Taxis are in high demand in Orlando, as it is a bustling city that attracts visitors from all over the world for both leisure and work. But if you have been injured in a taxi accident, it can be difficult to know if you can sue for the damages you sustained.
Many Orlando residents and tourists opt for local taxi services to avoid parking and driving after a night out. However, some taxi drivers tend to drive recklessly and work without taking breaks, which increases the risk of accidents. As a result, traffic accidents are a common occurrence in the Orlando area. Fortunately, taxi drivers and their employers can often be held liable in a lawsuit.
For a free case evaluation with our Orlando car accident lawyers, call The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer today at (954) 751-4258.
Can You File a Lawsuit After a Taxi Accident in Orlando?
If you have been involved in a car accident while riding in a taxi or as a driver or passenger in another vehicle in Florida, you have the legal right to seek compensation for any damages incurred. Depending on your situation, the taxi company might share liability with the driver. Our Orlando personal injury attorneys can help you hold each party responsible for the damages you suffered. Irrespective of who is at fault, you must first file a claim under your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy to receive compensation for your injuries.
However, PIP insurance only covers 80% of accident-related medical expenses and 60% of lost wages from missing work due to injuries. While these benefits are typically received much sooner than waiting for the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit, severe injuries resulting in extensive time away from work can quickly meet and often grossly exceed the minimum PIP coverage limits. In such cases, Florida law allows you to file a claim against the at-fault taxi driver or company to receive compensation for your losses.
If you choose not to take action beyond a PIP claim, you are personally responsible for your remaining losses and expenses related to the accident. Filing a lawsuit against the other party allows you to seek compensation beyond PIP to help pay for additional medical treatment costs and replace lost income. Additionally, PIP benefits only compensate accident victims for tangible economic losses. Victims who take legal action can receive compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic losses that are more difficult to quantify.
How Do You Prove Negligence in an Orlando Taxi Accident?
To have a chance of winning a taxi crash lawsuit, you need to prove that the other party was negligent. Negligence is defined as when someone fails to exercise reasonable care, which results in harm or injury to someone else. In a taxi crash lawsuit, you must prove that the taxi driver or taxi company did not exercise reasonable care and that this failure caused the accident and the resulting injury.
You can prove negligence in a taxi crash lawsuit by showing that the driver was distracted, speeding, or otherwise not exercising reasonable care. Other examples of negligence include reckless driving and breaking traffic laws. In certain cases, the taxi company itself can be sued for failing to hire safe and diligent drivers.
In order to strengthen your case, you can provide various forms of substantiation, such as official medical records, first-hand accounts from witnesses, detailed accident reports, and other relevant evidence.
What Responsibilities Do Taxi Companies Have in Orlando?
Taxicab companies are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are maintained in a reasonably safe condition. This includes registering all cabs with the state of Florida, carrying insurance to cover damages resulting from accidents, and maintaining their vehicles to a reasonable standard. Additionally, they must make reasonable efforts to hire well-trained drivers who do not pose a danger to others on the road.
Furthermore, Fla. Stat. § 627.733 mandates that taxicabs and limousines carry specific amounts of insurance to protect their passengers, drivers, and vehicles in the event of a crash. This law supersedes Florida’s no-fault laws, which typically apply to non-commercial drivers.
Under this law, every company must carry at least $125,000 in bodily injury insurance per person, $250,000 for each taxicab accident, and $50,000 in property damage liability coverage.
What to Do if You Are Injured in a Taxi Accident in Orlando
Orlando is a bustling metropolis that attracts a lot of tourists, which increases the likelihood of taxi accidents. However, if you are able to, there are several steps you can take to improve your chances of receiving compensation from the responsible party in the future.
Call the Police
In case you get injured in a taxi accident in Orlando, it is crucial to contact the police immediately. The police will conduct an investigation by interviewing all involved parties and witnesses, including you and the taxi driver. The police report will contain valuable information such as the taxi driver’s identity, the taxi company’s name, insurance details, and contact information for any responsible parties and witnesses.
Document the Scene and Your Injuries
Smartphones have given us the ability to capture powerful visual evidence through photos and videos, which can be used to seek compensation in a taxi accident lawsuit. If your injuries allow, it is advisable to use your phone to take photos and videos of the collision and other important details that might be useful later.
You cannot take too many photos, so it is recommended to capture everything that might help your case. Our Orlando taxi accident lawyers can analyze your evidence to create a strong narrative of how the accident occurred. Capturing evidence at the scene also entails taking pictures of your injuries.
Taking photos of your injuries immediately after the accident is crucial as they might heal or improve significantly by the time your trial begins. In case your injuries prevent you from documenting the scene, you can ask medical personnel or witnesses for assistance.
Seek Medical Care
If you have been involved in a taxi accident in Orlando, it is important that you seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not think you have been seriously injured, it is still a good idea to get medical treatment, as many taxi accident victims require medical care after being injured. Seeking medical treatment immediately will help identify any injuries that might not have been immediately apparent but could worsen over time if left untreated.
Additionally, seeking medical care quickly can help strengthen your legal claims and prevent insurance companies from reducing your compensation by arguing that your injuries are not serious. Our team can help you obtain all your medical records and find further medical care if needed.
Contact Our Firm
Taxi accidents can prove to be much more complicated than regular car accidents. Unlike typical accident cases, there are several parties that could be held responsible for the accident. Moreover, obtaining compensation for injuries sustained in a taxi accident can be challenging as taxi drivers and companies usually have powerful insurance companies protecting their interests.
However, our team can assist you in recovering the compensation you are entitled to. We have extensive experience in investigating taxi accident cases and understand what evidence is needed to win damages successfully. If you have been injured in a taxi accident due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to reach out to our team for assistance.
Our Orlando Taxi Accident Lawyers Can Help
Contact The Law Offices of David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. at (954) 751-4258 for a free review of your case with our Coral Springs, FL personal injury attorneys.
