The last thing any person expects is that they will be injured or sustain property damage in an accident involving a taxicab. However, taxis are still an integral part of the transportation infrastructure throughout the state of California. Despite the increased popularity of rideshare vehicles, taxis are still used on a regular basis by residents and visitors alike. Here, we want to discuss who could be held liable in the aftermath of an accident involving a taxicab.
If You Are a Taxi Passenger
If you are a passenger inside of a taxi that is involved in a vehicle accident, this will turn into a standard passenger car accident injury claim. What this means is that the passenger who sustain an injury in the accident will usually have an easier case than the driver when it comes to recovering compensation. That is because passengers do not have to worry much about proving liability.
One of the drivers is going to be negligent, either the taxi driver or another driver involved in the crash (or both). Passengers inside of a taxi involved in a vehicle accident will have to file a third-party insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit against one or both drivers. The insurance carriers for those drivers will be responsible for sorting out liability and paying compensation to the taxi passenger.
If You Are in Another Vehicle
If you are in your own vehicle and have been injured in an accident involving a taxicab, these cases can become a bit more challenging. Just like any vehicle accident, liability needs to be proven. If the taxi driver caused the crash, then their insurance carrier will be responsible for covering compensation for your injuries and property damage losses. When you file a claim, you will have to prove that the other party caused the incident, and this involves gathering various types of evidence:
- Photos or video surveillance from the scene of the crash
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Possible vehicle “black box” data
- The police report
- Possible mobile device data
Unlike taxi passengers who are injured in accidents, drivers of other vehicles involved in these collisions may have to deal with comparative negligence. Often, vehicle accidents involve shared fault. In California, the “pure comparative negligence” system allows those partially responsible for crashes to recover compensation for their losses (even if they are up to 99% at fault). However, the total amount of compensation victims received will be reduced based on their percentage of fault for the incident.
Types of Compensation Available in a Taxicab Accident Case?
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident involving a taxicab, there may be various types of compensation that you can recover. In general, crash victims will be able to recover both economic and non-economic types of compensation. This can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- All medical bills related to the taxicab crash
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation expenses
- Medical devices and prescription medication costs
- Lost income if a victim cannot work
- General household out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
The total amount of compensation available to victims of taxicab accidents will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each particular situation. If you have been injured in an accident involving a taxi, contact an Irvine personal injury attorney.
