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Denis H.
Taxi Cab Accident Lawyer in San Diego, California
Being behind the wheel comes with a risk of finding yourself in a bicycle accident, a motorcycle accident, or even a truck accident. Even passengers, however, could be involved in a vehicle accident. It’s one thing to ride a car driven by a friend or family member, and another to ride a vehicle driven by a total stranger.
Taxicab drivers are professionals, and it is safe to assume that they will exercise caution in every trip. Even for the most careful driver, however, the possibility of being involved in a car crash is always there. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, you will need a lawyer who can help in recovering damages.
Here at The Benner Law Firm, we work tirelessly to get justice and compensation for those who have suffered severe injuries due to taxi cab accidents. Our personal injury lawyers in San Diego are here to assist you after an accident. We can also help in defective product liability, premises liability, slip and fall accidents, and other personal injury cases. Reach out to us to get the help you need.
What Makes Taxi Cab Accidents Unique?
Taxicab companies are required in all states to carry liability insurance. This insurance should help cover the medical expenses of the driver and passengers and physical damages to the taxi cab, including vandalism and theft.
Liability insurance must cover bodily injury and other property damage as well.
On top of insurance, there is an assumption upon riding in a taxi cab, you probably assume that the driver is careful and competent. While state laws do not necessarily require special licenses for drivers, some local jurisdictions may have special requirements for drivers of taxi cabs. Most cab companies have their requirements for drivers they hire and certain areas require drivers to take an approved taxi cab driver education course.
While many car collisions take place on either a highway or an intersection, they can occur whenever a vehicle crosses a street or roadway. Traffic laws require all drivers involved in an accident, regardless of fault, to stop and immediately exchange license and insurance information. How statutes and guidelines translate to real-life scenarios, however, will depend on a variety of factors. Getting a personal injury lawyer in San Diego, CA is key in obtaining what you deserve and maximizing your financial compensation.
Seek Reliable Legal Aid for Your Car Accident Case
It is not possible to promise a specific recovery or accurately predict the dollar value of an auto accident lawsuit. However, knowledge of the type of damages involved can help determine the value of a taxi cab car accident case.
As with all other automobile accidents, taxi cab accidents can be serious incidents that demand equally serious legal representation. If you or a loved one have been injured due to a taxi cab driver’s negligence, consult with a credible and compassionate San Diego taxi cab accident lawyer as soon as you can.
Apart from physical injuries, a person involved in an accident may also go through a lot of mental and emotional trauma, both immediately and even months after the accident. For one, despite the high rate of car crashes and accompanying bodily injuries, taxi cab accidents tend to be well insured.
According to relevant statutes, the taxi cab driver is licensed, bonded, and insured, and so is the taxi cab company. What you need is a legal professional who can help you sort out these matters on insurance and coverage. Call us at 714-497-2544 or send us a message to know how we can help.
The Nature of Taxi Cab Accidents in California
Taxis are a common means of transportation in downtown San Diego as well as throughout the entire city. This means that there is a possibility that one can figure in a vehicle accident involving taxi cabs in California. These can have tragic consequences for those involved, and the cab driver and company can and should be held responsible.
Taxicab accident claims often involve violations of traffic law or ordinances, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, unlawful lane changes, aggressive driving, reckless driving, drowsy driving, or distracted driving.
It may also involve sudden stops that cause taxi cab passengers to suffer injuries whiplash or head trauma from hitting the front partition, foot crush injuries when a taxi cab driver suddenly drives off, and other taxi cab accidents caused by the negligence of other drivers injuring innocent taxi cab passengers.
If you or any family member gets involved in vehicle crashes caused by the negligence of a taxi driver injuring passengers or other drivers, seek legal help from a seasoned San Diego, California taxi cab accident attorney. Contact us at The Benner Firm today!
Common Bodily Injury Suffered in a Taxi Accident
More than the property damage, car accident victims have no choice but to deal with the traumatic and devastating effects of the incident, both physically and financially. Depending on the severity of the car accident injuries, medical expenses would pile up. As such, those injured in the accident have the right to pursue an accident claim.
Car accidents often happen too quickly. Accident victims would often feel overwhelmed and disoriented right after the incident. However, it is crucial to immediately contact a local attorney who is knowledgeable with injuries common in these cases.
Brain Injury
A blow to the head can result in anything from bruising to a fractured skull. In the worst case, the damage goes directly to the brain. This can also cause death or affect the quality of life of the person even years after the accident.
Internal Injuries
These occur when the person’s body is struck so that one of their internal organs is harmed. Sometimes these types of injuries may not be detected initially and their consequences are greater than they may appear at first glance. They are usually preceded by muscle aches or chest and abdominal pain.
Fractures or Broken Bones
When a part of the body is struck hard, the bones may become fractured or broken, meaning a long, and sometimes complicated, recovery period.
