When taxicab accidents happen on busy L.A.streets, they can leave the victims feeling burdened by medical bills and other costs related to the accident. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you were injured in a taxicab accident that wasn’t your fault, you’re entitled to financial recovery for what you’ve suffered.
It’s time to speak with a Los Angeles taxicab accident lawyer who can help. At the Simmrin Law Group, we’re proud to provide top-notch legal assistance at no risk to you. We don’t charge you a thing unless we win you money. Let us help you get what you need to pay your expenses and move on from a painful experience that wasn’t your fault.
Who Is Responsible for Paying for My Injuries From a Taxicab Accident?
Liability from a taxicab accident, as with any car accident, falls on the party whose negligence (or carelessness) caused the crash. In many cases, this means the driver wasn’t driving as carefully as they should have been. Examples of negligence include:
- Driving carelessly out of road rage
- Not signaling or changing lanes too fast
- Distracted driving
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Tailgating, running a stop sign, speeding, or breaking other traffic laws
There are a number of parties who could be liable for your damages, depending on how the accident occurred, including:
- The taxicab driver
- Another driver involved in the accident
- The taxicab company
- The city of Los Angeles
The Taxicab Driver
Cab drivers are known for being excessively aggressive on the road, especially in bustling cities like Los Angeles, where traffic is so heavy. This aggression can easily lead to broken traffic laws and accidents.
Another Driver Involved in the Accident
Someone else on the road could have been driving carelessly and caused the accident at no fault of the taxicab driver. If another driver was negligent, their insurance is responsible for covering damages.
The Taxicab Company
Even if the taxicab driver caused the accident, responsibility may also fall on the taxicab company. For example, they could have failed to provide proper training or supervision, or they could have hired a driver who wasn’t qualified to get behind the wheel. If they fail to exercise proper responsibility, the company can be held liable.
The City of Los Angeles
In some cases, the city of Los Angeles can bear responsibility. If the city fails to properly regulate taxi industry operations or ensure the roads are safe to drive on, they could be held liable.
In any case, the negligent person is liable to pay for all expenses suffered by you as a victim of the accident. You are not at fault, and the guilty party should pay for what you’ve suffered. This is where having a taxicab accident lawyer on your side makes all the difference. They can help you pursue a claim for financial recovery against the appropriate party.
For a free legal consultation with a taxicab accidents lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (310) 896-2723
How Much Money Can I Recover From a Los Angeles Taxicab Accident?
The money you can recover depends on your damages from the accident. Your taxicab accident lawyer in Los Angeles will examine several factors when determining these damages, including:
- Injuries from the accident
- Medical expenses to treat your injuries, including doctor bills, surgeries, physical therapy, emergency rooms visits, tests, and prescription medications
- Damages to your vehicle if you were another driver in the accident
- Time taken off work because of the accident
- Pain and suffering damages if the accident has affected you in painful and life-altering ways, such as permanent disabilities, chronic pain, or emotional damage resulting from the accident
The exact amount you can recover varies depending on the severity of your injuries, but it can be significant. You should be able to trust that taxicab drivers are upholding their duty to drive safely on the roads. If they failed to meet that responsibility and you were injured as a result, they should pay for your losses.
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Should I Take a Settlement Offer After a Taxi Accident?
Be aware that the insurance company of the driver or taxicab company may try to settle the accident quickly by offering you a lowball amount right away. Never take this first offer. It’s tempting to accept money upfront, especially if your costs from the accident are large. However, you’re almost always entitled to more.
Accepting that first amount will erase any chance of pursuing full financial recovery. Injuries suffered in a taxicab accident often have long-term costs that anyone unfamiliar with these types of cases is unlikely to be able to properly identify. Before you accept any offer, you should have your lawyer review the deal.
An experienced taxicab accident attorney in Los Angeles knows how to evaluate the full value of your claim. They can help protect you from being taken advantage of by the insurance company and negotiate to get you a deal that works for you. If a settlement agreement can not be reached, your attorney will fight in court to get you fair compensation.
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What If the Taxi Driver Was Drunk?
If the taxicab driver was at fault for the accident and was also driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the above still applies.
However, you may also be eligible for punitive damages, otherwise known as “exemplary” damages under Cal. Civ. Code § 3294(d). These are designed to actually punish the guilty party in cases of extreme recklessness or intentional harm.
Driving while drunk often falls under this category since it’s a serious crime that puts everyone else on the road in harm’s way. You may be able to pursue additional money through punitive damages against the driver.
In this situation, the taxicab driver will likely be facing criminal charges as well as your civil lawsuit. You may be able to use a guilty verdict from the criminal case as evidence to help support your civil suit.
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Don’t Wait to File a Taxicab Accident Lawsuit
In order to recover the compensation to which you are entitled, it is important to get started as soon as possible. California has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in most cases. However, there are certain circumstances that can significantly reduce the amount of time you have to file.
The best way to ensure that you meet all deadlines and retain your right to compensation is to hire a Los Angeles taxicab accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. An experienced attorney will be able to identify if there are any special restrictions that apply to your case and file all paperwork on time.
Getting started early will also put your lawyer in the best position to win your case. The longer you delay hiring an attorney, the harder it will be for them to find solid evidence to support your claim.
Talk to a Los Angeles Taxicab Accident Lawyer for Free
If you were injured in a taxicab accident, you might start to blame yourself, or the guilty parties might try to avoid blame. Don’t let this happen. You are entitled to compensation for what you’ve gone through; you shouldn’t have to suffer for someone else’s negligence on the road.
That’s why our Los Angeles taxicab accident attorneys at the Simmrin Law Group are dedicated to helping personal injury victims like you get the money they deserve to recover and move on from their accident.
We promise to never charge you a thing unless we win you money, starting with a free consultation to talk about your case and how we can help. To get started, call us today or fill out our simple online contact form.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form