Duluth Taxi Accident Lawyers

Common Causes of Taxi Cab Accidents in Duluth

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 4,300 taxi cab drivers in Georgia. Just over 3,000 of them work in the Atlanta metropolitan area. While many of these drivers are attentive and careful drivers, some are not.

Whether you were riding in a taxi or the driver or passenger in another vehicle, your accident might happen for many different reasons. Sometimes there are multiple causative factors in taxi accidents.

Common causes include:

• Speeding: Taxi drivers who are in a rush to take passengers to their destination so they can pick up other passengers may drive over the speed limit to make the trip go faster. A speeding car takes longer to slow down and stop if traffic conditions change. Speeding drivers have an increased potential for loss of vehicle control, and the effectiveness of accident protection equipment decreases.

Not only does speeding increase the risk of causing a crash, but because the force of impact is greater at higher speeds, it can also cause passengers to suffer catastrophic injuries or even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding was a contributing factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in a recent year.

• Unsafe lane changes: Cab operators often make unsafe lane changes or aggressively move between lanes attempting to get through congested traffic. Unsafe lane changes are especially dangerous when they are on the highway going to the airport or other destinations.
• Distracted driving: Talking or texting on a cell phone to make arrangements for the next passenger or other reasons when driving is dangerous but far too common. Other distracted driving practices that lead to taxi crashes include eating or drinking, setting or looking at a GPS, or simply talking to passengers. In one year, more than 2,800 individuals lost their lives, and an estimated 400,000 sustained injuries in distracted driving accidents.
• Intoxication: Driving skills, such as judgment, reasoning, muscle coordination reaction time, and vision are impaired when any type of driver is intoxicated due to alcohol or drug use. Taxicab drivers who are drunk or high on drugs significantly increase the risk of a deadly accident. More than 10,500 people lose their lives to drunk driving each year, according to the NHTSA.
• Not following traffic laws: Taxi drivers are accountable to their passengers to safely and obeying traffic laws. Failing to use a turn signal, running red lights, refusing to yield the right of way, and driving aggressively are just some of the illegal driving practices that lead to collisions.
• Drowsy driving: Due to the nature of the job, taxi drivers work long hours without a break. If they are drowsy, their driving is impaired in ways like if they were intoxicated. For example, being awake for 18 hours causes drivers to drive like they have a blood alcohol level of .05 (.08 is considered drunk).
• Maintenance: Taxicab owners and companies have a duty to maintain and inspect their vehicles. Drivers shouldn’t drive a taxi that needs repairing. If the cab company doesn’t adhere to their duties, a tire blowout, brake failure, or steering malfunction can cause them to lose control of the vehicle, causing a crash.

How a Duluth Taxi Accident Attorney Can Help

Being in any car accident can turn your world upside down. You have injuries that are painful and need medical attention. You need to tell your employer that you need time off. You need to deal with insurance companies. Combining these duties with continuing to run your life and take care of other obligations can be extremely stressful. Sometimes, it’s a recipe for disaster.

If you were in an accident with a taxicab or a passenger in one when an accident occurred, this stress can be worse. Insurance obstacles can get in the way of obtaining the compensation you deserve for your damages. You might be unaware that there might be multiple sources of compensation for you to draw from. You’re unsure which insurance company you need to file a claim with or what to do if they say they aren’t the liable party.

Sometimes all of this is so stressful to victims of taxicab accidents that they give up pursuing money to pay for their medical bills and other losses. Sadly, this is precisely what insurance companies want you to do.

Instead of giving up, turn to a compassionate Duluth taxi accident attorney. The services they can provide to help you during this difficult time are invaluable.

They can:

These are just some of the tasks your attorney and their staff can handle for you. When you hire a skilled Duluth taxi accident lawyer, a burden can fall off of your shoulders. You can focus on getting the rest you need, healing from your injuries, and taking care of yourself.

The Elements of Negligence in a Taxi Accident Case

It may seem quite apparent that you have a valid claim against the cab driver or their employer. However, insurance claims and litigation don’t rely on what merely seems obvious. You must prove several different points if you want them to pay for your injuries.

