If you were injured in a taxi cab accident, you could have legal recourse and recover compensation. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may have several options for payment, including:
- Your personal injury protection insurance (PIP)
- The taxi company’s insurance company
- The taxi driver’s insurance company
- A personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party
If another car driver caused the taxi cab accident, you could also pursue compensation from their insurance company. For help call the personal injury lawyer Fort Lauderdale.
Causes of taxi accidents in Florida
Taxi cab accidents can occur in many different circumstances and may affect passengers and other motor vehicle occupants, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. According to the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA), only a small percentage of accidents occur due to vehicle defects and environmental conditions. Most crashes can be attributed to driver error or negligence.
Negligence and taxi accidents
Taxi drivers can be under pressure from their company, trying to rush from one job to the next to maximize their earnings. This can lead to violating road laws such as speed limits or road signs and signals. Other ways in which drivers can be negligent and responsible for your accident can include:
- Driving drunk or under the influence of drugs
- Texting while driving and other distractions
- Driving fatigued
- Speeding and driving aggressively
- Driving an unsafe and defective vehicle
- Failing to yield
Car accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale will examine your case for evidence of negligence to help you fight for just compensation.
How do I file a claim for compensation?
If you were a passenger in a taxi and suffered injuries, you may be able to file a claim with the taxi company’s insurance company and recover compensation. However, if a third-party such as another driver caused the accident while you were a passenger in a taxi, you could potentially file a claim with the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
If you got into a crash with a taxi cab while driving your car, you could make a claim with your PIP insurance as well as potentially claim compensation from the taxi driver or taxi company.
Florida law regarding taxi cab insurance
Since taxi drivers are classified as commercial drivers, they have to register with the state and purchase higher levels of insurance coverage compared to regular drivers.
According to Florida Statute § 324.032, taxi drivers and companies must have insurance that includes the following liability insurance minimum limits:
- $125,000 injury coverage per person
- $250,000 injury coverage per accident
- $50,000 property damage
While mandatory insurance coverage can provide victims with compensation after suffering an injury, recovering a settlement can be challenging. Insurance adjusters typically work in their company’s best interests and, in some cases, pull out all the stops to try to deny or minimize a claim.
You must file your taxi accident lawsuit by state deadlines
As with any personal injury lawsuit, you need to act within the state’s statute of limitations. If your taxi accident happens in Florida, you have four years to file your lawsuit against the liable parties, as outlined in Florida Statute § 95.11.
This deadline may not apply if someone died in the accident or if minors were involved. We can determine which deadlines apply to your case and help you figure out what course of action you can take.For more help contact personal injury lawyer Fort Myers.
Other concerns in a Florida taxi accident
Taxi cab claims can be further complicated if the driver is an independent contractor rather than an employee of the taxi company. This practice is commonplace with rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. In this case, a driver will personally be responsible for ensuring they have adequate liability insurance cover. In these cases, the taxi company may not be responsible for a victim’s damages.
Knowing how to file a claim and figure out who is responsible can be confusing. A taxi accident lawyer in Florida with our firm can protect your legal rights after an accident and help you file a claim for compensation.
What damages can I recover from a taxi accident in Florida?
Accident victims are generally entitled to economic damages for any injuries and other financial losses they suffered as a result of a taxi cab accident. After your taxi cab accident, make sure you see a doctor and keep your invoices or receipts so we can help record your losses.
Compensation from your taxi accident can include but is not limited to:
- Medical bills
- Income loss
- Car rental and other transportation costs
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Unlike in accidents with private vehicles, individuals who suffered injuries in a taxi cab accident in Florida generally do not have to show a significant or permanent injury to recover non-economic compensation such as pain and suffering. Occupants of the taxi or other road users could recover awards for pain and suffering and similar intangible losses.
How can a Florida taxi accident lawyer help me?
Generally, taxi drivers have a duty of care towards their passengers and all other road users. However, some taxi drivers breach this duty and could be liable for the accidents they cause as a result.
A Fort Myers car accident lawyer from our firm can handle every aspect of a victim’s claim, fighting for the compensation they may deserve after an accident. We can:
- Investigate your accident fully and determine all liable parties
- Help you assess your options for recovering compensation
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Track your insurance claim
- Research a taxi company’s records
- Determine a driver’s safety record and previous accidents
- Handle the paperwork required for your case
- Negotiate strongly with insurance companies for fair compensation
- Take your case to trial if necessary
