Even though Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services have become popular, many Fort Lauderdale residents and visitors still prefer taxi cabs. Most taxi rides safely deliver you to your destination. However, taxis are involved in accidents just like any other vehicle.
If you have been injured in a vehicle accident in Fort Lauderdale involving a taxi, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries. Taxi accidents can be complex and more challenging than most car accident claims. You need the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyer to protect your rights and help you secure the compensation you are entitled to.
At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyers have decades of combined experience securing maximum compensation for our clients, and we are committed to doing the same for you.
Call (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your Fort Lauderdale taxi accident claim.
How Taxi Accident Claims Are More Complex Than Most Other Car Accident Claims
Taxi drivers are subject to different regulations and higher insurance requirements. In Fort Lauderdale, taxi companies must obtain permits to ensure their drivers meet specific licensing requirements beyond a standard driver’s license. A taxi driver’s professional status means they owe a higher duty of care to their passengers.
Taxi accidents differ from most passenger-car accidents because the driver’s employer is more likely to be liable for your damages under the legal theory of respondeat superior. However, taxi companies will likely argue that the driver is an independent contractor to attempt to limit their liability.
But, if the company controls when and how the driver works, provides the vehicle they drive, and sets their rates, the taxi company may be held liable for your damages. Your attorney must carefully investigate the facts surrounding your accident, the relationship between the driver and the taxi company, and the way the taxi company conducts its business.
Florida requires taxis to carry liability insurance coverage of at least $125,000 per person, $250,000 per accident, and $50,000 in property damage coverage. If the taxi company can be held liable, there will typically be much higher insurance coverage limits available to pay your damages.
Additionally, Florida’s no-fault insurance laws may not apply in your taxi accident claim, which means you would not be required to first file under your own PIP insurance coverage and could directly sue the taxi driver and company.
In some taxi accidents, multiple insurance policies may provide coverage. You need the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyer who knows how to investigate and uncover all available sources of compensation for your damages and build your strongest case.
Common Causes of Fort Lauderdale Taxi Accidents
Taxi cab accidents can happen for numerous reasons. However, many taxi cab accidents are caused by drivers rushing to and from destinations to increase their earnings, including:
- Speeding to pick up a new ride or to get a passenger to their destination.
- Running red lights at an intersection.
- Failing to stop at an intersection.
- Tailgating.
- Aggressively changing lanes.
- Refusing to yield the right of way to other motorists.
- Distracted driving.
- Driving under the influence.
Not all Fort Lauderdale taxi accidents are caused by driver negligence. Other causes include pedestrian negligence, vehicle failure due to negligent maintenance or defective equipment, traffic light malfunctions, and dangerous road conditions.
Proving the cause of your taxi accident is essential to building your case and recovering damages. Our attorneys thoroughly investigate motor vehicle accidents to help determine all possible causes and potentially liable parties to help you recover maximum compensation.
We use numerous types of evidence to determine and prove the cause of your Fort Lauderdale taxi accident, including eyewitness testimony, police reports, surveillance and traffic camera footage, dashcam video, and electronic data recording devices.
Injuries in Fort Lauderdale Taxi Accidents
Injuries sustained in a Fort Lauderdale taxi accident vary from minor bumps and bruises to life-altering trauma. Some common injuries include:
- Whiplash.
- Strains and sprains.
- Broken bones.
- Head injuries.
- Lacerations.
- Internal bleeding.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should promptly seek medical attention. Many times, serious injuries are not immediately apparent. A medical evaluation immediately after an accident can help protect your health and your right to recover compensation for your damages.
Liability in Fort Lauderdale Taxi Accidents
Liability depends on the cause of your accident. If the negligence of a taxi driver caused your accident, they will be liable. Additionally, a taxi driver’s employer, the taxi cab company, may be liable too.
Other drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians may be at fault. If mechanical failure contributed to the accident, the manufacturer of a vehicle or piece of equipment, or a negligent repair shop, may be liable.
Even a government agency, such as the entity responsible for negligently maintained or defectively designed roads, may be liable.
Our professional injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale carefully investigate your accident to identify all possible causes and all sources of compensation that could provide compensation for your damages. We also conduct thorough discovery to locate and collect essential evidence to prove causation, liability, and damages.
Compensation Recoverable in Fort Lauderdale Taxi Accident Claims
The amount and type of compensation you may recover after a Fort Lauderdale taxi accident depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the strength of your case, and the available insurance coverage or other assets to pay your damages.
In a successful Fort Lauderdale taxi accident claim, you should be able to recover economic damages such as current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses incurred because of your accident and injuries.
You should also be able to recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, and other intangible losses.
In rare cases, you may also be awarded punitive damages. However, punitive damages are not permitted in Florida unless you can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyers work hard to recover all available damages and maximise your compensation. We often consult medical and economic experts to help establish and accurately value your current and future damages to determine what would be a fair settlement of your claim.
Proving Negligence in Fort Lauderdale Taxi Accidents
Most Fort Lauderdale taxi accidents are based on negligence. To succeed in a negligence claim, you must prove that four elements exist:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- The defendant breached that duty of care.
- The defendant’s breach of duty was the cause of your accident and injuries.
- You suffered damages caused by the defendant’s breach of duty.
These elements seem straightforward. However, they are often heavily contested and can be challenging to prove. You need the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyer with a proven record of success to protect your rights and help you secure the full value of your claim.
At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyers know how to build your strongest case with solid evidence. The evidence we use will depend on the specific facts of your accident and injuries.
Some common types of evidence we use to prove negligence in a car accident claim include:
- Photographs and video footage from the accident scene
- Dashcam video footage
- Surveillance camera video footage
- Vehicle event data recorder information
- Police reports
- Eyewitness accounts
- Cell phone records
- Accident reconstruction expert testimony and reports
- Driver employment records
- Employer training manual
- Vehicle maintenance records
Our Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyers have the experience, skills, and resources to preserve and collect vital evidence before it is lost or destroyed and to build your strongest case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Rosen Injury Law
If you have been injured in a taxi accident, you may be entitled to recover significant compensation for your damages. However, taxi accident claims can be challenging. You need the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale taxi accident lawyer to secure the compensation you are entitled to. At Rosen Injury Law, we will protect your rights and work to help you secure maximum compensation for your damages. Call (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation.