Injured in a Taxi in Philadelphia? We Can Help.
Whether you’re taking a taxi to go out with friends, to avoid trying to find parking near a busy restaurant, or heading to the airport, you expect an experienced taxi driver will get you there safely. However, taxi drivers can also be overly confident they know how to drive in a familiar city and may rush while trying to maximize their time and the fare.
We know a lot of Philly residents rely on public transportation such as taxis to get from point A to point B.
If you were injured as a passenger in a taxi cab, our Philadelphia auto accident lawyers are here to help you recover.
Getting into an accident in cab can be a stressful experience. You have no control over the vehicle or the driver, and yet you could sustain serious injuries. Pair that with the regular dangers around a car accident, and your damages could extend far beyond any physical injuries. Or maybe you are another drive who has been in a car accident with a cab driver and curious about how the insurance works and how to recover compensation for injuries or other losses sustained during the accident.
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our taxicab accident lawyers have been helping taxi accident victims for more than 60 years. We’re passionate about ensuring our clients get the compensation they need to recover and move on with their lives. Our lawyers are experienced personal injury lawyers who know how to negotiate, fight, and win your case. Don’t try and do this alone. If or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a cab driver, want solid legal assistance to help you recover maximum compensation for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Who is Liable In Philadelphia Taxi Cab Accidents?
One of the first steps in any personal injury case is determining who is liable for the taxi cab accident. This will be the part you are able to pursue for damages in a taxi accident claim. In a taxi accident, the list of liable parties involved is more than just the taxi driver.
Here is who may be liable in your taxi accident:
- Taxi cab drivers: In many cases it is the taxi cab driver’s negligent behavior that caused an accident. In this case, their insurance company will usually be responsible for damages and injuries caused.
- Taxicab Companies: Many taxi drivers operate under a larger cab company. These companies may cover insurance policies that cover accident victims if they were in any way at-fault. Their negligence can include not repairing or servicing the vehicle while under their care, or other reasons they could have caused your taxi cab accident.
- Others Sharing the Road: If you were a passenger who hired a tax cab driver but your taxi accident was not the driver’s fault and was instead caused by another drive on the road, you could seek compensation from that driver’s insurance company.
- Manufacturers: If your accident was due to a malfunctioning or defective auto part, that company could be responsible for some negligence for causing your Philadelphia taxi accident.
- Philadelphia City Government: Some taxi accidents are caused by road conditions that have deteriorated to the point where the Philadelphia government should have alerted the public or fixed. In these cases, they could potentially be held liable for causing an accident on the roads.
If you’ve been injured in a taxi accident, it can be difficult to determine who on the above list – and it can be more than one – is liable for your taxi accident. An experienced Philadelphia taxi accident attorney will be able to help you identify who is at-fault and who to pursue in a personal injury case. Contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation.
Do Taxicabs Have Insurance for Accidents?
When you get into a car accident, your first call may be to your insurance company. After a taxi accident, you may be wondering if your cab driver has insurance to cover any damages. They do. In the state of Pennsylvania, all taxi drivers are required to have a liability insurance policy that covers up to $35,000. That is broken down into “$15,000 bodily injury per person, $30,000 bodily injury per accident and $5,000 property damage per accident.”
A Philadelphia taxi accident lawyer can help you recover damages from your taxi driver’s insurance company.
Reasons Why Taxi Accidents Occur
Just like car accidents, a taxi accident can happen in Philadelphia for a variety of reasons. Maybe there’s inclement weather, causing deteriorating conditions on the road. Sometimes an accident involving pedestrians, bicyclists, or other parties can cause a cab driver to crash.
Taxi accidents can have many causes but most are caused by one of the six types below:
- Driving while tired
- Speeding
- Drunk Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Poor Weather Conditions such as ice or fog
Who Could be Injured in a Taxi Cab Accident?
In a city like Philadelphia, taxi cabs can always be found taking passengers around the city. While taxicab drivers usually are very familiar with city roads, they can also work long shifts or get distracted when looking for their next ride. When that happens, negligent errors can happen that threaten anyone sharing the road. This includes:
- Taxicab passengers
- Other drivers of other vehicles
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Motorcyclists
- Bus drivers
Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or fellow driver, if a cab driver’s negligence caused an accident in which you sustained injuries, contact us today for a free consultation.
What Can I Get Compensation for in a Philadelphia Taxi Accident?
A taxi cab accident in Philadelphia can cause serious injury to passengers as well as other people sharing the road. Similar to any other kind of auto accident, taxicab accident victims can be owed compensation for a variety of damages — and it could extend well past just covering medical bills.
