After you’ve been in a taxi accident in Indianapolis, you might be wondering what to do next. If you have serious injuries or damage to your vehicle, you might be wondering how to pay for your mounting medical bills or repairs to your car. A bad accident can leave you reeling, forced to try and put your life back together after you’ve suffered a big loss. While you may not be able to return to the life you led previously, you can seek justice and pursue compensation for all that you’ve lost.
At Yosha Law Firm, we’ve helped many people file personal injury claims for taxicab accidents in Indianapolis and Indiana. We know that you may be going through a difficult time right now, and that the recovery process can be painful. Our attorneys can support you and guide you as you seek justice for the accident you’ve suffered, and we’ll help you work toward a settlement to restore some parts of your life.
Most Common Taxi Cab Accidents
Establishing liability for a taxi accident is complicated because there can be several different scenarios:
- A passenger riding in a taxi gets injured while a taxi driver is operating the car
- A motorist gets hit by a taxi driver who has paying passengers in the taxicab
- A taxi driver is injured while on the job
- A motorist hits a taxi while the taxi driver is transporting passengers
- A taxi driver hits a pedestrian or cyclist while transporting passengers
These scenarios are just a few examples of how an accident can occur involving a taxi cab. Trying to navigate your personal injury claim afterward can be risky if you go it alone. With the help of an experienced taxi accident attorney, you can be sure your case gets handled properly.
Causes of Taxi Accidents
A taxicab accident can be caused by several factors. Sometimes, the driver is negligent, but other times, the taxi company is negligent. When the taxi driver (or another motorist) is at fault, typically it’s due to:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Fatigue while driving
- Impaired driving
If you get injured as a result of a taxi accident, whether as a passenger in a taxicab, another driver on the road, or a pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
How are taxicab accidents different from regular car accidents?
Taxi accidents tend to be more complicated than regular car accidents, as taxi drivers are operating a vehicle in a commercial capacity, as an employee of a taxi company. If you get injured in a crash involving a taxi, whether as a passenger or another driver, and you want to pursue compensation for your injuries, you might find that the taxi company puts up a fight.
Trying to get full and fair compensation for everyone that was injured in a taxicab accident is one of the biggest challenges for this type of case. There may be insurance policy limits that aren’t high enough to cover your medical expenses, or the taxi driver or company may not be able to afford to pay for damages.
Without an experienced Indianapolis attorney to help you deal with the insurance companies and other parties in the accident, you risk getting a lower settlement than what you deserve.
Does the driver or the taxi company have liability?
Determining liability in a taxicab accident isn’t the same as in a regular car accident. Whether you got in an accident while riding in a taxi or your vehicle was involved in a collision with a taxi, you and your attorney will need to determine who is at fault.
The liable party is a taxi accident could be:
- The taxi driver: The driver of the taxicab could be the one who caused a collision that injured passengers, pedestrians, or people in other vehicles.
- The taxi company: Taxi drivers are employed by taxi companies and may therefore be represented entirely or in part by the company.
- The driver of another vehicle: Taxicab drivers are required to drive safely, but they can’t always avoid the negligent actions of other drivers on the road and may be involved in a collision caused by another driver.
- An auto manufacturer: On rare occasions, a car accident may be caused by a defect or inadequate warning in a vehicle. This type of case would be product liability rather than personal injury. Cases where the automotive company is to blame are becoming more frequent than they were before due to the prevalence of self-driving features and robotaxis on the roadways.
As there are multiple parties involved in taxi accidents, fault may rest with more than one party. Taxi accident cases can quickly become complex, forcing you to deal not only with your own insurance company, but also the insurance company of the taxi driver and the taxi company.
Taxicab Driver Requirements in Indianapolis
Drivers operating taxis in Indianapolis and Marion County must meet certain requirements, including:
- Sponsorship from a taxi company
- A valid Indiana Public Passenger PPC or Commercial (CDL) driver’s license
- Certified driving record from the Indiana BMV
- Resident in Marion or adjacent counties for at least 12 months
- License fee
- Background check
- Mandatory training course
- Super Service training
They also cannot have ever been convicted of battery, a felony within the last five years, or a DUI or DWI within the last 10 years. In addition to meeting the above requirements and going through special training, taxi drivers also have to follow rules of the road, including respecting the Passenger Bill of Rights.
