NYC Taxi Accident Lawyer

When you're involved in a taxi accident in New York City, the aftermath can be overwhelming and confusing. Understanding your rights and legal options is crucial for protecting your interests and securing the compensation you deserve. At Kelner & Kelner, our taxi accident lawyer team has been serving New York City residents for decades, helping victims navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding taxi accidents and personal injury claims.

Can I Sue if Injured in a NYC Taxi Accident?

Yes, you can sue if injured in a NYC taxi accident, and you have several legal options available depending on the circumstances. As a taxi passenger, you're generally entitled to compensation regardless of who caused the accident due to New York's no-fault insurance laws, which cover initial medical expenses and lost wages. However, if you suffer serious injuries that meet New York's "serious injury threshold" - such as significant disfigurement, bone fractures, permanent limitation of function, or injuries preventing you from performing daily activities for at least 90 days - you can step outside the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties.

You may be able to sue multiple parties including the taxi driver, taxi company, vehicle owner, or other negligent motorists involved in the collision. Commercial taxi vehicles in NYC are required to carry higher insurance coverage limits than regular cars, potentially providing greater compensation for your damages. The key factors determining your ability to sue include the severity of your injuries, who was at fault, and whether the accident involved negligent driving, poor vehicle maintenance, or violations of Taxi and Limousine Commission regulations. Acting quickly is important since New York has a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, and evidence preservation is crucial for building a strong case.

How long do I have to file a taxi accident lawsuit in New York?

You generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under New York's statute of limitations. However, claims against government entities may have shorter deadlines, so it's important to consult with a taxi accident lawyer promptly to protect your rights.

What if the taxi driver was using a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft?

Rideshare companies typically provide different insurance coverage depending on whether the driver was logged into the app, had accepted a ride, or was carrying passengers. These cases involve additional complexity as multiple insurance policies may apply, requiring thorough investigation to determine available coverage.

Can I sue if I was a passenger in the taxi that caused the accident?

Yes, as a taxi passenger you can still pursue compensation even if your taxi driver caused the accident. Passengers are generally not considered at fault for taxi accidents and may recover damages from the taxi's commercial insurance policy regardless of who was responsible for the collision.

What happens if the taxi driver doesn't have proper insurance or licensing?

Unlicensed or uninsured taxi operations create additional legal complications, but you may still have recovery options through the taxi company's insurance, the vehicle owner's policy, or New York's Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation for uninsured motorist situations.

Do I need to use my own car insurance after a taxi accident?

Under New York's no-fault insurance laws, your personal auto insurance may provide initial coverage for medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. However, if you don't own a car, the taxi's no-fault coverage typically applies to cover your immediate expenses.

How much compensation can I expect from my taxi accident case?

Settlement amounts vary significantly based on the severity of injuries, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and available insurance coverage. A car accident lawyer can evaluate your specific circumstances to provide a more accurate assessment of potential compensation.

What if the taxi accident happened while I was getting in or out of the vehicle?

Accidents occurring during boarding or exiting taxis are covered under taxi accident claims, as taxi drivers have a duty to ensure passenger safety during these vulnerable moments. Door-related injuries and accidents in traffic while exiting are common scenarios we handle.

Can I still recover compensation if I wasn't wearing a seatbelt?

New York's comparative negligence laws may reduce your compensation if not wearing a seatbelt contributed to your injuries, but it typically won't prevent you from recovering damages entirely. Many taxi passengers don't wear seatbelts, and this factor alone rarely bars compensation.

Financial Compensation You Can Pursue in a Taxi Accident Claim

When you're injured in a taxi accident in New York City, understanding the types of financial compensation available is crucial for protecting your rights and securing fair recovery. A qualified taxi accident lawyer can help you identify and pursue all applicable damages to ensure you receive comprehensive compensation for your losses.