If you are a passenger, car driver, pedestrian, bicyclist, or anyone involved in a cab accident, here are some of the damages you may recover in a Philadelphia taxi accident case:
- Medical expenses, including medical bills, medical treatment, medical attention
- Property damage, including to your vehicle
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Physical therapy or rehab
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Common Taxicab Accident Injuries
Taxicab accidents can cause a variety of injuries, depending on the details of the accident how you were involved. A passenger, for instance, might sustain lesser taxi accident injuries, while a pedestrian hit while crossing the road. Regardless of the severity of the injuries suffered, you can seek compensation from the negligent parties.
Here are some common physical injuries caused by a taxi cab accident:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Whiplash
- Compound Fractures
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Herniated Discs
- Other Back injuries (Thoracic, mid-back, lumbar and lower back discs, leading to disc compression or herniation)
- Internal bleeding or damage to organs (heart, lungs, spleen, liver, kidney, ribs, etc.)
- Dislocation
- Burns
- Amputated Limbs
- Paralysis
- Soft Tissue Damage
If you have been in a taxi accident, seek medical attention immediately. Even though you might not feel as if you sustained serious injuries, many injuries suffered in a car accident may not be immediately apparent. Whiplash, for instance, can take weeks to make itself evident. The effects of traumatic brain injuries can show up slowly over days, weeks or months. You will also want a timely record for your claim of all of the medical attention you required as a result of your accident.
Taxi cab accident injuries are often more serious
In a city like Philadelphia, hopping in and out of a cab quickly for a trip that might be only a couple of miles — or even a couple of blocks — is routine. Passengers in taxi cabs are far less likely to wear seatbelts compared to how often they buckle up in their own vehicles.
Without this commonplace protection, if you are in a taxi cab accident, you are more likely to suffer serious injuries, even fatal injuries.
Frequently Asked Taxi Accident Questions
Q: What Should I Do Right After a Taxi Accident?
A: Whether you are a passenger or another person involved in an accident with a taxicab, here is what you should do at the scene:
- Stay calm and in the vehicle, unless it’s too dangerous to remain inside
- Make sure someone at the scene is calling 911 (even if it seems like a minor accident)
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you are injured
- Do not leave
- Record names of everyone involved, including witnesses
- Photograph the entire scene – vehicles involved, any injuries you or others have sustained
Q: What Should I Do in the Days Following My Taxicab Accident?
A: In the days following your accident, once you have had some time to recover from the initial shock, you should be sure to:
- Get a copy of the police accident report
- Keep a detailed account of any doctor visits, including test results, prescribed medications and any other treatments
- Keep receipts and any proof of out-of-pocket expenses
- Record missed work and other activities
- Do not accept a settlement offer from anyone’s insurance provider
Q: Should I Accept an Offer From the Taxicab’s Insurance Company?
A: No. Do not talk to an insurance company before speaking to a lawyer. The insurance company in many cases wants to avoid having to pay out. A Philadelphia taxi accident lawyer can help you understand the value of your case. They will review all your costs and come back to you with a fair estimate of what your settlement offer should really be.
Q: What compensation might I be entitled to following a Philadelphia taxi accident?
A: Among the damages we can seek compensation for following a tax accident:
Economic damages:
After a taxi accident you might be wondering what economic losses you might be entitled to compensation for. An economic damage is an objective, quantifiable damages and can include lost wages from missing work due to injuries suffered or doctor visits and subsequent medical bills.
But what about everything else? Non-economic damages are more subjective and can be more difficult to prove. Having a qualified and experienced accident attorney on your side will help you understand non-economic damages such as:
- Emotional distress also known as mental anguish– This is legally defined as “a highly unpleasant emotional reaction (as anguish, humiliation, or fury) which results from another’s conduct and for which damages may be sought.”
- Pain and suffering– This can include physical and mental pain
- Lost or diminished earning capacity– This can be any decrease in income as a result of an injury that affects your ability to continue doing your current job or robs you of career prospects for the future. If you have sustained an injury as a result of a Philadelphia tax cab accident, you may experience diminished earning capacity
- Permanent damages – These are any damages which indefinitely restrict you or your loved one’s employment or other normal activities. In a lawsuit to recover damages caused by the negligence or intentional wrongful act of another, a permanent injury can be a major element in an award of general damages
- Disabilities– Any damage that substantially reduces your capacity to engage in one or more major life activities of an individual
- Psychological or psychiatric harm– This is defined as a psychological or psychiatric condition that developed as a result of a traumatic event. The condition is severe enough that it impacts your ability to perform routine life or work tasks
Q: What happens if I get in a taxi cab accident in Philly?
A: If you were injured in an accident as the result of negligence on the part of a taxi cab driver, your first step should be to contact a Philadelphia accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. We can make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call, chat live, or fill out our contact form. There’s no charge for the consultation, and we never take a fee unless we win your case.
Q: How much is my taxi cab accident case worth?
