, and had to resort to a dangerous U-turn in the street, leading to an accident. The causes of taxicab accidents are wide and varied.
Two of the reasons for taxicab car crashes, negligence and lack of vehicle maintenance, could mean you are entitled to a settlement for your losses.
The negligence shown by taxicab drivers can include:
- Reckless driving, including general carelessness, abrupt U-turns, and rolling stops.
- Distracted driving, while texting or talking on a mobile device.
- Speeding excessively
- Changing lanes unsafely
- Using drugs or alcohol while driving
- Driving while drowsy
Poor maintenance of a taxicab by the owner or maintenance company may also contribute to the cause of the crash. Worn tires that blow out on a turn, for example, could be attributed to poor maintenance in a claim. Unresolved brake issues, engine issues, or other mechanical trouble could be reasons for a taxicab accident.
For a free legal consultation with a Taxicab Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Injuries Resulting from Taxicab Accidents
Injuries suffered in taxicab accidents are fairly similar to injuries from other common car accidents. However, more serious injuries occur because taxicab passengers are less inclined to use a seat belt during their ride. These injuries can include:
- Severe whiplash, which creates a variety of injuries to a passenger’s ligaments, bones in a person’s spine, muscles, neck mobility, nerves, and other neck issues.
- Head and brain injuries, including lacerations, concussions, brain trauma, and more, depending on the severity of the accident.
- Broken bones.
- Damage to internal body organs.
- Possible fatality.
In a taxicab accident, as in any accident, you should be checked by a medical professional. This will not only ensure your safety, but it will also be useful evidence in case you want to bring a personal injury claim.
The passenger should also attempt to get contact information of all involved, including insurance information. Gather everything documented if you can, from descriptions of what happened, to all medical paperwork, with hospital treatments taken, reasons for treatment, and more. A Los Angeles taxicab accident lawyer might be able to help you with this process so you can focus on your recovery.
Los Angeles Taxicab Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Filing a Claim for a Taxicab Accident
After the taxicab accident, it may be time to file a claim against the driver, the taxicab company, or the driver’s insurance company.
The only caveat here is that many taxi cab drivers usually only carry the minimum of insurance coverage. If the accident is very serious with many injuries in both cars, then the minimum coverage held by the negligent taxi driver may not be nearly enough to assume costs for the various costs of injuries, property damage, and more. In that case, you may have to resort to filing an individual lawsuit against the driver.
Keep in mind that there is a limited time in California to bring a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations for personal injury is one year from the date of the accident, or one year from when you discover the injury.
If a loved one died in a taxicab accident, you might benefit from filing a wrongful death lawsuit. In this case, you generally have two years from the date your loved one passed away. In a wrongful death suit, you could receive compensation for funeral costs and other expenses related to your loved one’s death.
A person involved in a taxicab accident might benefit from seeking the help of a Los Angeles taxicab accident lawyer to assess the potential for any financial compensation related to the accident. Depending on the injuries you suffered, and the driver negligence involved, a lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm could help you recover costs of any past and future medical expenses, damages for pain and suffering, loss of unearned future wages, and even compensation for emotional distress. Contact our team today at (800) 794-0444.
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