Bronx Taxi Cab Accident Attorney
In 2015, 2.4 million injuries were sustained during car crashes: And more than 35,000 Americans lost their lives due to a car accident. In addition, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT), Americans pay an estimated $23 billion in medical costs and lose nearly $60 billion in work productivity every year. If you have sustained injuries during a taxi cab accident in NYC, you should seek legal counsel. The experienced Bronx taxi cab accident attorney, Ivan Diamond can help you attain the monetary compensation you deserve.
How Taxi Cab Accidents in the Bronx Happen
An accident involving a taxi can happen in one of two ways:
- The cab in which an individual is riding in as a passenger is struck by another vehicle or the taxi driver accidently strikes another vehicle.
- A taxi cab strikes the motor vehicle that an individual is riding in/on (as a driver or passenger).
What to Do After You Are Involved in a Taxi Cab Accident
Since New York is a No-Fault state, after a cab accident, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) car insurance will provide coverage for your injuries. This ensures that you can seek treatment immediately and do not have to wait for someone else’s insurance company to pick up your medical bills, lost wages and/or rehabilitation costs. If you have a personal injury case, all of these issues will be sorted out later.
If You Were Involved in a Taxi Accident, You May Have a Personal Injury Case
Typically, the primary issue of a personal injury lawsuit involving a taxi is the amount of damages you sustained due to the negligence of the driver. A successful lawsuit requires that you prove the taxi driver was at fault. In addition, you must prove that you have sustained injuries due to his/her negligence. Keep in mind that if you were not a passenger in the taxi, but a driver or passenger in another motor vehicle involved in the accident, the cab company will claim that the negligence of the other driver led to the collision. It is very rare that a taxi cab accident in the Bronx occurs without fault on one side or the other. If you have sustained injuries due to no fault of your own, an experienced Bronx car accident attorney can assist you in attaining the compensation you deserve.
Who can I sue for my Bronx taxi crash injuries?
It depends on the facts and circumstances of your crash. Generally speaking, any person, individual, or entity whose unreasonably dangerous decisions or actions caused the taxi accident that injured you may have a legal liability to you for damages. Depending on the circumstances, that could include the cab driver, a cab company, an automotive manufacturer, the driver of some other vehicle, and even the City of New York.
Keep in mind, too, that in some circumstances, you may not have a claim against anyone (if, for example, you suffered only minor injuries that are covered by your own personal injury protection auto insurance).
The best way to determine who has legal liability for your injuries is to contact an experienced Bronx taxi accident injury lawyer for a free consultation.
How much money can I get for my Bronx taxi accident injuries?
There’s no guarantee that you can recover money for your Bronx taxi accident injuries. Every case is different.
If you have a successful claim, the amount you might get generally depends on two factors: how bad your injuries are, and who has a legal liability to you for them.
The severity of your injuries matters because it influences the amount of compensation you can seek.
In a Bronx taxi accident case, an injured victim can usually seek compensation for:
- Medical and non-medical expenses;
- Lost wages/income; and
- Pain and suffering.
Obviously, the worse your injuries, the greater each of these categories of damages is likely to be. Serious injuries like traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage tend to have the highest amounts of damages associated with them, although that is only a general rule and there are lots of exceptions.
The identity of the person, company, or entity that has legal liability for your injuries matters because that will determine the financial resources available to pay your claim. Taxi drivers, for example, must carry for-hire insurance that covers injuries in an accident caused by the cab driver. The amount of money you can realistically hope to recover may depend on the limits of that, or any other, insurance policy that covers your injuries.
Ask a skilled Bronx taxi accident injury lawyer to evaluate how much money you may have the ability to recover as damages for your injuries.
How long does it take to get paid after a Bronx taxi accident?
There is no guarantee you will get paid, but if you do, the amount of time it takes for that to happen can vary widely. A skilled Bronx taxi accident injury lawyer may resolve some claims in a matter of weeks. It may take a year or more for the same lawyer to get a favorable result in a different case.
The factors that influence how long it takes for a successful accident injury claim to result in payment are mostly out of your control.
They include:
- The severity of your injuries and how long it takes to get a clear picture of your chances for recovery;
- The amount of money at stake;
- The degree of dispute about who has legal liability and how much money they should pay; and
- The number of parties involved in the dispute.
One factor that you do control, however, is the timing of when you talk to an experienced Bronx taxi accident injury lawyer. The sooner you consult with a lawyer about your accident and injuries, the sooner the lawyer can begin working to achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.
How should I handle my medical bills in the meantime?
Serious injuries from a Bronx taxi accident can leave you with high medical bills, even after your insurance pays for some of them. For now, these bills are your responsibility, even though someone else has a legal liability to you for your injuries. If that doesn’t seem fair, you’re right. It isn’t.
The good news is that doctors, hospitals, and other medical billers understand that sometimes their patients get hurt through no fault of their own. These providers will often work with patients to delay payment until the patient has resolved a legal claim for damages against the party at-fault for their injuries.