What to Do After Being in a Taxi Accident
In the moments after a car accident, you probably feel shocked and overwhelmed. The very first thing you should always do is seek medical attention for yourself if you’re badly injured. If you’re okay, you should get medical attention for anyone else who is badly injured as well. Once that is taken care of, you can do the following:
- Get to safety: If you’re able to, move yourself and everyone else off the roadway to a safe location and away from moving traffic.
- Call the police: Even if the accident is minor, you should still get the police on the scene to file a report. This report can be used as an objective record of what happened.
- Don’t leave the scene: Stay at the scene of the crash until the police tell you it’s okay to leave. If you don’t, you could be cited with a hit and run.
- Gather contact information: Get the names, driver’s license numbers, insurance information, and contact information from everyone involved in the collision as well as any witnesses.
- Take photos of the damage: Use your phone or a camera to take photos of your vehicle and other vehicles involved in the crash so you can document the damage. Try to take some photos of the environment around the crash scene as well.
- Retrieve your belongings and valuables from your vehicle: If you have to have your car towed elsewhere, be sure to grab your personal items from your vehicle beforehand.
- See a doctor: If you don’t have urgent or serious injuries, you should still see a doctor to get a medical evaluation after your accident, just in case. Some injuries may not show symptoms until much later and you’ll want to have documentation if you later incur medical expenses for injuries caused by the accident.
- Report the accident to your insurance company: Let your auto insurance company know you have been in an accident. Only answer the questions they ask you and don’t provide more than the necessary information.
- Get an estimate for your property damage: Have a body shop or auto dealer give you an estimate on the cost of the repairs to your vehicles. A repair estimate can be used as evidence in your case.
- Do not accept an offer from the insurance company: Talk to an experienced Indianapolis taxi lawyer before accepting any offer from an insurance company. They will not have your best interests in mind and will attempt to settle the matter quickly.
- Contact a taxi accident attorney: If you were injured or suffered property damage in an Indianapolis taxi accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can help you understand what your case is worth and start the process of seeking compensation.
What Our Attorneys Do For You After a Taxi Accident
After you’ve been in a taxicab accident, you’ve surely got a lot on your plate. Going to medical appointments, recovering from your injuries, dealing with an extended absence from work…it can add up and become overwhelming. You deserve an advocate who will stand by your side and fight for your best interests.
What to Expect When You Hire Our Firm for Your Taxi Accident
- Regular meetings with you. We’ll meet with you initially to go over your case and provide an assessment of what we think it’s worth. We can also give you an overview of the process for pursuing a personal injury claim, so you know what to expect. After that first meeting, we continue to see you and communicate with you regularly so you remain updated on your case. We make ourselves available to answer all your questions and explain everything thoroughly.
- Investigation of the scene of the crash. We’ll go to the scene of the accident to do an examination of the area. If you obtained the names and contact information of witnesses to the accident, we’ll also interview them for their objective account of what happened.
- Gathering evidence. Part of building your case is gathering extensive evidence to support your claim. This evidence may include photos taken by you or by security camera from nearby establishments, graphical recreations of the crash and crash site, the police report from the scene, your medical records, and other pertinent documents we can get our hands on.
- Hiring experts to testify. For your case, we can hire experts who provide expert testimonies that will help our attorneys reconstruct the collision. We may also contact medical experts who can testify on the extent of your injuries or estimate your recovery time.
- Negotiation with insurance companies on your behalf. We deal with your insurance company as well as the carriers for the taxi driver, the taxi company, and any other drivers or pedestrians involved. These companies will try to avoid paying you a reasonable amount, but we’ll be prepared and willing to go to court if they don’t make you a fair offer.
- Preparation for trial. For every taxi accident case we take on, we prepare for the possibility of trial right from the start. We’ll stand up and argue your case in front of a judge or jury and file an appeal if needed.
We Deal with Insurance Companies for You
After a car accident, you’ll almost certainly have to deal with insurance companies. They usually try to get away with paying you as little as possible, because a large payout will decrease their profits. These companies use tactics like denying or delaying claims to avoid paying for your injuries or property damage.
Insurance companies have several ways to try and reduce their liability:
- They make a quick settlement offer for less than what your claim is worth. They’re hoping you’ll take it so you can get the process over with.
- They delay your claim so it goes past the two-year statute of limitations. In Indiana, you can no longer seek compensation for your injuries if your accident occurred more than two years ago.
