While Uber and Lyft have certainly taken Miami by storm, you don’t have to rely on a rideshare service to get around the city. Taxis are still incredibly popular in Miami-Dade County. While taking a cab can ease your commute, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get to your destination safely. Traffic accidents happen in Miami every day. Many of those accidents involve taxis.
Have you or someone you love has been injured in a Miami taxi accident? You may have the right to demand compensation. The personal injury attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. can help you maximize your financial award. Money won’t guarantee that you make a full recovery. However, it can certainly help to make your life easier during this difficult time. Call our office to schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss your case and help you understand your legal options.
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Why You Should Call an Attorney After Your Miami Taxi Cab Accident
An unexpected accident can be incredibly overwhelming. You may be struggling with painful physical injuries that require extensive medical care. If you’ve been forced out of work, you may find that it’s difficult to make ends meet. Fortunately, you can recover money if someone else is responsible for your injuries. However, cases involving taxi cabs are unique. They can be very challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the law. While you can try to pursue compensation on your own, you the risk of not getting the money you deserve.
Here’s why you should call our personal injury lawyer for help after your taxi cab accident:
- It can be difficult to determine fault and liability for the crash
- You may not realize that more than one person is responsible for the accident
- Insurance companies will do whatever they can to minimize or deny your financial recovery
- You may not know what your personal injury case is worth, and
- Others involved in the accident may try to shift blame to you, putting your case in jeopardy.
At Lavent Law, P.A., our attorneys know that injuries sustained in a taxi accident can be devastating. As your attorneys, we’ll aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf. Contact our office to schedule your free case assessment today.
Common Taxi Accident Injuries
It can be scary to be involved in an accident when you’re not in control of the vehicle. As a passenger in a taxi, there’s very little you can do to prevent and minimize your injuries in a crash. As a result, injuries sustained in taxi accidents in Miami can be quite severe. At Lavent Law, P.A., our attorneys are prepared to help you recover damages for all of your accident-related injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Burns
- Brain injury
- Spine injury
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Wrongful death, and more.
Call to speak with our experienced personal injury team today. We’ll review your case and answer any questions you have.
You Don’t Have to Be a Taxi Passenger To Recover Compensation
Passengers aren’t the only potential victims in a taxi cab accident. Anyone sharing the road with that taxi could also be injured in a crash. Potential victims in a taxi can accident include:
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Motorcyclists, and
- Passengers of other cars.
Taxi drivers and companies aren’t just responsible for the harm suffered by their passengers. They can also be liable for injuries suffered by others in a crash. Since taxis are considered common carriers, companies must comply with additional coverage requirements. In Florida, taxis must have minimum coverage that includes $50,000 for property damage, $125,000 for bodily injury per person, and $250,000 for bodily injury per incident. These minimums are significantly higher than state minimums for other vehicles.
Simply put, you don’t have to be a passenger in a taxi to have a legitimate claim against a taxi cab driver or company. These insurance policies are intended to cover anyone who is harmed in a taxi cab accident.
Causes of Miami Taxi Accidents
There are many factors that can contribute to or cause a taxi accident in Miami.
Driver Fatigue: Taxi drivers often spend hours upon hours behind the wheel without taking any breaks. As a result, they can become fatigued and have a difficult time concentrating on the road. Studies show that drivers who spend more than 8 hours on the road are at an increased risk of causing an accident.
Driver Distraction: Drivers have a responsibility to use care and caution behind the wheel. Unfortunately, technology is making this increasingly difficult. Studies show that a driver is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident if they’re distracted by an electronic device. Texting, checking social media, or trying to configure a GPS can all increase the risk of a serious crash.
Driver Inexperience: Driving a taxi is a different experience than driving a personal vehicle. Drivers must have a great sense of their surroundings and be able to multitask behind the wheel. Drivers can put others in danger when they get frustrated, confused, or lost. Accidents happen when inexperienced drivers attempt to make up for lost time by making illegal turns, speeding, or engaging in other reckless behavior.
Driver Income: The more money your taxi driver makes, the fewer accidents they’ll have. At least, this is what one study found to be the case. These drivers may be more satisfied with their career and therefore more relaxed behind the wheel. Drivers who earn more also tend to be more experienced.
Negligent Third Parties: Taxi accidents aren’t always caused by taxi drivers. Taxis share the road with pedestrians, bicycles, and other vehicles. Accidents often happen when another person engaged in negligent or reckless behavior. Speeding, driving recklessly, trying to pass a taxi illegally, and driving while drunk can all cause taxi accidents in Miami.
Defective Equipment: Sometimes a vehicle or piece of equipment can be responsible for an unexpected accident. For example, defective brakes or faulty tires could easily cause a serious crash. Other times, defective airbags can explode, causing a driver to lose control of a vehicle. When defective or dangerous products cause an accident, you can hold the product’s company responsible for your injuries.
Hazardous Roads: Miami’s roads are increasingly congested. Traffic can become dangerous when the roads aren’t in satisfactory shape. Cracks in the surface, uneven roadways, hidden signage, or debris can all create a hazardous situation. The government can be liable for injuries if it knew, or should have known, about a hazard but failed to do anything about it.
Damages Available to Taxi Accident Victims
The costs of an unexpected accident can be devastating. Fortunately, when you’re injured in an accident and someone else is to blame, you have the right to demand compensation. At Lavent Law, P.A., our attorneys will aggressively pursue damages on your behalf, including compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
We will carefully investigate your case and determine every possible cause. This will allow us to identify anyone who may be liable for your injuries. We’ll then demand compensation from anyone who caused you harm. Call our office to learn more about how our attorneys can help you maximize your financial recovery.
Call Our Miami Taxi Accident Lawyers
Have you been involved in a taxi accident? Are you struggling with painful injuries that you sustained in the crash? You may have the right to hold a negligent cab driver or taxi company financially responsible. Hiring a Miami taxi accident lawyer will put you in the best position to maximize your monetary award.
At Lavent Law, P.A., our attorneys will do everything we can to help you get the money you deserve after a taxi accident. Contact our office to schedule your free consultation. We’ll review your case and answer any questions you have. You have a limited amount of time to act, so don’t hesitate to call for help today.