Taxi Accident Claims
Whether you're a passenger or driver of a taxi, if you have been injured in a road traffic accident caused by another party, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. JMW has a specialist team dedicated to handling road traffic accidents of all levels of injury, from minor neck pain to complex and catastrophic injuries, and we can help with your taxi accident claim.
We have years of experience in this area and we know what it takes to ensure your taxi accident claim is dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Speak to a member of our specialist team today by calling us on 0345 872 6666. Alternatively, allow us to contact you by completing our online enquiry form. We will call you back as soon as we can and will discuss your case in greater detail.
What Our Clients Say
How JMW Can Help
Taxis and minicabs offer a convenient alternative to public transport. Customers expect a good level of service, and taxi drivers try to ensure these expectations are met. However, accidents can still happen and injuries can occur as the result of another party's negligence.
If you need to make a taxi passenger accident claim or a taxi driver claim for compensation, our team is here to support you throughout the entire claims process. Our solicitors will guide you from start to finish and remain in close contact with you so that you are kept fully up to date with any developments in your case. We aim to make the process as stress-free as possible for you.
If you have suffered an injury due to the negligent actions of somebody else while in a taxi, you may be entitled to make a claim to help you get redress for any injuries sustained. This will also assist you on the road to recovery and can help to pay for any out-of-pocket expenses you experienced following your accident. These can include:
- Medical expenses
- Time taken off work
- Personal property that has been damaged and may need to be replaced
- Care or assistance provided by friends or loved ones
Rita Keep Testimonial
Am I Eligible to Make a Taxi Accident Compensation Claim?
Eligibility for making a taxi accident compensation claim hinges on a few key factors. You may be entitled to claim taxi accident compensation if the following criteria are met:
- Negligence: the car accident resulted from another party's negligence or breach of duty. This could be the taxi driver, another road user, or a third party responsible for road maintenance or vehicle safety.
- Injury or loss: you experienced physical injuries, psychological trauma or financial losses directly attributable to the accident. This includes immediate injuries and long-term repercussions impacting your quality of life or ability to work.
- Valid time frame: the taxi accident claim is made within the legally stipulated time limit, usually three years from the date of the accident, or the date when you first became aware of your injuries.
- Evidence: you have substantial evidence to support your claim, including medical reports, witness statements, and any other relevant documentation.
If these conditions are met, you likely have grounds to pursue a taxi accident compensation claim. However, each case is unique. Seeking professional legal advice is key to understanding your position fully and ensuring the best possible outcome for your personal injury claim. JMW's team of experienced solicitors can provide guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.
Common Causes of Taxi Accidents
Common causes of taxi accidents include:
- Collision with a taxi where a third party is at fault: accidents often occur when another vehicle's driver is negligent, possibly due to speeding, driving under the influence, or failing to adhere to road signs, resulting in a collision with the taxi.
- Road traffic collisions where the taxi driver is liable: in some instances, the taxi driver may be responsible for the accident. Causes can include distracted driving, fatigue or not complying with traffic laws, putting passengers and other road users at risk.
- Taxi passenger injuries as a result of not wearing a seatbelt: passengers who do not wear a seatbelt are at a higher risk of injury if an accident occurs. Although the responsibility to wear a seatbelt primarily lies with the passenger, taxi drivers should also remind passengers of this safety requirement.
- Taxi passenger injury as a consequence of skidding on the road: accidents can happen due to poor road conditions or adverse weather, leading to the taxi skidding. Liability may depend on the specific circumstances, such as the taxi driver's response to road conditions, or the local authority's maintenance of the road.
- Pedestrian hit by a taxi: pedestrians might be struck by a taxi, especially in busy urban areas. Factors include driver or pedestrian negligence, poor visibility, or failure to obey traffic signals.
- Hit-and-run accidents: these incidents occur when a vehicle involved in an accident, be it a taxi or another vehicle, flees the scene. Victims in these cases can face challenges in claiming compensation, making legal advice and support particularly important.
- Taxis setting off whilst passengers are getting into, or out of the vehicle.
Advice for Passengers Making a Taxi Accident Claim
If you are a passenger in a taxi and are injured in an accident, once you are safe and any immediate medical needs have been attended to, there are certain steps you can take to assist with your claim, either at the scene or shortly after. These include:
- Making a note of the licence plates of any vehicles involved, as well as the taxi driver's operating licence
- Taking down contact information for others involved in the accident
- Taking down contact information for any witnesses to the accident
- Taking photographs of the scene of the incident
- Making a sketch to illustrate how the accident happened
As a passenger, you are not deemed to be in control of the vehicle and therefore are not to blame should the taxi in which you are travelling be involved in a road collision. You should, however, ensure you always wear a seatbelt when travelling in a taxi to reduce the risk of suffering injury should there be a crash.
Advice for Taxi Drivers Involved in an Accident
If you are a taxi driver, being involved in an accident and suffering an injury is not just inconvenient, it can also have a significant impact on your livelihood. Making a claim can, therefore, be of vital importance. A compensation award will support you and your family in respect of any time off work required, can assist with paying for any repairs to your cab, and provide compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
Our team will treat you with the utmost respect, making sure that the claims process is easy, stress-free and hassle-free, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive from a Taxi Accident Claim?
