Taxi Accidents

Throughout New York there are over 13,000 yellow taxicabs that provide over 475,000 rides a day. They are used daily by residents for personal and business travel, and are also a popular mode of transportation for tourists. Unfortunately, each year there are over 4000 accidents involving taxis. In some cases passengers and occupants of other vehicles escape such accidents with only minor injuries. In other cases, the injuries are quite serious. For example, a victim of a taxi accident may suffer a severe blow to the head in the accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury such as a serious concussion. In other cases a victim may suffer broken bones or a back or spinal cord injury. These types of injuries involve long recovery times, with the victim being unable to work for weeks or even months. However, under New York law victims of taxi accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the accident. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a family member was injured in a taxi accident it is important to contact an experienced Bronx Taxi Accidents Lawyer who will help ensure that the person responsible for your losses is held accountable. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries your doctor commits medical malpractice, the party responsible for your car accident injuries may be required to compensate you for the medical malpractice injury as well.

Taxi drivers are under pressure to get a fare to his or her destination as quickly as possible in order, so that the driver can pick another fare. This pressure can cause drivers to operate their vehicles recklessly. However, like any type of vehicle accident, the contributing factors for taxi accidents vary. A driver is considered negligent if he or she drives carelessly, resulting in harm to another person or damage to property. There are many ways in which a person could drive negligently. New York has laws that define the "rules of the road." Should a driver violate any of these rules, he or she would have been negligent and responsible for any damage or injury that results from this negligence. Common causes of taxi crashes include:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Texting and driving
• Failing to stop at a stop sign or red light
• Reckless lane changing

If a taxi driver’s negligence results in an accident, the driver and his employer are legally and financially liable for the property damage and personal injury that result from the accident. Taxi accidents can leave victims with severe injuries. As a result, the victim accumulates substantial medical bills and misses a great deal of work. The whole family suffers.

Through a personal injury lawsuit you may be able to recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering. If your loved one died in the accident, you may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you are injured in a taxi accident it is important to understand the insurance requirements for taxi drivers. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission requires that all yellow taxi cabs and all licensed car services carry a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 in liability insurance coverage. This means that if one person is injured in an accident, there will be up to $100,000 in insurance available to him or her. If more than one person is injured the maximum is $300,000.00 of insurance available to them in total. However, your financial recovery may not necessarily be limited to what is available from insurance.

A personal injury lawsuit stemming from a car accident can be complicated, involving complex evidentiary issues related to fault. If you were injured in a car accident involving a taxi, contact an attorney who not only has experience handing car accidents, but is also familiar with the medical issues victims of such accidents experience. That staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates is experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from taxi accidents as well as other types of auto accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.