Taxicab Accident Lawyer in NYC
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) reports that over “200,000 TLC licensees complete approximately 1,000,000 daily trips. To operate for hire, drivers must first undergo a background check, have a safe driving record, and complete 24 hours of driver training.” Millions of New Yorkers rely on taxicabs to get around the city. However, many drivers work up to 10 hours per day, and driver fatigue, distraction, and gridlock, particularly in Midtown, contribute to many accidents.
Every taxicab accident victim, whether a passenger, a pedestrian, or an occupant of another vehicle hit by a cab, has the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. Trust our team of NYC taxicab accident lawyers at Douglas & London. We leverage our considerable resources, including an established network of forensics experts, investigators, medical professionals, and legal support staff. We work tirelessly so you have the best chance of recovering fair and reasonable compensation for your damages and losses.
The Role of a Taxicab Accident Lawyer
While navigating the complexities after any motor vehicle accident is time-consuming, collisions involving taxis are particularly challenging. This is due to multiple parties and their respective insurance companies that may be liable. While you are recuperating, our taxicab accident lawyers will negotiate aggressively with those insurance companies for fair and reasonable compensation. However, it is critical that you consult us as soon as possible after the accident. Otherwise, valuable evidence may disappear.
We will collect that evidence, as well as interview eyewitnesses, review police and medical reports, and investigate the accident. While most claims are settled, we will take your case to trial if necessary.
Common Causes of Taxicab Accidents in New York City
In 2023, there were 26,820 consumer complaints lodged with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. In 2022, taxis were involved in 4 percent of all motor vehicle accidents in New York City, totaling 3,859. On average, there are 11 taxicab accidents daily.
Common causes of taxicab accidents in New York City include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failing to obey traffic signals
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Inclement weather
- Potholes and other road defects
Not all taxicab accidents involve passengers. Many pedestrians or bicyclists are struck and injured by cabs in New York City, as well as occupants of other vehicles.
Common Injuries Sustained in Taxicab Accidents
Common taxicab injuries include the following:
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Lacerations
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
Many of these injuries cause long-term or even permanent disability. The victim may no longer be able to work in their current occupation. In some cases, New York City taxicab accidents prove fatal. Survivors of the accident victim may file a wrongful death lawsuit against those responsible for their family member’s death.
Potential Compensation
Compensation in a taxicab accident may include economic damages easily quantified by bills, receipts, and invoices, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages are the soft costs that reflect intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the effects of permanent scarring or disability.
Steps to Take After a Taxicab Accident
If you are in a taxicab accident, call 911 right away. If possible, try to get yourself to safety. If you are the driver of another vehicle, try to move your car out of traffic.
In addition, take the following steps to protect your health and your rights:
- Always seek medical attention immediately, even if you do not initially think you were hurt. Many injuries, even serious ones, have delayed onset symptoms. While going to the emergency room or an urgent care facility is important for your health, it is also crucial for your case. Insurance companies could minimize your injuries or allege they resulted from another cause if you do not seek prompt medical care.
- Unless you are too severely injured to do so, document the accident. Take photos or videos of the accident scene and your injuries.
- Write down or photograph the medallion number. This number is found on the taxi’s roof, side doors, and the plexiglass partition between the front and back seats. The medallion number is also on your receipt. In addition, get the name, address, contact, and insurance information of any other driver involved in the crash.
- If there are eyewitnesses, obtain their names, addresses, and contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses.
In addition, it’s wise to track your pain levels and how it impacts your life. What may have initially been considered a minor injury could worsen over time. That is especially true of whiplash, concussions, and herniated discs. When it comes to concussions, it is often family members or friends of the victim who realize something is wrong rather than the victims themselves.
Understanding Liability
In New York City, all medallion cabs must carry a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Yellow cabs are licensed by TLC and are the only vehicles licensed to pick up passengers who hail them on the street. In the case of severe injury, the minimum amount of insurance may not suffice to pay your medical bills and other accident-related expenses. In that case, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the defendants to recover compensation for all your damages and losses.
New York is a pure comparative negligence jurisdiction when determining liability. If you were the driver of another vehicle in a taxi accident and were partially at fault, that does not mean you cannot recover compensation. For instance, if a jury determines that you were 35 percent at fault, you can still collect compensation minus the amount of your percentage of fault. That means a $100,000 award is reduced to $65,000.
Statute of Limitations
In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is generally three years from the accident date. While there are exceptions, failing to file a lawsuit by that date could mean your case cannot proceed. If a family member died due to a taxicab accident, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the death date.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a NYC taxicab accident, you need the services of an experienced New York personal injury lawyer at Douglas & London. We have recovered over $18 billion on behalf of our clients, and we want to help you. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today. Because we work on a contingency basis, you pay no fee unless you receive compensation. We serve all five boroughs of New York City.
