Staying Safe After Taxi Cab Accidents

Even though Uber and Lyft have largely dominated the industry, taxicabs still exist, and in some parts of California, people use taxis all the time. Therefore, taxicab accidents still occur.

Most of us hop into an Uber or taxi and assume we are safe and nothing will happen to us because we are not driving, but this isn’t always true.

You should always wear a seat belt in a taxi, and you shouldn’t distract the driver with too much conversation, as this can cause them to make a mistake and crash. Getting around town in a cab or getting picked up at the airport can lead to a car accident, so always be aware when you ride around in a taxicab.

Common Causes for Taxi Accidents

Riding in a taxicab is very similar to riding in an Uber or other motor vehicle, and accidents can and do happen when you are least expecting them.

Like other auto accidents, driver error is by far the most common cause of a taxicab accident. But other things can cause or help contribute to an accident. For example, road and weather conditions can make a cab driver’s life miserable.

Of course, sometimes a taxi driver could be in a hurry, or having a stressful day, and make a bad decision or drive aggressively.

Some of the common causes for taxicab accidents here in California:

• Driving aggressively
• 신호 위반
• Running a stop sign
• Texting while driving
• Eating while driving
• Vehicle malfunction
• Bad weather conditions
• Poor road conditions

How Much is My Taxi Cab Accident Settlement Worth?

There is no set amount for the value of an average taxicab settlement, but there are ways to better understand what your settlement is made up of.

Taxicab companies have insurance companies that act just like other insurance companies, meaning that they might try to offer you a quick and low settlement in hopes you’ll accept it.

Our main focus is to ensure you receive proper medical treatment and recover from your injuries. Still, we also understand how important it is to get you maximum compensation for the injuries suffered.

Every taxicab accident will be unique and have different details and injuries, and each case will take a unique amount of time to settle with the insurance companies.

A small taxicab accident might settle for just $25,000, but a larger accident with serious injuries could easily settle for a much larger amount.

Common Injuries from Taxi Cab Accidents

Taxicab accidents are very similar to other motor vehicle accidents in terms of the injuries we see repeatedly.

Many factors in a taxicab accident can affect what types of injuries you might suffer.

Things like speed, types of vehicles, whether airbags deployed, whether people were wearing a seat belt, etc., will all have an impact on the types of injuries most likely to occur.

Below is a list of the common injuries we see from taxicab accidents:

• 골절상
• Head injury or TBI
• Neck and back injuries
• Spine injury
• 편타성 손상:
• 사지 절단
• Fatality
• Concussion

Taxi Company Liability and Insurance Coverage

Taxi companies possess no-fault insurance coverage.

This means that if you are a passenger in a taxicab and are injured as a result of an accident, the taxi company’s insurance must be held responsible for any medical costs and injuries that you suffered.

Most taxicab companies carry a $50,000 no-fault coverage policy, on top of any liability coverage provided by their insurance.

There is so much to know about taxi auto insurance, including liability insurance, bodily injury, property damage, medical payments, collision damage protection, and uninsured or underinsured motorist.

Taxi Cab Company Accident Statistics

Drivers who own their taxis and drive full-time hours are more likely to be law-abiding motorists compared to drivers who lease their taxi cabs from the company. Part-time drivers have the worst driving record by far among cab drivers. They were 5 times more likely to commit traffic violations compared to full-time cab drivers.

Driving for more than 8 hours a day will significantly increase the response time of the drivers. This is why it’s so important for cab companies to actually monitor and discipline their drivers. Passengers without seatbelts are twice as likely to suffer from a fatal or serious injury compared to those who wear seatbelts. Even though cabs have safety restraints, taxi passengers have much higher injury rates compared to normal car passengers.

The theory is that this happens because taxi cabs have a partition that separates the driver and passengers. Drivers who text are 20 times more likely to cause an accident than those who aren’t driving while distracted.

Not surprisingly, part-time drivers have the worst driving record among cab drivers. These drivers are 5 times more likely to commit traffic violations than experienced full-time drivers.

In addition, drivers who own taxis and work full-time are more likely to follow traffic laws than those drivers who lease a cab.

Statute of Limitations for Filing an Accident Lawsuit

In California, personal injury claims against a taxicab company operator (and drivers) must be filed within 2 years from the date of the taxi accident.

The injured plaintiffs are entitled to full and reasonable financial restitution for any and all economic and non-economic losses.

In the end, the value of a taxicab accident claim is dependent on several factors, such as the severity of the injury, the impact on your daily life, any lost wages, and future income lost due to the accident.

What Is the Classification of a Taxi Cab?

Every car accident is different, so an Uber accident is different than a UPS or motorcycle crash.

If you or a loved one was injured in a taxicab accident, then your legal standing might depend on whether you were a third party or just a passenger.

Taxis are referred to as common carriers. Under these laws, a common carrier is any conveyance service that is offered to the public as willing to transport any passenger for a set fee (or schedule of arranged fees).

Common carriers are different from private carriers that don’t offer their service out to the public.

Airplanes, buses, and trains would be examples of other common carriers. One big difference is that taxi cabs don’t have a set destination or schedule, but the taxi does meet the basic condition of providing their service to the public for transportation.

In legal terms, being a common carrier makes a significant difference.

Private carriers (under most circumstances) are only required to provide ordinary care for their passengers, which means they need to take the same precautionary measures as a normally safe driver would.

On the other hand, common carriers are required to demonstrate the utmost care and caution for their passengers.

This includes doing things like making sure the vehicle is safe and following traffic and safety laws here in California.

Why Contact DK Law 

We have a 99% success rate and an A+ rating on the BBB. We have recovered over $500 million for our clients.

Taxicab accidents can have some pretty serious injuries because a lot of passengers don’t use seat belts.

The insurance companies aren’t in the business of paying out big settlements to injury victims, so once you start dealing with the opposing insurance company you’ll realize you are in for a big fight. Contact a rideshare accident attorney today to discuss your legal options.