If you’ve been in an accident as a passenger in a Philadelphia taxi, there is no way to tell what your case is worth without knowing the details. Every accident has different factors that can greatly impact or determine the value of what you are owed. The best way to understand what your case is worth is to contact an experienced taxi accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.
Q: How long do I have to file my claim following a taxi cab accident in Philadelphia?
A: Pennsylvania state law allows up to two years for a victim of a car accident to file their claim. But do not put off calling your accident attorney. Seek immediate legal assistance — as soon as it is reasonable.
As time goes on, memories will fade, details will become less clear and it might be more difficult to find eye witnesses to the accident scene from the day of the accident. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys never charges for your consultation.
The phone call to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is free and we do not charge our clients anything until we win their case. Taxicab drivers are held to a higher standard of care for the passengers in their car. When a cab driver’s lack of care causes an accident, your experienced attorney will know exactly how to determine negligence. Negligence is the lynchpin in your accident claim.
How a Philadelphia Taxi Accident Lawyer Can Help
Sustaining injuries in any kind of accident can be a traumatic experience. If you’ve been in an accident involving a taxi cab, it can be complicated to determine negligence and then fight for the compensation you deserve. This is where an experienced taxi accident lawyer can help.
From fighting insurance companies to settlement negotiations, taxi accident lawyers have the skills and experience you need to receive maximum compensation. Here is how a Philadelphia taxi accident lawyer can help:
- Gather Evidence: After an accident, it’s imperative to collect evidence that can help prove your case. This includes the police report, witness statement, immediate medical treatment, photos and videos, security footage where applicable, and more. A lawyer can help navigate collecting all of this documentation.
- Negotiating with Insurance Company and Liable Parties: A taxi accident lawyer will fight on your behalf with insurance adjusters, as well as the companies of other parties involved. Without a lawyer you could get taken advantage of or pressured in accepting a settlement that won’t even scratch the surface of helping you recover from your injuries.
- Use Experts to Evaluate & Prove Your Case: While the evidence is key in proving your specific case, experts can help further add validity to your claims. An expert can also help your lawyer understand taxicab accidents and what compensation you should expect to receive.
Cabs are “Common carriers”
According to Pennsylvania state law, a “Common carrier” is defined as: “Any and all persons or corporations holding out, offering, or undertaking, directly or indirectly, service for compensation to the public for the transportation of passengers or property, or both, or any class of passengers or property, between points within this Commonwealth by, through, over, above, or under land, water, or air, and shall include forwarders, but shall not include contract carriers by motor vehicles, or brokers, or any bona fide cooperative association transporting property exclusively for the members of such association on a nonprofit basis. The term does not include a transportation network company or a transportation network company driver.”
Common carriers, by PA law are legally held to a higher standard of care therefore it can be easier for your lawyer to establish negligence in the event of a taxi cab accident. Negligence can be one of the most important and more complex things to establish after any car accident so this higher standard of care can make it easier for your attorney to seek compensation and win your claim.
All drivers on a road are expected to drive in a reasonably safe manner also known as duty of care, common carriers are legally required to use the absolute utmost care to keep their passengers safe as well as anyone entering or exiting the cab.
Unfortunately, taxi cab drivers, like anyone else, can breach this public duty and drive in a manner that may result in car accidents.
Negligence on the part of taxi cab drivers that may result in accidents include:
- Failing to yield when required
- Speeding
- Driving recklessly, such as weaving in and out of traffic
- Distracted driving
- Making illegal U-turns
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Of course, these are only some examples of negligence on the part of a taxi cab driver. There can be many more. Call your experienced Philadelphia taxi accident lawyers today if you believe your accident was caused by negligence by a tax driver.
Reckless driving is a major cause of taxi accidents
Most taxi drivers feel comfortable on the road because they usually drive familiar routes on familiar roads in a city that they know well. This could, in effect, be a factor that may encourage them to drive more aggressively than they might have otherwise. Passengers could aggravate this behavior by insisting they have to get to their destination quickly.
With more than 1,600 taxis on the road in Philadelphia, cab accidents are inevitable. If you or a loved one was involved in a taxi cab accident in Philly, you need an experienced Philadelphia taxi accident lawyer fighting for you. With more than 60 years of experience, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys knows how to find negligent parties and hold them accountable.
How much will a taxi accident lawyer cost?
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we win your case. Speak to a Philadelphia auto accident lawyer today about the details of your Philadelphia taxi cab accident case. Contact us for a free consultation.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Taxi Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in a taxi cab accident in Philadelphia, let one of our experienced personal injury lawyers make sure you get the help you deserve. We have been helping accident victims in Pennsylvania for more than 60 years. We’re passionate about helping our clients and we have a winning record to prove it.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747
