Did you know taxi drivers are held to a higher standard than other drivers on the road? That’s right! They’re professional drivers or “common carriers” in the language of California law.
It means they have a duty to drive safely and responsibly. If they fail in their duty and you’re injured, you may have a strong case for taxi accident compensation.
Taxi crashes can cause severe, life-changing injuries. You could be facing costly medical bills from lacerations, broken bones, lost teeth, facial damage, a neck injury, a back injury, a concussion, or even a traumatic brain injury.
Plus, it’s emotionally devastating to be injured in a traffic accident and you may need mental health therapy. On top of all this, your paycheck takes a hit from lost days of work due to the crash.
Sure seems like the taxi company should pay those costs, right? But it can be challenging to convince a taxi company to take responsibility. Their insurance company will likely make you a lowball offer that isn’t close to being enough.
With the help of a California taxi accident lawyer, you can start making a strong case for injury compensation right away. Here are the steps you should take to support your case.
Gather All the Basic Details About the Taxi Accident
There’s a long list of details you’ll need for your claim. Get the taxi driver’s name, driver’s license number, taxi registration number, taxi employer’s name, and the employer’s contact information.
Track down the name and contact info for the cab’s insurance company, too. If other drivers were involved in the crash, you’ll need their names, contact info, and insurance information.
Make sure you get the names and contact info of any witnesses to the accident. This could include bystanders on the street, people working at nearby businesses, or even other passengers who were in the taxi with you.
Report it and Get a Copy of the Police Report
Taxi passengers sometimes fail to report accidents because they assume the taxi driver will do it. Are you 100% certain that the police were notified and made an accident report?
Remember, the taxi driver may be motivated not to report an accident. They don’t want to get in trouble with their employer and don’t necessarily want to interact with the police. You might have to make the report yourself and request a copy from the police department.
The taxi driver could also downplay the seriousness of the accident or tell the officer that you weren’t injured, even if you are. Speak to the officer yourself. If you were taken away by ambulance, follow up with the police department later and ask them to amend the police report to include your injuries.
Take Photos/Videos and Request Footage
Videos and photos can be extremely helpful in proving your accident claim. Take videos and photos of the accident scene and request copies from other people who may have captured helpful images.
Include photos of the damaged taxi, other damaged vehicles, debris from the crash, and items nearby that show the extent of the accident. Also, take numerous photos of your injuries from multiple angles, plus additional photos if your injuries worsen over time. Bruises and swelling from traffic accidents sometimes take hours or days to appear.
With the help of a lawyer, you can also request the dashcam footage from the taxi or video footage that was rolling at nearby businesses. Don’t be surprised if the taxi company balks at giving you this evidence until your lawyer gets involved to demand it.
Seek Help From Medical and Legal Experts
Get medical attention immediately after the accident, even if you don’t feel like you’re seriously injured. Accident injuries can intensify due to deep damage and internal swelling.
Save all of your medical bills, including receipts for out-of-pocket costs. You may have to get crutches, braces, wraps, ointments, and prescriptions that add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Set up a consultation with a lawyer as quickly as possible. Make sure your lawyer has plenty of experience handling California taxi accident cases. Give all of your information and physical evidence to your lawyer for their review.
Your lawyer will help you understand your rights and avenues for compensation. Injured taxi passengers are often successful with claims because, under California common carrier law, taxi drivers must “use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage, must provide everything necessary for that purpose, and must exercise to that end a reasonable degree of skill.”
If you were injured in a taxi accident, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help. Call 877-380-8852 or get a FREE online case evaluation now. We help injured people secure high-dollar awards in taxi cases!
We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life
After a personal injury, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of the law, including taxi accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering while we handle the legal details.
We truly care about the people of California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