• Medical Expenses: Coverage for all accident-related healthcare costs including emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and ongoing medical care required for your recovery.
• Lost Wages: Compensation for income you've lost due to your inability to work while recovering from your injuries, calculated based on your regular salary, hourly wages, or business income.
• Future Lost Earnings: Recovery for diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit your ability to earn income in the future.
• Pain and Suffering: Monetary compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish caused by your taxi accident injuries and their impact on your quality of life.
• Property Damage: Reimbursement for personal belongings damaged or destroyed in the accident, including clothing, electronics, jewelry, or other items you were carrying.
• Rehabilitation Costs: Coverage for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other specialized treatment programs necessary for your recovery and return to normal functioning.
• Home and Vehicle Modifications: Compensation for necessary modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate permanent disabilities resulting from your taxi accident injuries.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Additional damages for permanent scarring, burns, or other disfiguring injuries that affect your appearance and self-esteem.
• Loss of Consortium: Compensation available to spouses for the loss of companionship, affection, and intimate relationship due to their partner's serious injuries.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In fatal taxi accidents, surviving family members may recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and compensation for their emotional suffering and loss.

Working with an experienced car accident lawyer ensures that all potential sources of compensation are identified and pursued. At Kelner & Kelner, we thoroughly evaluate every aspect of your taxi accident case to maximize your financial recovery and help you rebuild your life after this traumatic experience.

How a NYC Taxi Accident Lawyer Can Maximize Your Compensation

A skilled taxi accident lawyer understands the complex insurance landscape and legal requirements unique to commercial taxi operations in New York City. Professional legal representation can significantly increase your compensation by identifying all liable parties and insurance coverage sources while protecting you from common tactics used to minimize settlements.

• Thorough Investigation and Evidence Collection: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers gather crucial evidence including police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and taxi maintenance records that insurance companies might overlook or dismiss when handling your claim independently.
• Identification of All Liable Parties: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers determine responsibility among multiple potential defendants including the taxi driver, taxi company, vehicle owner, maintenance providers, and other motorists to maximize available insurance coverage.
• Accurate Valuation of Damages: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers calculate the full extent of your losses including current and future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages that inexperienced claimants often undervalue.
• Navigation of Complex Insurance Policies: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers understand commercial taxi insurance requirements, no-fault coverage limitations, and coordination between multiple insurance carriers to ensure maximum recovery from all available sources.
• Negotiation with Insurance Companies: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers counter lowball settlement offers and aggressive tactics used by insurance adjusters who know unrepresented accident victims often accept inadequate compensation out of desperation or inexperience.
• Medical Documentation and Expert Testimony: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers coordinate with healthcare providers to properly document injuries and work with medical professionals to establish the long-term impact of your taxi accident injuries on your life.
• Understanding of TLC Regulations: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers leverage knowledge of Taxi and Limousine Commission rules and safety requirements to identify regulatory violations that may strengthen your compensation claim.
• Litigation Expertise: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers take your case to court when necessary to achieve fair compensation, as insurance companies often reserve their best settlement offers for cases with strong legal representation.
• Protection from Statute of Limitations: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers ensure your claim is filed within New York's legal deadlines while preserving all evidence and witness testimony crucial to your case's success.
• Contingency Fee Structure: Our NYC taxi accident lawyers provide quality legal representation without upfront costs, allowing you to focus on recovery while your attorney handles all legal aspects of your taxi accident claim.

At Kelner & Kelner, our comprehensive approach to taxi accident cases has helped countless New York City residents secure the maximum compensation available for their injuries and losses. A qualified car accident lawyer on our team will fight tirelessly to protect your rights and ensure insurance companies fulfill their obligations to provide fair compensation for your taxi accident case.

Common Injuries Associated with Taxi Accidents

Taxi accidents in New York City can result in a wide range of injuries due to the confined space of the vehicle and the sudden impact forces involved in collisions. Understanding these common injury patterns helps accident victims recognize the importance of seeking immediate medical attention and working with a qualified taxi accident lawyer to pursue appropriate compensation.