The exact amount of compensation you'll be awarded in a taxi accident compensation claim will depend on the injuries you sustained and the nature of your accident. Compensation will take into account the severity of your injuries, as well as any financial losses you have experienced due to your accident.
The figures below provide a rough idea of how much compensation you could receive for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries in a taxi accident claim, based on the Judicial College Injury Tables. For a more accurate calculation of how much you could claim compensation for, based on your own circumstances, get in touch with JMW today.
| Minor head injury | £1,760 - £10,180 |
| Neck injury with varying levels of recovery | Up to £10,960 |
| Serious or severe neck injury with permanent symptoms | £36,240 - £118,240 |
| Minor to moderate knee injury | £13,000 - £38,000 |
| Serious leg injury | £21,100 - £29,800 |
| Hip or pelvis injury | £3,150 - £104,370 |
| Minor to serious arm injury | £5,280 - £47,720 |
| Shoulder injury | £6,290 - £15,300 |
| Back injury recovering in up to five years | £1,950 - £9,970 |
| Back injury causing permanent symptoms | £9,970 - £22,130 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Taxi Accident Claims
- What evidence do I need for my claim compensation for my taxi accident?
To make a taxi accident claim, it's necessary to gather:
- Medical reports: documentation from medical examinations immediately after the accident and during recovery, detailing injuries and treatments.
- Police reports: including any collision or accident construction report.
- Witness statements: testimonies from individuals who witnessed the accident, offering additional perspectives on the event.
- Photographic evidence: clear images of the accident scene, injuries sustained, and any property damage incurred.
- Financial records: detailed accounts of expenses and financial losses incurred as a direct result of the accident, including lost earnings and medical bills.
- How long will I have to make a taxi accident claim?
For injuries sustained in a taxi accident, the time frame to initiate a claim is generally three years from the date of the accident, or from when you should have been aware that you had suffered injury as a result.
This three-year period is the standard time limit set for all personal injury claims in the UK. Exceptions to this time frame are in place for individuals with limited mental capacity, or for those whose injuries prevented them from claiming within the standard three-year period.
Should the injured party be a minor involved in a taxi accident, a claim can be lodged on their behalf as a “litigation friend.” For those under the age of 18, the three-year period to file a claim starts from their eighteenth birthday.
Despite these time frames, it's still best to begin the claim process as swiftly as possible. Doing so enables our solicitors to construct a robust case by securing essential evidence promptly, ensuring the details of the incident are accurately recounted. The greater the delay, the greater the risk of vital evidence being lost.
- Can I get compensation if I'm in a taxi accident caused by another car?
Yes, if you are hurt in a taxi accident and it is the fault of another vehicle, you can seek compensation from that vehicle's driver.
- Can I claim compensation when the taxi driver is at fault for the accident?
If the taxi driver's mistake led to the accident and you were hurt, you can seek compensation.
Taxi drivers, whether working for a company or using private hire vehicles independently, must ensure their passengers are safe. If you can show your injuries were due to the taxi driver's reckless driving or an unsafe vehicle, you might claim against the driver or their company.
- Can I get compensation for a taxi accident if I wasn't wearing a seatbelt?
Usually, you must wear a seatbelt in a taxi. But sometimes, you can still get compensation even if you weren't wearing one, especially if it can be shown that your injuries would have occurred regardless of whether you were wearing a seatbelt although any compensation you may receive will depend on the specific circumstances.
- Can I get compensation for a taxi accident caused by bad road conditions?
Yes, you can. In such cases, the claim would be made against the local authority, council or authority responsible for keeping the roads safe. This includes accidents caused by factors like bad road surfaces, unclear road markings, missing signs or broken traffic lights. In each case it would be necessary to show that the local authority have breached their duty of care, and that this has caused the accident.
- Can I get compensation for a taxi accident due to bad road conditions?
Yes, if your accident was because of poor road conditions, you can make a claim. This would typically be against the local council or the Highways Agency responsible for road upkeep.
- What if the taxi driver didn't have insurance?
Even if the taxi driver wasn't insured, you can still make a claim. In this situation, your claim would be processed through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, a body set up to assist in such cases. We can handle this process for you. The same applies if any other vehicle involved in the accident was uninsured.
- What does 'split liability' in taxi accident claims mean?
'Split liability' in taxi accident claims happens when both parties involved share some of the responsibility. For instance, if you didn't wear a seatbelt but the taxi driver was also driving carelessly, you both might be held partly responsible. The compensation you get will reflect your share of the blame. So, if it's decided that you are both equally at fault, you would receive 50% of the total compensation.
- Will I need to go to court for my taxi accident claim?
Going to court for a taxi accident claim is extremely rare. Most insurance companies prefer to settle outside of court, and fewer than 1% of claims end up in a courtroom. Moreover, even if your case does go to court, you might not need to be there in person, as our team will be able to represent you.
Talk to Us
Making a claim for an injury is a very straightforward process and, what's more, we operate on a no win, no fee basis. To discuss your taxi accident claim in more detail, simply call us on 0345 872 6666 or complete our online enquiry form and we will be in touch.
