Louisiana Taxi Cab Accident Lawyers

Because they’re driven by professionals whose job is to keep you safe on your ride, taxi cabs are usually seen as safe and convenient forms of transportation, especially in large urban areas. However, taxi cab accidents are more common than you might be aware of.

If you or a loved one was involved in a Louisiana taxi accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages from the liable party. Determining who is liable for your injury, and how much your case is worth, can be a complex matter. That’s why it’s important to call an experienced taxi cab accident lawyer as soon as you can after your accident.

Reasons Behind Taxi Accidents

Drivers of taxi cabs are on the road nearly every day, all day, and they drive regardless of traffic or weather. Because driving is their livelihood, they sometimes also drive even when they’re tired or otherwise not at their best.

When taxi drivers have a passenger fare, they have a duty of care to that passenger to operate their cab safely and to the letter of the law. However, they don’t always do so. Below are some of the more common reasons behind taxi accidents.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has become more common in general as cell phones and other personal devices have become popular. However, when a taxi driver or other driver-for-hire are distracted, they’re endangering their passengers as well as themselves and other drivers.

Distracted driving is defined as any behavior that takes the driver’s attention away from the road. These behaviors can include texting, using the GPS, eating or drinking, or interacting with passengers.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Speeding is extremely common, among all drivers. In fact, it accounts for fully one-third of all driver-related crashes. While driving over the posted speed limit is an obvious violation, speeding can also mean driving over the safe speed for the current conditions. For example, if it’s raining or is very foggy, drivers should drive much slower, regardless of the posted speed limit.

In addition, aggressive or reckless driving can also contribute to the chances of a collision. These behaviors include weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating, and other behaviors.

Drugged and Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal for everyone. Drivers should also be aware of the effects on their driving of any prescription drugs they’re currently taking. It’s a driver’s responsibility to ensure their sobriety before getting behind the wheel.

Drowsy Driving

Studies have shown that driving while overly fatigued can be more dangerous than driving drunk. Taxi companies should require drivers to take adequate rests in between work hours, but not all of them do. In addition, some cab drivers may feel rushed or pressured to make a certain amount in fares, leading to their overwork and subsequent drowsy driving.

Vehicular Causes

There can also be instances where a taxi cab accident is not the driver’s fault. A poorly-maintained vehicle or a defective one can also result in accidents. If a taxi has faulty tires, faulty brakes, or steering or engine problems, its chances of a wreck are greatly increased.

Whatever the reason for a taxi accident, if the driver or company is to blame for your injuries, you deserve compensation. A taxi accident lawyer can give you advice and help you determine whether you have a case, as well as what your taxi accident claim could be worth.

Taxi Cab Accident Injuries

Taxi cab accident victims can experience many of the same injuries as car accident victims, and sometimes they can be victim to more serious injuries due to the partition between the rows of seats. Serious injuries resulting from taxi accidents can include

• Broken bones
• Cuts and lacerations
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Organ damage and internal bleeding
• Whiplash
• Back injuries
• and others

Tragically, some accidents are fatal for taxi passengers. If you’ve lost a loved one in a taxi accident, Louisiana law allows you to sue for wrongful death damages.

Who’s Liable for My Taxi Accident Injury?

Determining liability for your injuries is vital in establishing your case. You cannot recover damages unless you can prove that someone else is legally responsible for your injuries. Usually, this involves proving negligence on the part of either the taxi driver or taxi company.

However, because taxis are commercial enterprises, determining liability can be more complicated than you’d expect. Any or all of the following parties could be found liable, either wholly or in part, for your damages:

• The taxi driver
• The taxi company (who employs the driver)
• The company that manufactured the taxi
• The company that services and fixes the taxi fleet

Fully determining who’s at fault for your injuries can be complicated, and often requires investigation and technical expertise. You need a taxi cab accident lawyer to help establish fault and seek damages.

Taxi Accident Evidence

After you’re in a taxi cab wreck, hold on to the following pieces of evidence to strengthen your claim:

• Accident reports and witness statements made at the scene
• Black box data from the cab or other vehicles
• Traffic or dash camera footage
• Photographs of the accident scene
• Medical paperwork, such as prescriptions, bills, and the like

Your taxi accident lawyer can help you gather this evidence and collect it into a claim, and they can help you understand the coming process with insurance and possibly litigation.

Determining Compensation in Taxi Accidents

Louisiana personal injury cases, including taxi accident injury cases, have a statute of limitations of 1 year past the date of the injury. If you’ve been injured in this type of accident in Louisiana, don’t put off calling a taxi cab accident lawyer who can help you file the necessary court documents to start your healing process.

When seeking compensation for your taxi accident damages, there are three main types of damages: lost income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

Medical Expenses

Your costs for ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgical procedures, out-patient treatments, medical devices, and others can all be included in your settlement. You can also recover estimated future medical expenses from the liable party.

Lost Income

If you’ve been unable to work due to your injuries, your settlement can include the wages you’ve lost. This also applies to future wages if you’re unable to continue working, or have to take a lower-paying job because of permanent complications from your injuries.

Pain and Suffering

Non-economic damages include awards for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss in quality of life, or disfigurement. Calculating non-economic damages accurately can be extremely complex, and can involve future costs that could arise from your injuries.

A taxi cab accident attorney can help you figure out what compensation is fair for the injuries you’ve suffered, advocate on your behalf for a fair settlement, or even take your case to court if necessary.

Why You Need a Taxi Cab Accident Lawyer

Whether you were the passenger of a taxi that collided with another vehicle, or were in the vehicle hit by a negligent taxi driver, you could be dealing with major injuries. The pain, suffering, and anguish you’re going through deserve remunerations from the liable party.

You need an experienced taxi cab accident lawyer to advocate on your behalf against insurance, the taxi company, and others who will attempt to keep you from the compensation you deserve. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys have been representing taxi cab injury clients for decades, and we’ve won a total of $3 Billion on behalf of our clients. We’re confident we can help you recover the maximum for your case.

If you or a loved one was injured in a taxi traffic accident, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation at 888.501.7888. An experienced personal injury lawyer will determine the best path forward for your claim and get started right away. In fact, we offer the G Guarantee: if we don’t win your case, you won’t owe us a dime!