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Sudden acceleration or deceleration forces cause the head and neck to snap back and forth, resulting in soft tissue damage, muscle strains, and potential cervical spine injuries that may require ongoing treatment.
• Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Impact forces can cause herniated discs, compressed vertebrae, or severe spinal cord damage that may lead to partial or complete paralysis and require extensive rehabilitation and lifelong care.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Head impacts with windows, seats, or partition barriers can cause concussions, skull fractures, or severe brain trauma that affects cognitive function, memory, and motor skills permanently.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: The confined taxi space often results in passengers striking hard surfaces during collisions, causing fractures to arms, legs, ribs, wrists, or facial bones that require surgery and extended recovery periods.
• Internal Organ Damage: Blunt force trauma from seatbelt restraints or dashboard impacts can cause internal bleeding, organ rupture, or damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs requiring emergency surgical intervention.
• Lacerations and Cuts: Broken glass from windows or sharp metal edges can cause deep cuts, scarring, and disfiguring wounds that may require plastic surgery and leave permanent marks.
• Shoulder and Arm Injuries: Impact forces and awkward positioning during accidents commonly result in dislocated shoulders, torn rotator cuffs, or fractures that limit range of motion and work capacity.
• Psychological Trauma: Many taxi accident victims experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or phobias related to riding in vehicles that significantly impact their daily lives and mental health.
• Knee and Leg Injuries: Limited legroom in taxis often causes passengers to strike seats or doors with their knees, resulting in torn ligaments, fractured kneecaps, or damage to the meniscus requiring surgical repair.
• Chest and Rib Injuries: Seatbelt compression or steering wheel impact can cause broken ribs, chest contusions, or damage to internal organs that affects breathing and requires specialized medical treatment.

These injuries can have lasting impacts on your health, ability to work, and quality of life, making it crucial to document all medical treatment and work with an experienced car accident lawyer. At Kelner & Kelner, we understand how taxi accident injuries affect our clients' lives and work diligently to secure compensation that covers both immediate medical needs and long-term care requirements.

Who May Be Liable for Your Taxi Accident Injuries

Determining liability in taxi accidents often involves multiple parties due to the commercial nature of taxi operations and the complex web of relationships between drivers, companies, and vehicle owners. A knowledgeable taxi accident lawyer can identify all potentially responsible parties to maximize your compensation and ensure no liable party escapes accountability.

• The Taxi Driver: Personal liability for negligent driving behaviors including speeding, distracted driving, running red lights, aggressive driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs that directly caused your accident.
• Taxi Company or Fleet Owner: Corporate responsibility for hiring unqualified drivers, inadequate driver training, failure to conduct proper background checks, or implementing unsafe operational policies that contributed to your injuries.
• Vehicle Owner: Liability for maintaining unsafe vehicles, failing to perform required inspections, ignoring necessary repairs, or allowing unqualified individuals to operate their taxi vehicles in violation of safety standards.
• Maintenance Companies: Responsibility for improper vehicle repairs, failure to identify safety issues during inspections, or using defective parts that led to mechanical failures causing your taxi accident.
• Other Motorists: Liability of additional drivers whose negligent actions contributed to the collision, including failure to yield, improper lane changes, or other traffic violations that caused or worsened your accident.
• Government Entities: Municipal liability for dangerous road conditions, defective traffic signals, inadequate signage, or poor road maintenance that created hazardous driving conditions leading to your taxi accident.
• Vehicle Manufacturers: Product liability for defective auto parts, faulty brakes, steering problems, or other manufacturing defects that caused mechanical failures resulting in your collision and injuries.
• Rideshare Companies: Corporate responsibility when the accident involves app-based taxi services, including liability for driver screening failures, inadequate insurance coverage, or platform-related safety violations.
• Alcohol Vendors: Dram shop liability for bars, restaurants, or liquor stores that over-served alcohol to taxi drivers who subsequently caused accidents while driving under the influence.
• Employers of At-Fault Parties: Vicarious liability when taxi drivers or other responsible parties were acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident that caused your injuries.

