When you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or reckless taxi driver, you may want to pursue a legal claim for compensation. But what are your legal rights and options, and who can you hold liable for financial compensation for your injuries and losses?
Who you can recover compensation from in a taxi accident may depend on whether you were riding in the taxi or in another vehicle, or whether you have your own auto insurance coverage?
You Were in Another Car Hit by a Negligent Taxi Driver
If you were driving or riding in another car that was hit by a taxi driver, you can first recover compensation for medical bills and lost income due to missed work from the personal injury protection coverage under your auto insurance policy or the policy of the driver of your vehicle.
Of course, you can also recover compensation from the negligent or reckless taxi driver for causing the accident and your injuries. Under Florida law, taxis must be covered by an auto liability policy that includes coverage limits of at least $125,000 per person/$250,000 per accident of bodily injury/death liability coverage, and $50,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage.
Unfortunately, some taxi companies operate without the required insurance coverage. When that happens, you may be entitled to turn to your auto insurance company to file a claim under any uninsured motorist coverage you may have in your policy.
You Were Injured in a Taxi Driven by a Negligent Driver
If you were injured while riding as a passenger in a taxi that got into an accident because of the taxi driver’s negligence or recklessness, you, unfortunately, cannot pursue a PIP claim against the taxi driver, as taxi companies are not required to carry PIP coverage as part of their insurance policy. However, if you or a member of your household owns a car, you may be entitled to file a PIP claim with your or your household member’s auto insurance policy.
You can also file a claim for compensation against the taxi company’s auto liability insurance, or file an uninsured motorist claim with your auto insurance policy (if any) if the taxi was uninsured.
Florida’s No-Fault Laws in Taxi Accidents
As Florida is a “no-fault” state, people who are injured in car accidents are required to first turn to their insurance company for PIP coverage to pay for medical expenses and lost wages. A car accident victim can then turn to the at-fault driver for the remainder of their economic losses, but they cannot recover compensation for pain and suffering or lost quality of life unless they have suffered a permanent injury, such as permanent and significant scarring or the loss of a body part or bodily function. This is known as the “tort threshold”.
However, by Florida law, taxi companies are not entitled to rely on the threshold defense. Therefore, if you were injured by a negligent taxi driver, you can pursue full compensation for all your losses even if you have not suffered a permanent injury.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Taxi Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a taxi accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured because of taxi accidents in Coconut Creek, Plantation, Pompano Beach, and Pembroke Pines, and throughout Florida. Call (954) 525-2345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Plantation, and Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly