Whether you are a resident or just drive through the Bronx, you know traveling through the borough is hectic. There is so much traffic -– so many cars, buses, trucks, and of course, taxi cabs. Riding in or sharing the roads with cabs can be a white-knuckle experience. These drivers are experienced but aggressive in navigating Bronx traffic. That aggressiveness can get you where you need to go fast or lead to an accident.
If you have been in an accident with a taxi cab in the Bronx, contact the NYC taxi cab accidents lawyer from Tucker Lawyers. You should not foot the bill for injuries or property damage sustained in an accident that was not your fault, and your Bronx taxi cab accidents lawyer will fight to get you full compensation for your losses.
Choosing Tucker Lawyers Is the Right Choice
Tucker Lawyers has achieved exceptional case results while giving clients the best service possible. Our team of attorneys are New Yorkers who care about other New Yorkers and are dedicated to getting justice for those who have been harmed by another party’s negligence.
When you meet with your Bronx taxi cab accidents lawyer from the Tucker Lawyers team, your attorney will first conduct a “needs assessment” to see how we can not only provide you with superior legal representation but support your other needs and direct you to service providers, such as medical professionals, who can facilitate your recovery.
How a Bronx Taxi Cab Accidents Lawyer from Tucker Lawyers Can Help
Enduring a Bronx taxi cab accident is a stressful experience, and the aftermath brings its own set of stressors. Rather than adding to your frustration and taking energy away from your physical recovery, put your accident claim in the capable hands of a Bronx taxi cab accidents attorney.
After conducting a needs assessment, your attorney will actively pursue your case by carrying out a thorough investigation to determine negligence, gather evidence, and calculate and demand a fair settlement.
New York’s Car Accident Fault Laws
New York is a no-fault state. This means if you are injured in a car accident, you typically file a claim against your own personal insurance protection (PIP) for compensation, no matter who caused the accident. All drivers must carry PIP, and, in many cases, if you are hit by a car as a pedestrian, your PIP’s coverage kicks in.
In New York, PIP covers:
- Medical costs for “reasonable and necessary” accident-related care
- 80% of lost income, up to $2,000 per month for up to three years
- Other reasonable and necessary expenses, such as childcare, household help, and transportation of up to $25 per day for up to one year
- $2,000 in death benefits to family members if the driver dies in the accident.
Of course, the words “reasonable and necessary” are interpreted differently by insurance adjusters and victims, and you may find yourself in a frustrating fight for fair compensation. Or, your injuries may warrant far more than what PIP has to offer.
In either scenario, it is best to have an experienced Bronx taxi cab accidents lawyer fight for you. They will hold your insurance company accountable for paying what they owe and, if necessary, help you file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance.
Different Types of Bronx Taxi Cab Accidents
There are different ways you can be a victim of a taxi cab accident in the Bronx. You may be:
- A passenger riding in the cab
- The cab driver
- The driver of another vehicle involved in the accident
- A passenger in another vehicle involved in the accident
- A pedestrian
Licensed cab drivers in New York City (NYC) are required to carry $100,000 in liability insurance for one person and $300,000 of insurance for all people involved in an accident. If the cab driver is responsible for the accident, you may file against their insurance. However, cab drivers are often employees of taxi operators, so in some cases, you may file against that company.
If another driver is responsible for the accident, you can file a third-party claim against the other driver’s insurance. If you are the cab driver and need more than your PIP coverage, you would also file against the negligent third party.
Whatever your role in the accident – passenger, third-party driver, cab driver, or pedestrian — your best course of action after an accident is to partner with a taxi cab accidents lawyer in the Bronx. Do not take the risk of making a mistake that could cost you substantial compensation.
Determining Negligence and Defining Fault in a Bronx Taxi Cab Accident
To secure a settlement for a personal injury claim filed in response to a Bronx taxi cab accident, you have to prove the other is at fault by proving four elements of negligence.
First, you must show the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, a legal obligation, to act in ways to keep you safe and avoid behaviors that endanger you. Drivers owe all others on the roads a duty of care to obey traffic laws and avoid reckless driving, for example.
Next you must show the at-fault party failed to uphold their duty. In the case of a taxi cab accident, perhaps the cab driver was speeding or cutting in and out of lanes without proper care. Maybe a third-party driver was operating their vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Then, you must prove that failure in duty caused the accident leading to your injury and your injuries cost you measurable damages.
Proving negligence requires evidence and legal skill. The team at Tucker Lawyers has the resources and acumen to gather thorough evidence and over 30 years of legal experience in representing injury clients. We will pour those resources and skills into building your case.
New York’s Pure Comparative Fault System
New York follows a pure comparative fault system for situations when victims have grounds to file third-party claims and seek more compensation than PIP covers. Under this system, victims can file against a third party even if they, the victim, hold some fault for the accident and subsequent injuries. However, compensation amounts are reduced in proportion to the victim’s level of fault.
Even if it seems abundantly clear to you that the at-fault party is entirely to blame for the accident causing your injuries, expect serious pushback from their insurance and legal representatives. By assigning you blame for the accident, the at-fault party reduces their payout to you.
Collecting Compensation for Damages Sustained in a Bronx Taxi Cab Accident
The losses you suffer after an accident are called “damages,” and the settlement you collect compensates you for those damages. Every accident has its own distinct circumstances and consequences, so it is not possible to state an average settlement amount.
Your taxi cab accidents attorney in the Bronx will evaluate your damages with precision and make a settlement demand to cover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
These losses directly affect your finances. Any expenses or financial losses you sustain from your accident are economic damages. They include:
- Medical bills and anticipated costs of future care
- Wage loss during recovery time and lost future earnings if you cannot work again
- Costs to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed in the accident
- Additional accident-related expenses, such as those incurred for hiring others to perform a household task you performed prior to sustaining injury.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages do not come with a specific price tag but are no less costly than economic damages. They acknowledge:
- The physical pain caused by the accident
- The emotional distress your injuries have caused and the psychological trauma caused by the accident
- Losses to your overall quality of life.
FAQs About Bronx Car Accidents
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Who is liable in a Bronx taxi cab accident?
There are many possibilities for who may be liable in a Bronx taxi cab accident, and your lawyer’s investigation of the accident will reveal the at-fault party or parties. Those liable may include the cab driver, another driver, a car or part manufacturer, the taxi cab company, a careless pedestrian, or a violent cab passenger.
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Can I trust insurance companies to treat me fairly after an accident?
Regrettably, the at-fault party’s representatives will not hold back from using unethical tactics to inflate your level of blame or scare you into accepting less than you deserve. Even your own insurance will look to pay out as little as possible for your losses.
When you are represented by a Bronx taxi cab accidents lawyer from Tucker Lawyers, you do not have to stress over these unsavory strategies. Your attorney will handle all communication with insurance adjusters with confidence, protecting your settlement from unfair reductions.
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How will my attorney know my future medical care needs?
Your attorney will consult with medical experts to discuss your prognosis and assign a fair amount to future care needs.
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How will my attorney value my non-economic damages?
Your attorney will speak with your caregivers, family and friends, mental health experts, and you to calculate a “value” for the suffering caused by your non-economic damages.
If you do not see an answer to a question you have, please contact us. We look forward to speaking with you and clearing up any concerns.
We Are Here to Fight for You
If you have been injured in a Bronx taxi cab accident, Tucker Lawyers wants to hear from you. Contact us at (516) 399-2364 or visit our contact page to submit an electronic request for a free consultation. You have the right to hold others accountable when their negligence causes you physical, emotional, and financial losses. Trust a skilled and compassionate Bronx taxi cab accidents lawyer from Tucker Lawyers to get you the compensation you deserve.
Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.
John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]