Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyer Series: Part 2 – Taxi Accidents
Taxi cab accidents are a category of personal injury suits. Like car accidents, taxi accidents can involve victims who are both (1) passengers and (2) other motorists. For this second installment, we will discuss taxi passengers and motorists who are struck by taxis, and how a car accident personal injury lawyer can assist.
Taxi Accidents: Passengers
Traffic collisions are a daily occurrence, many involving taxi cabs. Many passengers are injured more severely in taxis than they would be in their personal vehicle because people tend to be lax about wearing seatbelts in taxis. Passengers may be in a better position to file a suit because one of the drivers involved in the accident (either the cab driver or someone else) is undoubtedly responsible for the accident and therefore liable for the passenger’s injuries.
As mentioned last month, most car injury suits are handled between your lawyer and the insurance companies. Pennsylvania is financial responsibility state. Therefore, you can file a claim with your insurer for medical bills that you sustain in taxi cab accidents. If you don’t have a car, you can get medical coverage from the taxi, from another vehicle involved in the accident, or from your health insurance. However, to make a claim for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages, you may need to file a claim against the taxi company and other vehicles involved in the accident to recover sufficient compensation to cover your future medical costs. A car accident personal injury lawyer can help you obtain a fair settlement and ensure that your claim is swiftly reviewed.
Taxi Accidents: Motorists
The other type of taxi accident involves cabs hitting other cars, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. As stated above, you would file a claim with your auto insurance company for your medical treatment if you had a car, or with another auto insurance company for a vehicle involved in the accident if you didn’t. If you don’t have a car, you are permitted to file a personal injury suit for any injuries. If you have a car insurance policy of your own, your right to file a claim is controlled by your limited tort or full tort election on your insurance policy.
Evidence
After a car accident, you should always gather the contact information of all the drivers involved and potential witnesses, exchange insurance information, and take pictures of the damage to all cars involved. It’s also a good idea to take a picture of the license plate of all the cars in the accident. Accidents with taxis are no different. One caveat: you should get a business card from the taxi driver that notes his company. The title to the car and the insurance policy are likely owned by the cab company rather than the driver.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Multi-vehicle accidents are complex because multiple claims and injured persons may be involved. In the event that an accident causes multiple catastrophic injuries, the insurance policy may be insufficient to cover the injured. In this case, you can file a suit against the driver but his assets are likely insufficient to cover your injuries.
Call Alfred Abel Law Offices for a Skilled Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyer
A car accident personal injury lawyer at Alfred Abel Law Offices is prepared to investigate and litigate your case if necessary. We have 30 years of experience helping clients in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a consultation.