One fact that everyone who has been to New York knows is that it’s virtually impossible to get anywhere without taking a cab at some point during your time in NYC. Even in the age of Uber, Lyft and so many other ride-sharing opportunities, taxi’s are everywhere in New York City, and millions of people hop into cabs every day to get to their next destination.
With over 13,000 taxis in New York providing approximately 450,000 rides every day, it’s quite believable that there are about 4,000 accidents involving taxis each year in New York City. Some of those accidents result in serious injuries, while others are fender benders that cause traffic jams.
Common Causes of Taxi Accidents
Taxi drivers have a reputation of being fearless drivers, often taking risks to get their passengers to their stop as quickly as possible, so cabbies can pick up their next fare and keep making money. But with fast driving, short cuts, disregard for the rules of the road, and other unsafe maneuvers through crowded city streets, it’s not surprising that so many taxicab accidents happen on a daily basis in New York City. The most common causes of taxi accidents are:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving while tired
- Texting while driving
- Using GPS while driving
- Running stop signs
- Failing to stop at stop signs
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Reckless lane change
Liability in Taxi Accidents
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission requires that all taxis and licensed car services carry a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 in liability insurance coverage, which means that if one person is injured in an accident, there will be up to $100,000 in insurance available to him, and if more than one person is injured, the maximum amount of insurance available is $300,000.
If you’re involved in an accident while riding in a taxi, both the driver and the company that employs him may be liable. A personal injury claim following an accident in a taxi may leave you with a number of expenses including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and even emotional distress. You would be awarded what are referred to as “compensatory damages” to cover these expenses and help make you “whole” again.
In a serious accident, the financial recovery may not be limited to what is available from the taxi driver and employer’s insurance company.
New York personal injury attorney Eric R. Bernstein is available for a free consultation to hear the details of your taxi accident and help you decide if you should proceed with a lawsuit. Please contact us today and schedule a no–obligation consultation.