- They ask you to provide details about your injuries and damages to “speed up the process” but in reality are gathering evidence to discredit you.
- They look through your online and social media profiles for proof that you engage in reckless activities and use photos or videos they find as proof that you’re liable for your own injuries.
Most people give up once an insurance company denies their claim, but that isn’t the end of the process. You can have an experienced attorney contact the insurance company for you to work on getting you a fair settlement.
What You Can Be Compensated for After the Accident
After you’ve been in a bad taxi accident, your sole focus is your recovery. You may be wondering, however, how you’re going to pay for all the medical bills you’ve accumulated — or the damage to your vehicle. If your injuries force you to take time off from work, you could be in a dire financial situation as a result of the accident.
You could be entitled to receive compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. You can use this compensation to help pay for some of the medical bills and other costs you’ve incurred or to pay for future expenses related to your accident.
The damages you may be able to recover from an Indianapolis taxi accident are:
- Medical expenses such as treatment, doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, therapy, or medications
- Lost wages or benefits from missing work
- Reduced earning potential if you can no longer do the job you did before the accident
- Repairs to your vehicle or the cost of replacing your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish or emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other expenses related to the accident
Calculating damages such as medical expenses and vehicle repairs is relatively straightforward, but how do you place a monetary value on pain and suffering? Our taxi accident attorneys will gather all the documentation necessary to determine what a fair settlement is for your case. We work to help you reclaim some of what you’ve lost in the accident.
Taxi Accident FAQs
How do I know if I have a case?
The best way to know if you have a solid basis for a personal injury claim is to speak with an attorney. There are multiple factors to consider when determining if you have a case following your accident. These factors include:
- Who was at fault
- Whether you were injured and the extent of your injuries
- How long ago the crash occurred
We at Yosha Law offer a free case evaluation that can help you review your options.
Who pays for my medical bills?
After a taxi accident, the party responsible for paying your medical bills will depend on a few things. Firstly, your auto insurance company will cover your medical expenses if you have medical coverage as part of your policy. Once that limit is reached, your health insurance should pay remaining expenses. Unfortunately, once the case is resolved both insurers have to be paid back.
How much will my taxi accident settlement be?
It’s difficult to say how much your case is worth without assessing it first, as each case is different. For the most part, more severe injuries lead to higher settlements, but there are several factors to consider when determining the worth of your case:
- Your losses (property damage and other losses)
- The extent of your injuries
- Your lost earnings as a result of your injuries
- Your age, earning potential, and family situation
- The insurance coverage you have available
- Whether a death occurred as a result of the accident
- The jurisdiction where the claim gets filed
- The judge and the jury if the case goes to trial
For a taxi accident case, you may get a settlement if your attorney can successfully negotiate with the other parties. If not, the case may go to trial and you could end up with a court-ordered monetary award. A settlement or award generally consists of two types of damages:
- Compensatory damages: Cover any losses you’ve suffered
- Punitive damages: Punish negligent parties and attempt to deter them from the same action in the future
Do I have to have a lawyer to file a claim for a taxi accident?
Legally, you do not need a car accident lawyer in Indianapolis to file a personal injury claim after a taxicab accident. You can do it yourself. This isn’t a good idea, however. A personal injury claim is a complex matter — even when it’s a regular car accident. When a taxi driver and commercial taxi company are involved, it becomes even more complex. There will surely be multiple parties and insurance companies involved, and if it was a bad accident involving multiple vehicles, there could be more parties involved in the case as well. The complexity of these types of cases is enormous. If you don’t have legal training, it’s highly recommended that you do not attempt to sue an insurance company without a lawyer.
Our taxi accident lawyers have the experience needed to deal with these types of cases. Not only are we knowledgeable in this area of personal injury law, but we’re also dedicated to our clients and work doggedly to advocate for your best interests. When you are our client, we’ll ensure you don’t get taken advantage of.
We work on contingency
When you hire us to work on your Indianapolis taxi accident case, we don’t take a dime from you. We work on contingency, meaning we’ll only get paid if you get a settlement or receive a court-ordered award. Our firm will take a portion of your settlement, which we’ll go over with you thoroughly during our first consultation, so there are no surprises.
Yosha Law Firm is your personal injury advocate
We work diligently to seek justice for you while you’re focused on recovery after your accident. If you’re ready to talk about your personal injury claim for your taxi cab accident, please give us a call for a free consultation.
