While taxis were once the mainstream mode of transportation outside of a city’s public transportation and pre-scheduled shuttles, today’s roads are cluttered with an assortment of transportation options like Uber and Lyft. With these expanding industries, the odds of being in an accident with one is growing. Here is what you can expect following a collision depending on your situation.
A Car-On-Car Collision with a Taxi
Getting in an accident with a taxi is the same as if you hit a non-commercial vehicle. You’ll file a claim and need to prove that the taxi driver was at fault. Unlike a collision with a personal vehicle, however, the taxi driver’s means of living come from his or her license, so he or she may be more likely to fight you in court over the claims.
Injuries as a Passenger Within a Taxi
When you are injured as a passenger in a taxi, there is no need to prove liability since you are a victim no matter which driver is at fault. If the taxi driver was responsible for the accident, you can file a claim with the driver’s company, such as Yellow Cab, for damages. In some cases, you may file a claim with the insurance agencies of both drivers, but they may quarrel over who is most at fault in order to pay less for damages, which can leave you waiting longer than necessary for a settlement.
Injuries from Ride-Sharing Vehicles
Ride-sharing can apply to commercial transport businesses such as Uber or Lyft. These drivers are not hired employees of either company, instead working as independent contractors with their own vehicles, and laws surrounding the company’s liability is more complex:
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- Companies will only take responsibility of an accident if the driver is on the clock, so any accidents that occur outside those times are only covered by the driver’s personal insurance
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- A one million dollar insurance coverage is automatically applied to passengers, but that means the company can only be held for damages up to that amount
- If you are a bystander injured by a driver who was on a fare, you would also be covered by the one million dollar coverage; but if the driver was not on-duty for the company, only the driver’s insurance applies
If any of these accidents apply to you, don’t hesitate to contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your options. He or she may have the best advice on how to proceed and what damages to seek for your injuries.