New York City is famous for its yellow taxi cabs. The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) reports 258,163 active licenses as of December 31, 2016. Although the crash rate for New York taxis is relatively low compared to other motor vehicles, when a cab crash does occur, it can result in serious injuries.

If you have been hurt in a taxi accident, contact the NYC taxi collision lawyers at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP to schedule a consultation. We are a top-rated personal injury law firm and have recovered over $1 billion dollars for the injured over our years in practice. You can rely on our experienced NYC personal injury lawyers for dedicated advocacy in pursuing full compensation for your losses.

Why You Should Hire RMFW Law for Your Taxi Accident Claim

The law firm of Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff LLP has years of experience handling a range of personal injury accident claims – including mass transit accidents. Taxi claims in New York City are one of our most common practice areas. As a result, we’ve developed highly focused and in-depth legal knowledge surrounding tax accidents. We’ve secured outstanding multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for past clients and may be able to do the same for you.

We start every client experience with a one-on-one conversation about their injuries and goals for the case. We’ll meet with you at your home or hospital room if you aren’t able to make it into our NYC law office. One of our knowledgeable New York City tax accident attorneys will get to know the details of your taxi accident case, ask a few questions, and help you discover whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. If we believe we can help, we’ll evaluate your claim and give you an accurate, up-front estimate of what we think it’s worth. From there, we’ll build a tailored strategy to achieve the best possible case results.

At Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff LLP, our taxi accident injury lawyers don’t charge any fees for their services unless they win. That means you won’t pay anything unless we win you a monetary award for your damages. Our firm is proud to have a history of strong case results, awards, and accolades for our services to New York City accident victims. The New York Law Journal gave us a mention for obtaining two of the highest injury awards in the state. If you want results-oriented attorneys backing up your taxi accident claim, count on us.

What Rights Do I Have After Being Injured in a Taxi Accident?

Like all victims injured in traffic crashes, injured passengers and other victims of taxi cab accidents have a right to file a claim for compensation against the responsible party. If the driver of the cab was negligent, causing an accident with injuries to the passenger, the injured passenger may be entitled to file a claim against the driver and the cab company.

Yellow taxi cabs and licensed car services in New York City are required to carry insurance. According to the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), livery vehicles operating in New York City must carry minimum third-party liability coverage of $100,000 per individual and $300,000 per accident. Unlicensed, private “gypsy cabs” have the same minimum liability insurance requirements as any other motor vehicle operating in New York — $25,000 per individual and $50,000 per accident.

If you were injured in an accident and don’t know what to do next, let our New York City taxi collision attorneys help.

The Types of Compensation You Can Claim After a Taxi Collision

Filing a claim following a taxi accident is important because of the myriad damages you can suffer in a traffic collision. As a taxi passenger, you could sustain serious personal injuries and lifelong damages, such as a permanent brain or spinal cord injury. You may have to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills, on top of losing money from missing days at work. The best way to obtain compensation for all these damages and more is through a personal injury claim. You may be eligible for the following types of compensation:

• Medical bills. All New York personal injury claims come with the opportunity to recover the costs of medical care. Request compensation for your existing and future medical expenses, including hospital treatments, surgeries, medications, medical devices, live-in care, and equipment. Keep copies of all medical bills, receipts, and prognosis reports as proof of these damages.
• Past and future pain and suffering. The New York courts permit crash victims to seek recovery for intangible damages, such as physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish. Ask for recovery for psychological damage, lost quality or enjoyment of life, or family members’ loss of consortium due to permanent injuries. a jury may award you thousands or millions for these general damages.
• Lost income and future earning capacity. A bad taxi accident could put you out of work for days or weeks while you recuperate. You have the right to seek reimbursement for your lost income and earning potential – including promotions or raises you may have received had it not been for your time off. If your accident causes permanent injury, request future lost earning capacity as well.
• Wrongful death damages. If a taxi accident took the life of a family member, you may be eligible to seek damage recovery for both your loved one and surviving dependents. You could be eligible for damages such as funeral and burial expenses, loss of inheritance, your loved one’s pain and suffering, medical costs, and loss of consortium. This can include the loss of your family member’s love, company, and support.
• Punitive damages. Some taxi accident claims may result in punitive damages as well as compensatory ones. Punitive damages have two purposes: to further reimburse a seriously injured or wronged victim and to punish a defendant for gross negligence or acts of malice. A judge may award punitive damages as he or she sees fit for the circumstances of the case.

Find out the exact types of recovery you are eligible to recover during a case evaluation with Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff LLP. Our New York City taxi accident attorneys can review the facts of your case for free, evaluating your losses and gauging the potential value of your insurance claim or lawsuit. Hiring one of our lawyers can help you maximize recovery and obtain the most for your accident-related damages.

