Taxis are a convenient mode of transportation and are often used by people looking to be responsible and avoid driving when spending a night out on the town. While passengers typically look for safety in a taxicab, drivers and taxicab companies do not always do their part to ensure riders and other vehicles are as safe as they can be on the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a taxi accident, you need to speak with an experienced taxicab accident lawyer in North Las Vegas as soon as possible. You may be able to collect compensation for your injuries.
Do You Need To Hire A North Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer For A Taxicab Accident?
After suffering injuries in a taxicab accident, the last thing you may be concerned with is hiring a lawyer. Still, an experienced taxicab accident attorney can be the legal advocate you deserve, fighting to protect your rights. At the same time, you focus all your effort and energy on your health and well-being.
Taxicab accident claims are especially complicated because they may involve the taxi driver, the taxi company, the passengers, another vehicle, and insurance companies. A North Las Vegas taxicab accident attorney knows how to prioritize your needs and deal with the many other involved parties.
Pacific West Injury Law has proudly served accident injury victims like you in the North Las Vegas area for many years. We have the resources necessary to take on a complex vehicle accident investigation and personal injury claim, something not all area law firms can say. We stand ready to help guide you through the legal challenges ahead.
How Much Does A North Las Vegas Taxicab Accident Attorney Charge?
People are often wary of hiring lawyers because of the high hourly rates people associate with this profession. While many attorneys do charge their clients in this manner, taxicab accident attorneys and other personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay for the results of your case rather than the time your lawyer worked on it.
When you hire a personal injury attorney, you will agree to pay them a fixed percentage of the money you recover from the liable party. This fee will be the only one that your attorney will receive for their services.
This means that your financial fortunes will be tied together, with a big win meaning a large payday for you both. Failing to recover compensation will mean that neither you nor your lawyer will collect any money.
Who Is Responsible For A Taxicab Accident In Nevada?
After a taxicab accident, we will first need to determine who is to blame for the accident. In taxicab crashes in Nevada, several parties can hold liability, or they may share partial fault.
The Taxi Driver
A taxicab driver has a responsibility to drive safely and not endanger their passengers. If the driver causes an accident, they breached that duty and could be liable for any damages you suffer. Taxicab drivers may cause an accident by driving too fast, texting, or simply not paying attention to the road.
The Taxi Driver’s Employer
Some taxicab drivers are self-employed. As self-employed drivers, they may carry limited insurance coverage, which could leave you shouldering the financial burden if you do not pursue a legal claim against them.
Most taxi drivers, however, are employed by taxicab companies. These companies have significant overhead and are responsible for carrying appropriate insurance coverage and properly hiring and training all of their drivers.
For example, if a company does not conduct a full background check on a driver, and it is later determined that the driver has a history of DUI convictions, the taxicab employer could also be liable for your accident and injuries.
The Taxi’s Owner
Sometimes the owner of the vehicle itself is different from the driver or their employer. When this is the case, we will look at several factors to determine whether the vehicle owner is liable for your accident and injuries. If a vehicle owner does not repair issues or regularly maintain their vehicles, they could also be responsible for your accident and injuries.
The Taxi Manufacturer
The other primary place to look for liability would be the manufacturer of the taxicab. All vehicle manufacturers are held to high standards to ensure their vehicles are road-worthy.
If a taxi had a defect or was improperly manufactured, the vehicle manufacturer may also hold liability for your accident and subsequent injuries. However, this can be difficult to prove and will require an intense and comprehensive investigation by accident reconstruction experts.
Compensation You Can Get In A Taxi Accident Settlement
If you or a loved one was injured in a taxi collision, you can pursue a personal injury claim to recoup damages. Whether you were hit by a taxi as a pedestrian, were involved in a vehicle collision with a cab, or were a passenger in the taxi, you may be entitled to a substantial taxi accident settlement. Your compensatory damages may include the cost of:
- Medical bills (both current and future)
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
It is impossible to know how much your taxicab settlement could be worth unless you talk to an experienced North Las Vegas taxicab lawyer. Each case has different factors, like sustained damages, fault, and circumstances. A car accident attorney can help you get a much better deal than what the insurance agencies will first try to give you.
Are Punitive Damages Available?
In certain cases, you may also be eligible to recover punitive damages after an accident. Punitive damages are only awarded in a small number of cases, as they are reserved for situations where the actions of the at-fault party were particularly egregious.
If your lawyer can establish that the liable party acted in a criminally negligent manner or with the explicit intent to cause harm, your case may be eligible for punitive damages.
Nevada’s Taxi Laws
Each state has its own laws that pertain to taxis and car accidents. If your accident occurred in North Las Vegas, there are applicable Nevada taxi laws that may be relevant to your case.
Hiring Safe Taxi Drivers
According to Nevada law §706.453, the Nevada Taxi Authority is required to hire safe drivers who have a license, exhibit good moral character, and are prepared to maintain their taxis to meet safety regulations. If the Taxi Authority hired a driver that does not meet Nevada’s requirements, the taxi company may be held liable for the accident.
Fault Laws
Nevada is considered a fault state, which means that whoever is determined to have been at fault for the accident will be responsible for the resulting injuries and other damages.
Nevada’s Modified Comparative Negligence
In Nevada, You may still be able to recover some damages after a North Las Vegas taxi accident, even if you are deemed partially to blame. However, Nevada’s modified comparative negligence law states that you can only recover your portion of the damages if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident.
A knowledgeable North Las Vegas taxi lawyer can help ensure that the insurance company does not wrongfully put more than 50% of the fault on you.
Taxi Insurance
According to Nevada law §706.305, taxi companies are required to have insurance covering $50,000 for property damage, $500,000 total for bodily harm, and $250,000 per person for bodily injury.
However, some taxi drivers are self-employed rather than under the management of a taxi company, which can complicate the insurance claim process. If multiple people were injured in the same taxicab accident, this can also complicate the insurance process. This is why it’s helpful to consult a taxi accident attorney if you are involved in a rideshare or taxicab accident.
Nevada’s Statute Of Limitations On Taxicab Accident Claims
To help you get better, you need to recover compensation for your injuries. That way, you don’t have to worry about how you will pay those astronomical bills or cover your other financial losses. However, according to Nevada’s statute of limitations, you have two years to file a personal injury claim for damages against the negligent party, which means you have to act fast.
While exceptions may apply to your case, you will likely find that after the two-year mark passes, your options for recovering compensation will disappear.
Common Causes Of Taxi Accidents In North Las Vegas
With an average of over 200 taxicab accidents per month in Nevada, the causes of taxicab accidents vary greatly. Some of the most common causes of taxicab accidents in North Las Vegas include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Texting while driving
- Brake failure
- Poor vehicle maintenance
These actions can ultimately cause accidents where people like you suffer catastrophic injuries. These injuries can result in months, years, or even a lifetime of altered living as you cope with your recovery. To help you get better, North Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyers at Pacific West Injury Law work tirelessly to help you collect the compensation you need to get better.
Speak With An Experienced North Las Vegas Taxicab Accident Lawyer Today
At Pacific West Injury Law, we have the experience and track record to get you the compensation you deserve. We will handle your personal injury claim and represent you against the insurance companies. Contact Pacific West Injury Law today to get started on recovering your damages after a taxicab accident.