These points include:

• Another party owed you a duty of care: The cab driver has a duty to their passengers and others on the road to drive safely and maintain their vehicle. The taxi company must hire safe drivers and provide safe vehicles.
• The party breached the duty of care: A driver or taxi company breached their duty of care by failing to do what a reasonable individual would do under the same circumstances. Perhaps the driver failed to stop at a stop sign or worked a 24-hour shift.
• The breach of duty caused your injuries: The breach of duty must be the direct and proximate cause of your damages. You must prove that the breach of duty resulted in your injuries. For example, a taxi accident victim sustained a spinal cord injury because the taxi driver ran a red light.
• You suffered verifiable damages: Proving that something the taxi driver did wrong, resulting in your injuries, isn’t enough to win your case. You also need to show the nature and extent of your damages. In other words, your injuries caused your losses.

Suppose you can’t prove all four of these elements. In that case, your claim won’t be successful in getting you the monetary recovery you need. Your Duluth taxi accident attorney is well-versed in what it takes to prove each of these points and how to use evidence in your favor. They aren’t afraid to stand up to large insurance companies to enforce your legal rights.

Filing an Insurance Claim After a Duluth Taxi Accident

In most accidents, it is clear which insurance company you need to file a claim with after getting hurt. With accidents involving taxicabs, it can be a bit more complicated. You could file a claim on your own insurance policy, but if the accident wasn’t your fault, that might not be necessary.

Suppose you were a passenger in the cab. In that case, you might need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company, the cab driver’s insurance, or with the cab company’s insurance carrier. Suppose you are the other driver who was in an accident with a taxi. In that case, you can file a claim with the taxicab’s insurance company as well as the insurer for the taxi driver.

Since insurance issues can be complicated and confusing, it’s essential to hire a knowledgeable Duluth taxi accident lawyer to handle your claim. They will determine which insurance company to file a claim with and take care of the details for you.

Duluth Taxicab Accidents Can Cause Severe Injuries

Some individuals involved in taxicab accidents will be lucky enough to walk away unharmed or with some scratches or bruises. Others will be taken by ambulance for severe injuries, and some will lose their lives. Taxicab injuries can cause severe injuries, which drastically alter the individual’s life, costs hundreds of thousands or more in medical bills, and leave them in pain.

These injuries can keep people in the hospital or rehabilitation centers for months or even longer. Their injuries leave them unable to care for themselves or those they love. Compensation is crucial for these victims.

Common injuries caused by taxi accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – Car accidents are the second leading cause of TBI in America.
• Spinal cord injuries (SCI) – The impact and torque placed on the body in an accident can result in long-term disability from SCI. Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or full paralysis below the level of the injury.
• Internal injuries – Forces from the crash or flying debris can cause damage to internal organs. Internal bleeding from this type of injury can be fatal and needs emergency medical treatment.
• Back injuries – Back injuries are common after car accidents, as the body and spine are not robust enough to sustain hard or heavy impacts. These injuries might not show up immediately after an accident, but they can be serious and long-lasting.
• Broken bones – Auto accidents frequently cause broken legs, ribs, arms, ankles, and wrists. Some taxi accident victims even suffer a broken pelvis. Some breaks are minor, but others require surgery to repair.
• Burns – Car crashes can lead to a vehicle fire. Victims can also sustain burns if their skin comes into contact with steam, chemicals, and hot fluids or surfaces. Substantial burns require surgery and skin grafting. They can also leave significant scarring.
• Limb loss and amputation – A leg, arm, toe, finger, or other appendages can be detached or damaged severely enough to necessitate surgical amputation. Amputations can have permanent disabling effects on the victim.
• Crush injuries – Crush injuries can happen when body parts between two objects are pushed together under pressure. Injuries ranging from minor bruising and lacerations to severe damage to tissue, organs, muscles, bones, and other areas of the body can result.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – Not all car accident injuries manifest physically. Some impact the victim’s emotions and mental state. PTSD can make things that used to be familiar and routine, anxiety-ridden, and impossible. With the proper treatment, PTSD can be managed and even cured.

Duluth Taxi Accident FAQs