Cabs are a fixture of a city this size, and the way they operate creates risk that ordinary traffic does not. Drivers cut in and out to get a fare where it is going, dodging cars, cyclists, and pedestrians, and they make frequent stops at the curb on streets that often have no shoulder. Passengers dart in and out to speed things up. Injuries and fatalities climb during rush hour. Most cyclists in this city have a near miss story involving a taxi.
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The insurance structure is different from a typical car crash. Taxi drivers carry a taxi license, but the company holds insurance on the vehicles, so a claim usually runs against the company rather than the individual driver. That only works if the driver was working at the time. If the accident happened outside the scope of their employment, the company may not be liable at all, which makes establishing what the driver was doing an early priority in the case. Whether you were a passenger, another motorist, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, that determination shapes the entire claim.
After a crash, get medical attention and keep your bills. Call 911 and make sure there is an official police report, especially if you were on foot or on a bike, and take down the other driver's information since your own auto policy generally only covers you in a vehicle. Then contact counsel before working through the insurers. Adjusters will call with questions, and any first number they offer can fall well short of what your bills actually run. You are not legally obligated to accept an offer, and if you are being pressured, call us. Contact us for a free consultation and case evaluation.
FAQs about Taxi Accidents
Taxis are everywhere in the city of Philadelphia. Taxis are necessary for a big city. Drivers of taxis are human. They make mistakes as well as negligent decisions when they drive. When a taxi driver picks up a fare, they cut in and out of traffic to get their fare to their destination. On a regular basis, taxis dodge other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Injuries and fatalities increase during rush hours. No matter the reason for the accident, driving a taxi can be dangerous.
If you find yourself in a taxi accident, we are your taxi accident lawyers. The dedicated team of legal professionals at Freundlich & Littman, LLC are here to stand by your side. We will fight to make sure that you are whole again.
Increases And Differences With Taxi Accidents
No matter your means of transportation in the city, you know poor taxi drivers. Not all taxi drivers are careful. The bad ones honk at the first sight of a green light. It seems that some taxi drivers learned their craft from a video game. Most bicyclists in Philadelphia have a story on their near taxi accident.
The nature of a taxi puts taxi drivers and other at risk. Taxi drivers make frequent stops on the side of the road. Passengers dart in and out of taxis to speed up the process. It is not always easy to safely pull off to the side of the road. Some city streets do not have a shoulder.
By law, taxi drivers carry a taxi license. The taxi company holds insurance on the vehicles. If you need to sue a taxi driver, you sue the taxi company. To hold a taxi company liable, the drivers must be working. If the accident occurred “outside the scope of their employment”, the company may not be liable. Contact us for more information on taxi company liability.
As a general safety precaution, be mindful of taxis when driving. It is hard to do so. Taxis notoriously change lanes at the last minute. Accidents happen. This is where we come in. Legal counsel is necessary to protect your rights. Remember that insurance companies are self-interested. As dedicated taxi accident lawyers, we provide you with legal representation dedicated to your needs.
If you drive a taxi, do not flee the scene of an accident even if you fear that it was a fatal accident. Stop immediately and get to a safe spot. Next, you should call 911, if only to obtain an official police report of the taxi accident. If you are a motorist or a pedestrian involved in the taxi accident, see medical attention and save your medical bills.
After seeking emergency medical attention, you should contact legal representation to help you through the complicated legal process. After seeking legal help, you should contact the insurance companies. Let them know that you were in an accident with a taxi. For pedestrians and bicyclists, make sure to get a police report of the taxi incident. Take down the information of the other driver as your car insurance only covers you in a vehicle. After the accident, an insurance representative may need to ask you a few questions. Insurance companies, as we said, are self-interested. Businesses do not want to pay out more than they have to because it cuts into their profits. Even though insurance companies make promises to pay for the injuries of their policyholders, they do not always come through. That is why it is important to have a good attorney fighting on your side.
