After a car crash involving a taxi, you may wonder how to recover compensation for the injuries or other damages you sustained.
At Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak, we understand how overwhelming any legal process can be after an accident. We offer you a risk-free consultation to learn whether you may have grounds for a case.
Our team of legal professionals is available to take your call 24/7, and we can arrange your initial, zero-cost claim review without the need for you to come to our office. There are no fees to pay for our services unless we achieve a recovery on your behalf, so there is no risk in calling our firm.
Determining Liability For the Crash
Determining fault for a crash involving a taxi is much the same as for any other car accident. This is true whether you were a passenger riding in a taxi, or the driver or passenger of another vehicle that was struck by one. However, even though some of the first steps after an accident, such as calling 9-1-1, are the same, there are other details that may be helpful as you consider pursuing a claim.
Steps to Help Your Claim
After calling first responders, and if it is safe to move about:
- Be sure to get the taxi driver’s information, including the name, insurance company, driver’s license, vehicle number, the owner of the taxi, and the name of the company that employs the driver.
- Try to get pictures of the damage to both vehicles, road debris and road signs or landmarks that show the location of the crash.
- Stay inside the vehicle until help arrives if it is safer to do so.
- If you see any eyewitnesses, try to get their contact details and a statement.
- Get examined by a medical professional immediately following the crash. This step is essential to protecting your health and to help link any injuries to the accident.
Pursuing a Claim For Damages
Whether or not you can pursue a claim for damages will be dependent on a number of factors, including whether you were driving one of the vehicles involved in the crash, whether you share any fault for the accident and other considerations. Our attorneys can discuss this information in greater detail during your free legal consultation. However, here is some general information following an accident involving a taxi:
Passenger Riding in a Taxi
If you were riding in a taxi as a passenger, you do not have to prove liability to pursue compensation for your injuries. However, depending on the outcome of how fault is assessed for the crash, you may be able to pursue compensation from one or both insurance companies, or one or both parties, depending on the unique circumstances that caused your accident.
Common Carrier
Indiana has a common carrier policy, like other states, that applies to passengers being transported by any private or public carrier, including taxicab services. All operators that provide these services are legally held to a higher duty of care. Failure to uphold this duty can result in being held liable for any resulting damages. Some common reasons taxi drivers may fail in this duty of care include:
- Failure to properly maintain vehicle and other equipment used to transport passengers
- Failure to obtain proper licensure or training
- Failure to adhere to state or federal laws
- Negligent, aggressive or reckless driving behavior, such as speeding or tailgating
- Operating while impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failure to warn passengers about any known potential dangers
Passengers in Another Vehicle That Was Struck By a Taxi
If you sustain injuries or damages after a vehicle you are riding in was struck by a taxi, you can file a claim against the at-fault party. However, in this situation, you must be able to prove that the driver was liable and that your injuries were caused by the accident.
Driver of Another Vehicle in a Crash Involving a Taxi
As the driver of a vehicle in any accident, even if you were in a collision with a taxi, your ability to file a claim depends on how much you contributed to the crash. In Indiana, as long as you are not 51 percent or more at-fault, you can pursue compensation for your damages. However, the amount of damages, or compensation, you recover will be reduced by your percentage of liability.
Working with an attorney may be beneficial to your potential claim. Our reputable car crash lawyers are very familiar with the ways insurance companies try to devalue or deny claims, and we are prepared to fully manage your case to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. We are also prepared to fully investigate the accident to determine you are not assessed a higher liability than is appropriate.
Do Taxis Operate The Same as Lyft, Uber or Other Rideshare Drivers?
Taxi drivers operate in a variety of ways. Some purchase their own vehicle and choose to insure and operate a business independently. Others prefer the reduced responsibility that comes with leasing their vehicle from a taxicab company. However, in both instances, taxi drivers must purchase specialized insurance on their own. It is typically not provided by the company the driver works for. Many U.S. states have mandated insurance minimums for taxi drivers, and most operators do not purchase more than that.
This is different from Uber or Lyft, which provides insurance coverage for their drivers under specific circumstances, such as when the operator is logged on and actively transporting a passenger.
Contact Our Trusted Team of Lawyers For Legal Help Today
If you were injured in an accident involving a taxi, our South Bend Indiana car accident lawyers are prepared to help. We can review the circumstances of the collision that caused your injuries, along with other contributing factors, and determine whether you may be eligible for compensation.
If you have a claim and you hire our services, you pay us no money unless we achieve a recovery on your behalf. Your initial consultation is free and can be done from your home. There is no need for an in-person meeting. Our firm is available to take your call 24/7, and the clock is already ticking on your statute of limitations, so we encourage you to call today. There is nothing to risk and no obligation to file a claim.
Call Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak today to learn more: (844) 678-1800