Speak with an experienced Bronx taxi cab accident injury lawyer right away if you feel pressured to pay medical expenses that you should have had in the first place. Lawyers can often help communicate with medical billers to work out arrangements until your claim has been resolved.
Do I really need a Bronx taxi accident lawyer?
Yes, you really need a lawyer. You cannot hope to obtain the full amount of compensation you deserve for your Bronx taxi accident injuries without one.
The actions a lawyer takes for a Bronx cab crash victim vary depending on the circumstances.
However, generally speaking, they include tasks that crash victims cannot (and should never try to) handle on their own, such as:
- Investigating the accident to determine how it happened and who was at fault;
- Planning a legal strategy to obtain compensation from the parties with legal liability;
- Executing that strategy, which often includes filing a lawsuit in Bronx court;
- Negotiating a settlement, if possible, with defense lawyers and insurance companies; and
- Going to trial to seek an award from a Bronx jury, if that is what it takes to get an accident victim paid appropriate compensation.
Cab accidents in the Bronx can get legally and factually complicated. Trust only an experienced Bronx taxi accident injury lawyer who understands taxi regulations and knows the way around courthouses in the Bronx, with your injury claim.
To learn more about your legal rights after suffering injuries in a Bronx taxi cab accident, contact an experienced attorney at the Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond today for a free case evaluation.
NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) 2016 Annual Report
The NYC TLC investigates motor vehicle collisions that involve TLC-licensed drivers. In addition, the Taxi and Limousine Commission investigates incidents where a pedestrian, driver or passenger has already died: In addition to those accidents where an individual is likely to die because of injuries sustained during a limousine or taxi cab accident. The number of motor vehicle accidents involving TLC-licensed vehicles in 2016 was 42,388.
Taxi Cab Accident Settlements
$4 Million Settlement
Marc M. Jacobs sustained serious injuries while riding as a passenger in a taxi on Aug. 31, 2005. According to Jacobs’ complaint, the taxi driver lost control of the cab, crashing it into a concrete barrier. A Cook County jury awarded Jacobs nearly $22 million and, for the loss of support, consortium, services, affection, society and companionship from her husband, his wife was awarded almost $4 million.
At the time of the accident, Jacobs was 44 years old. He suffered severe brain damage, which led to his inability to continue his career as a real estate partner.
$200,000 Settlement
In 2013, Edward Domain, who is the CEO of Techli, sustained injuries while a passenger in a Harris Cab. He filed a lawsuit against the cab driver and the cab company. Domain claimed that Asim Khurshid (the cab driver) ran a red light, was using his cell phone while driving and drove at excessive speeds. Domain received a settlement of $200,000.
$8 Million Settlement
In the case Ida Cristina Fua Cruz vs. Joel Enrique Andino Sanchez, Et Al, Yellow Cab was found to be liable for the damages Fua Cruz sustained due to the negligence of taxi driver Sanchez.
Yellow Cab attempted to dispute its liability for this accident, stating that the company itself does not provide driving services to the public. Instead, the company alleges that it provides the vehicles, dispatch service and color scheme. The jury agreed that Sanchez was not an employee of Yellow Cab, per se, but was an ostensible employee of the company. At the time of the accident, Fua Cruz was 28 years old. Due to the accident, she is paralyzed on one side of her body and suffers from residual symptoms related to a traumatic brain injury. Thus, making it impossible for Fua Cruz to continue her law career. The jury awarded the plaintiff (Fua Cruz) $8 million.
A Bronx taxi accident can leave you with more questions than answers. Below, we answer some of the most common questions we receive about Bronx taxi accidents. If you have specific questions about your accident and the injuries you suffered, contact an experienced Bronx taxi accident attorney at the Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights.
Contact a Bronx Taxi Cab Lawyer Today
Ivan Diamond, Bronx Auto Accident Lawyer
If you have sustained injuries during any type of accident involving a taxi: Including while a passenger in a yellow cab, green taxi or any other vehicle for hire in NYC, contact The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond.
Our highly-experienced, compassionate attorneys are dedicated to helping you attain the compensation you deserve. You can reach us by calling 718-588-2000 or toll-free at 877-960-1702.
The time you can file a personal injury lawsuit is limited; therefore, please schedule your complimentary case evaluation at our office in the Bronx today.
Related Information
The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond
888 Grand Concourse Suite #1L, 10451
(718) 588-2000
Client Testimonial
“Mr. Ivan Diamond is the definition of professionalism hard work. He’s my first experience with a lawyer (I retained him to represent me in two separate instances) … and he made it a pleasant one! He’s VERY hands on, very attentive, asked the questions, consistently checked up on me and prepared me for any and every possibility. Extremely knowledgeable. I recommend Mr. Diamond to friends and family who we’re all happy with outcome of their personal injury case’s. I consider Mr. Diamond to be family, because that’s how hard he worked for me and expressed real compassion for my circumstances. Hiring Mr. Diamond is a decision you will never regret..” -Bia S.
Client Review: 5/5
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January 2020
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The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond
888 Grand Concourse #1L Bronx, NY 10451 Phone: (718) 588-2000
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