Identifying all liable parties requires thorough investigation and understanding of New York's complex liability laws governing commercial transportation. At Kelner & Kelner, our experienced car accident lawyer team conducts comprehensive investigations to ensure every responsible party is held accountable for your taxi accident injuries, maximizing the compensation available from all insurance sources and liable defendants.

What To Do If Injured in a Taxi Accident in NYC

Taking the right steps immediately after a taxi accident can protect your health, preserve crucial evidence, and strengthen your potential compensation claim. Following these essential actions helps ensure you receive proper medical care while building a strong foundation for your taxi accident lawyer to pursue maximum recovery.

• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Call 911 or get to an emergency room even if injuries seem minor, as some taxi accident injuries like head trauma or internal damage may not show symptoms immediately but can worsen without treatment.
• Call the Police: Report the accident to NYPD to create an official police report that documents the incident details, parties involved, and initial fault determinations that will be crucial for your insurance claim.
• Document the Accident Scene: Take photographs of vehicle damage, the accident location, traffic conditions, street signs, and any visible injuries while the scene remains undisturbed and evidence is fresh.
• Collect Driver and Vehicle Information: Record the taxi's medallion number, license plate, driver's TLC license, insurance information, and the taxi company name to identify all potentially liable parties and insurance coverage.
• Gather Witness Contact Information: Obtain names and phone numbers of passengers, pedestrians, or other witnesses who saw the accident occur, as their statements can provide valuable third-party perspectives on fault and circumstances.
• Avoid Admitting Fault: Do not discuss blame or apologize for the accident with anyone at the scene, as these statements can be used against you later even if you were not responsible for the collision.
• Preserve All Evidence: Keep receipts for medical treatment, transportation costs, and other accident-related expenses while maintaining detailed records of how your injuries affect your daily activities and work capacity.
• Report to Your Insurance Company: Notify your own insurance carrier about the accident to initiate no-fault benefits coverage for immediate medical expenses and lost wages while preserving your rights under your policy.
• Avoid Quick Settlement Offers: Do not accept settlement offers from taxi companies or insurance adjusters before consulting with a qualified car accident lawyer, as initial offers typically undervalue your claim significantly.
• Contact a Taxi Accident Lawyer Promptly: Speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights, begin investigating your case, and ensure you don't miss important legal deadlines for filing your claim.

Taking these steps protects both your immediate health needs and your long-term legal interests after a taxi accident. At Kelner & Kelner, we recommend contacting our office immediately after seeking medical care so we can begin preserving evidence and building your case while you focus on recovery from your injuries.

Why Choose Kelner & Kelner?

When you need a taxi accident lawyer in New York City, choosing the right legal representation can make the difference between inadequate compensation and full recovery for your injuries and losses. Kelner & Kelner has built a reputation for delivering results and fighting tirelessly for accident victims throughout the five boroughs.

• Decades of NYC Experience: Our deep understanding of New York City traffic patterns, local court systems, and relationships with insurance companies gives us unique advantages in negotiating settlements and litigating taxi accident cases effectively.
• Proven Track Record of Success: We have secured millions of dollars in compensation for taxi accident victims, demonstrating our ability to maximize recovery against even the most challenging insurance companies and corporate defendants.
• No Upfront Costs: Our contingency fee structure means you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case, ensuring quality legal representation remains accessible regardless of your financial circumstances after an accident.
• Personalized Attention: Unlike large firms that treat clients as case numbers, we provide individualized service and direct attorney communication, keeping you informed throughout the legal process while addressing your specific concerns and needs.

Our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has made Kelner & Kelner a trusted name in personal injury law throughout New York City. When you choose our experienced car accident lawyer team, you're partnering with advocates who understand the challenges facing taxi accident victims and will work relentlessly to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.

Get the Legal Help You Deserve

Don't let insurance companies take advantage of you after a taxi accident. The sooner you act, the better we can protect your rights and build a strong case for maximum compensation. Contact Kelner & Kelner today for a free consultation to discuss your taxi accident case and learn how we can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Time limits apply to personal injury claims, so reach out now to secure experienced legal representation for your case.