If you were injured in a taxi accident in Lakeland, Florida, you might be confused about your legal rights and options for pursuing financial compensation for your damages. The experienced team with Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can explain your rights during a free, no-obligation case review.
Our Lakeland taxi accident lawyers have zealously protected the rights of injury victims since our founding. We have over 119 years of legal experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars. Contact us today online or call us at (863) 251-6196 for a free consultation to get started on your path to recovery.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Taxi Accident in Lakeland, Florida
Florida has “no-fault” insurance rules, but you may still be able to file a claim for full economic and non-economic damages in certain situations. However, you may need to file a claim against the taxi company or its insurer in order to recover the compensation you’re entitled to.
Our Lakeland car accident lawyers can help you through every stage of the process by:
- Investigate the case thoroughly: Our personal injury lawyers can gather crucial evidence to support your claim. This could involve reviewing accident reports, interviewing witnesses, reviewing red light camera video footage, and working with expert witnesses. This thorough review helps establish liability for the accident.
- Navigate complex insurance issues: One of the complicated factors involved in taxi cab accidents is the potential involvement of commercial insurance policies. Insurance companies will fight to minimize the value of claims to protect their profit margins. We can review the terms of all applicable insurance policies and inform you of your rights.
- Negotiate for maximum compensation: Our talented team of personal injury attorneys meets with you and identifies all the ways the accident has affected you. We include this information in your demand for damages and present your case in a compelling way to the insurance company.
- Litigate your case, if necessary: If the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, we can discuss moving forward with your case by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Learn more about how Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help when you call for a free consultation. Our taxi accident lawyers in Lakeland, FL, are ready to get started as soon as you are.
Florida’s Taxi Rules
Florida has some general laws that apply to taxicab companies, such as insurance requirements, but most rules are based on local ordinances.
For example, Lakeland has many rules regarding the operation of taxicabs, including:
- Certificate requirements
- Fare schedules
- Taxicab stands
- Vehicle registration
- Signage on vehicles
- Vehicle inspections
Understanding these laws is critical to successfully advancing your taxi accident claim. A knowledgeable attorney can review these laws to determine if the taxicab company owner or driver has violated them and how that affects your personal injury claim.
How Taxi Accident Cases Are Unique
Accidents involving taxis are different from those involving standard car accidents. Like truck accidents, taxi accidents often involve commercial insurance policies with higher coverage limits and professional drivers who operate under stricter legal standards. Similarly, multiple parties can contribute to such accidents, such as drivers, owners, manufacturers, and mechanics.
Furthermore, taxi operators are generally considered common carriers, which means they must transport passengers in the safest way possible, so their legal responsibilities exceed those of other drivers. Local and state laws can affect these legal requirements. Because taxi drivers work for an employer, the legal doctrine of respondeat superior often comes into play, meaning that the employer can be held legally responsible for their employee’s actions.
Due to these complicating factors, it’s essential to work with an experienced taxi accident attorney.
Common Types of Taxi Accidents in Lakeland
Taxi accidents can take different forms, such as:
Injured as a Passenger
If you were injured as a passenger in a taxi accident, you may have a claim against the taxi driver or their employer. If another motorist’s negligence was responsible for the accident, you could potentially make a claim against them if your case qualifies.
Injured in Another Vehicle
Taxi accident claims also arise when a negligent taxi driver collides with another vehicle. The driver and/or passengers in that vehicle may file an insurance claim against them to seek compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Injured as Another Road User
Taxi drivers could collide with pedestrians, bicyclists, or other road users.
Our lawyers can investigate your case and explain your rights, depending on the type of accident in which you were injured.
Common Causes of Taxi Accidents in Lakeland, FL
Some of the most common reasons taxi accidents occur include:
Driver Fatigue
Taxi drivers often work long shifts. Many people drive a taxi as a second job. This can lead to fatigue, which delays responses and perceptions of potential hazards.
Distracted Driving
Taxi drivers can be distracted by various reasons, including text messages, calls, navigating directions, or interacting with passengers. Distracted driving delays reaction times and increases the likelihood of a crash.
Aggressive Driving
Taxi drivers stand to make more money the more trips they make. This can lead to them driving aggressively, such as speeding, weaving in and out of lanes, and making unsafe passes, which can put their passengers and other motorists at risk.
Mechanical Issues
Taxis log considerable miles, so they are more susceptible to experiencing mechanical issues. If an accident occurs due to broken lights, blown tires, or worn brakes, the taxi company or mechanic responsible for maintenance may be liable for these injuries.
Violating Laws
Taxicab companies are heavily regulated. If the taxi driver or company violated traffic laws that contributed to the accident, they may be responsible for your injuries and accident-related losses.
Negligent Hiring
Taxicab companies may hire inexperienced drivers or those with known safety risks. They can be held responsible for this negligence.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Lakeland Taxi Accident Case?
Florida vehicle accident claims allow victims to recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages involve direct financial losses, such as:
- Emergency medical transportation and services, diagnostic tests, and initial medical treatment
- Ongoing medical expenses, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and doctor visits
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
These losses are quantified based on invoices, estimates, and bills.
Non-economic damages represent subjective and intangible losses that accident victims suffer, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Physiological conditions stemming from the accident, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Permanent disability and impairments
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
Our dedicated lawyers can carefully review your claim and identify all the damages to which you are entitled.
How To Prove Negligence in a Taxi Accident Case
Even though taxi drivers have a heightened duty of care, you will still need to be able to show, in most cases, that they were negligent to recover the full amount of damages available under state law. This will likely require evidence, such as:
- Accident reports indicating the taxi driver was at fault or cited for a traffic violation
- Video footage from red light cameras, surveillance cameras, onboard cameras, or dashcams
- Accident scene photos of car parts, debris in the roadway, skidmarks, and the location of damage to vehicles
- Event data recorders
- Eyewitness statements
- Employment records
- Inspection records
- Cell phone records
An experienced taxi accident lawyer will know what evidence to look for and how to preserve it.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Found Partly at Fault for the Accident?
As long as you are not found more than 50% at fault for the accident, Florida’s modified comparative fault law allows you to recover compensation from the negligent party that caused your injuries. However, your damages are reduced by your degree of fault.
Therefore, if you’re found 15% at fault for the accident, your damages will be reduced proportionately by 15%. Insurance companies are well-versed in these laws and will often try to assign more blame to victims to reduce their liability. Our lawyers can fight for a fair resolution in your case.
Note that this law applies to claims against the responsible party, not against your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim in Florida?
Florida has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits. This means you generally have until the second anniversary of your accident to file a lawsuit. If you don’t file within this timeline, you could forfeit your right to compensation.
That being said, you shouldn’t delay in seeking legal assistance. Valuable evidence could be lost or destroyed, including surveillance footage, witnesses’ memories, and crash data. There are also exceptions that can change this time limit for some cases.
By engaging the services of a personal injury lawyer sooner, you will have an advocate on your side who will fight to protect your rights.
Contact Our Lakeland Taxi Accident Attorneys for a Free Case Review
Were you injured in a taxi accident? If so, Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can provide legal advice and representation. Our Lakeland taxi accident attorneys can investigate your case, identify all at-fault parties, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free case evaluation.