Spine Injuries
This type of injury occurs mainly when the taxi stops abruptly, and part of the neck and the spine is subjected to a force that exceeds their capacity of resistance. When the movement is very abrupt, permanent injuries, or even death, can occur.
Call our San Diego personal injury law firm at 714-497-2544 today and have a top-tier California reckless driving accident attorney answer any questions related to your case. Contact us at The Benner Firm to know how we can help.
Two Common Types of Taxi Cab Accidents
A taxicab driver has the same responsibility as any other vehicle operator to drive safely and to avoid accidents with others. Additionally, the taxicab driver and taxicab company owe the same duty of care as any other vehicle owner or driver to maintain the vehicle in a safe operating condition.
Under relevant personal injury laws, there are two main categories of taxi accidents that can result in liability.
Hitting another car while being a passenger in a taxi cab
This refers to the ‘standard’ taxi cab passenger accident. It is often described as a simpler car accident case given the fact that the plaintiff (passenger) does not usually have to prove liability because one of the drivers (either of the taxi or the other car) is at fault.
Getting hit by a taxi cab
Sometimes described as a ‘standard’ two-car accident, a negligence aspect requires proving liability and damages, like in any similar personal injury case. Here, if you were hit by a taxicab while walking or riding your bicycle, you are still entitled to a car accident claim for the injuries you have incurred.
Where liability is not clear, both drivers can be brought into legal action to determine fault for the plaintiff’s injuries. In such cases, another driver is liable (found at fault) or the taxi driver alone can be held liable. This is under the common carrier liability doctrine, and particularly if they are proven to have negligently created the circumstances leading to the car crash.
A trusted San Diego, CA, personal injury lawyer can help explain these in more detail. Call or send us a message at The Benner Firm today!
Call our car accidents lawyer in San Diego, CA to get compensated for your injuries.
Car Accident Cases and Determining Liability
An aggressive personal injury lawyer in San Diego could gather evidence, show that another party caused the wreck, and pursue that party and their insurer for compensation. They can help you protect your rights and help you collect compensation after a taxi accident.
After seeking immediate medical attention necessary for bodily injuries, seek legal help from knowledgeable and well-trained San Diego, CA taxi accident lawyers. Promptly seek legal help to stop the at-fault party’s insurers from taking advantage of you during the settlement process.
Liability of the Taxi Company
A taxi company’s insurance provider can be either directly or vicariously liable for a collision. Either way, the company will have to pay damages.
Direct liability means the company itself did something that contributed to the accident, such as failing to conduct background checks on its drivers or properly maintain fleet vehicles. Vicarious liability means the taxi company is responsible for the actions of its drivers and employees.
In California, the law requires all taxi companies with one or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This type of insurance will pay for a taxi driver’s injuries and losses in an on-the-job accident. Taxi companies must also carry taxi insurance in addition to traditional property damage liability car insurance.
Most taxi companies carry at least $1 million in bodily injury liability insurance, as well as uninsured motorist insurance. Additionally, taxi insurance provides collision and comprehensive coverage against theft, vandalism, and damage caused by accidents where the taxi driver is at fault.
Liability of the Vehicle Manufacturer
Under relevant product liability laws, personal injury victims can hold manufacturers liable for damages caused by their products. If one or more of the vehicles involved in an automobile accident contained faulty components, such as a stuck accelerator or bad brakes, vehicle manufacturers might share partial or even total liability for your losses and injuries.
A hard-working car accident attorney in San Diego will closely investigate your case, including the condition of the vehicles involved at the time of the accident. This will help determine if the manufacturer shares in the liability.
Liability of Another Driver
In general, a negligent taxi driver caused your car accident while you were a passenger or the driver of another vehicle, you can bring an action against the driver’s insurance policy.
In some cases, the at-fault driver in a car accident can evade the actual car crash. A driver, for instance, might make an improper left turn in front of an oncoming vehicle, causing that driver to swerve to avoid a collision but end up striking another vehicle.
In these scenarios, the driver who caused the accident has a legal obligation to remain at the accident scene. However, this does not mean that they will. The driver who made the illegal turn and began this chain of events would hold responsibility, even if their vehicle did not hit any of the other cars.
Call our Personal Injury Firm in San Diego, California
If you were injured in a taxi cab accident, it is crucial to seek legal help right away. Get in touch with reliable personal injury lawyers in San Diego, CA, who can help you recover after a serious fall and pursue the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Call our California personal injury law firm at 714-497-2544 today and have a seasoned San Diego car accident attorney answer any questions related to your case. Our personal injury and defense base act attorney in San Diego, CA can help you get quality legal representation in your injury claim, mass tort claim, or defense base act claim. Contact us at The Benner Firm today.