What Should I Do After a Taxi Crash?

If you have the misfortune of getting into a taxi accident, discover your potential for obtaining financial recovery with help from an attorney. First, call 911 if the collision caused injuries, deaths, or more than $1,000 in property damages. Give police your side of the story when they arrive. Do not admit fault for the taxi accident, even if you believe you may have contributed. Stick to the facts, but don’t speculate as to fault or liability. Never let a driver talk you into hiding the collision from police. Reporting the crash can protect you as a victim.

Next, protect your physical health by checking yourself for injuries and requesting an ambulance, if necessary. Don’t assume you’re uninjured or delay medical care, as this could hurt your insurance claim. Go to the hospital as soon as possible. Follow all doctor’s orders and keep copies of your medical records. Start documenting facts about your taxi accident as early as you can. Note details such as the name of the cab company and driver. Gather evidence such as photographs of the crash scene, names of witnesses, and your police report number. Then, call an attorney.

Call a lawyer at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff LLP before you begin the insurance claim process for a taxi accident. These claims are complex and often involve insurance companies trying to take advantage of claimants. Maximize the value of your claim by consulting with a lawyer before your first insurance phone call. That way, you’ll know exactly what to say and what not to say during claim negotiation. A NYC taxi accident lawyer can help with every step of your case, from negotiating a higher settlement to filing a personal injury claim if the insurance company isn’t cooperating.

What Injuries Are You Likely to Sustain in an NYC Taxi Crash?

Because of the seatbelt law in New York state, occupants of private vehicles are more likely to wear seatbelts. Under the law, all front seat passengers are required to wear seat belts, and children under the age of 16 must wear them no matter whether they sit in the front or back seat. Taxicab passengers sitting in the back are less likely to wear seatbelts. In a collision, a seat belt can restrain a person from crashing into various parts of the vehicle, preventing serious injuries.

Most cabs in New York City feature plastic partitions separating the rear of the cab from the front. When a crash occurs, the impact of the collision can cause a taxi passenger to forcefully strike this barrier. This type of impact can cause severe head injuries.

Types of Taxi Accidents in New York City

Taxi cabs may be involved in many types of accidents. Some are caused by negligence on the part of the cab driver. Taxi drivers can cause accidents and injuries by:

• Driving distracted or inattentively
• Driving aggressively, carelessly, or recklessly
• Dropping the passenger off at an unsafe location
• Running over the passenger’s foot while driving away
• Operating the cab under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Striking a pedestrian who is legally crossing the street

Top 10 Field Enforcement Summonses in NYC

According to data from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, the top 10 field enforcement summons in NYC during 2017 was:

1. 80-13(a)(2) Compliance with Traffic Laws
2. 80-14(g)(1) Use of Electronic Communication Device
3. 19-506(b)(1) Operating Unlicensed Vehicle
4. 59a-29© Inspection Sticker
5. 59a-25(a)(1) Passenger Trips by Pre Arrangement Only
6. 80-24(a)(2) Required Items in For-Hire Vehicle
7. 80-19©(2) Limits on Driver Solicitation of Passengers in FHV
8. 80-13(a)(1) Compliance with Traffic Laws
9. 80-13(a)(3)(viii) Comply with Traffic Laws
10. 59a-26(a) Tri-Annual Inspections

Taxi Crash Statistics for New York City

More taxi cabs run in New York City than anywhere in the U.S. As of 2017, there were 126,376 taxis registered in the state of New York. The five boroughs of New York City alone have 100,738 registered taxicabs. More than 170,000 drivers in New York have licenses to operate taxis. Every year, taxis are involved in hundreds of motor vehicle collisions, injuries, and deaths throughout New York City. Irresponsible taxi drivers are responsible for many of these crashes.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)’s annual report for 2017 showed 2,861 taxi law infraction summonses for the year. These summonses cited taxi drivers for safety hazards such as failing to comply with traffic laws, cellphone use while driving, operating unlicensed vehicles, failing vehicle inspections, and picking up passengers illegally. These types of infractions can easily cause accidents, injuries, and fatalities in New York City. The taxi company that hires the driver or leases the vehicle could be liable for damages.

Get Legal Help Recovering Compensation after a Taxi Accident

If you or your loved one has been injured in a New York City taxi accident through someone else’s negligence, our experienced taxi accident attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP can help. We are a firm of tough, dedicated NYC taxi accident lawyers who will fight for the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys have an impressive track record, with a success rate of more than 95 percent. Schedule a consultation to find out how we can assist you in pursuing full and fair compensation after a taxi accident.