Queens Taxi Injury Lawyer

We Handle Taxi Injury Claims in Queens and Throughout New York City

According to data from the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission, there are currently more than 13,000 licensed taxi cabs operating within the city. If you live in Queens, then taking a taxi is the easiest way to get around – in fact, you may not even own a car of your own. This is why if you ride in taxis regularly, it’s smart to know the process for hailing a taxi, what to expect in terms of taxi rates, and what you should do if there’s an accident.

Unfortunately, taxi cab accidents do happen in New York City. At the law offices of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, our Queens taxi injury lawyers can help you if you’ve been injured in a taxi crash. We are committed to protecting the rights of injured victims. We’ll help you by calculating your damages, determining liability, and guiding you through your recovery options. Call our Queens law office today to set up a free, no-obligation initial consultation with a New York taxi injury attorney.

How NY Taxi Accidents & Injuries Happen

Taxi accidents happen virtually every day in New York City. According to the City’s Vision Zero Initiative, taxis are involved in hundreds of injury crashes per month in New York City. The overwhelming majority of these crashes could have been prevented with proper precautions. Taxicab accidents are a result of the same factors that lead to other motor vehicle accident types, including:

• Distracted driving;
• Drunk driving;
• Speeding;
• Failing to adhere to traffic laws;
• Running red lights;
• Running stop signs;
• Following too closely (tailgating);
• Aggressive driving; and
• Reckless driving.

While most automobile accidents are caused primarily by driver error, there are exceptions. In some cases, a taxi can accident may be the result of a vehicle defect, signage error, or road defect. The taxicab driver may be responsible for the crash, or the crash could have been caused by the actions of the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash.

Steps to Take After a Taxi Accident in Queens, NY

Taxi crashes can happen when passengers least expect them. After a taxi cab accident in Queens, you must take immediate action to protect your health and legal rights. There are things that you can do in the aftermath of a crash to put yourself in a better position to move forward with your life. Here are four important steps to take if you were involved in a taxi cab accident in Queens:

1. Make sure that the taxi cab accident is reported to the police;
2. Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries;
3. Document the crash—including taking pictures and writing down what happened; and
4. Consult with a Queens, NY taxi injury attorney before speaking to the insurance company.

The unfortunate reality is that you cannot rely on an insurance company for guidance with your injury claim. Insurance companies want to protect their financial interests. The insurance company is not going to think about what is best for you and your family members. An experienced Queens taxi cab accident attorney will protect your rights and interests.

Know the Statute of Limitations in a Taxi Cab Accident Claim

In New York, injured victims have a limited amount of time to bring their legal claim. With motor vehicle accidents—including taxi cab collisions—the statute of limitations is three years. Put another way, this means that a taxi cab accident injury lawsuit must be filed within three years of the date when the crash actually happened. There are very limited exceptions to the New York statute of limitations. If you do not initiate your claim in a timely manner, then you will almost certainly lose out on your rights.

With that being said, you do not want to wait to start the taxi cab accident claims process. It is easier for evidence and information to get lost. The taxi cab company and its insurers are going to waste little time in building their defense. Do not fall behind them in the claims process. Consult with a New York City taxi cab accident injury attorney as soon as possible after your crash.

Taxi Cabs Can Pose a Risk to Pedestrians and Bicyclists in New York City

Not everyone involved in a taxi cab accident is a passenger of the vehicle. A person may be injured while as the occupant of another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist. Indeed, taxi cabs have the potential to pose a serious safety hazard to pedestrians and bicyclists in New York City. Sadly, there is growing evidence that our city is becoming even less safe for pedestrians.

As reported by NBC 4 New York, 2021 was the deadliest year in New York for pedestrians in more than a decade. 124 pedestrians and 15 bicyclists were killed in accidents in New York City last year alone. When not operated safely, taxi cabs can contribute to the risks that pedestrians and bicyclists face on our roads. If you were injured in a pedestrian collision or bicycle accident with a taxi cab in New York City, our legal team is here to help.

What to Know About Liability for a Taxi Injury in New York

When a taxicab accident occurs and the occupants of that taxicab suffer injuries, a thorough investigation must be conducted to determine liability for the crash. Determining liability is so important because the party who is liable, or legally responsible, for the crash is the party who’s responsible for paying for it. Examples of parties who might be held liable for damages resulting from a Queen taxi accident include:

• The taxicab driver;
• The taxicab company;
• The manufacturer of the taxicab (if a vehicle defect was the cause of the crash);
• The other driver involved in the crash; or
• Another third party, such as a trucking company.

All taxicab collisions in New York City require a thorough, detail-driven investigation. You must know exactly how and why your accident happened. Our Queens, NY taxi cab accident lawyers always take a proactive approach. We will conduct an immediate investigation of your taxi cab crash—making sure that you have access to all of the evidence and information needed to establish liability.

Insurance Coverage for a Taxi Injury in Queens

One way that our law firm will support you when you’ve been in a crash is by opening up an investigation into your case not only to determine fault but also to uncover the insurance coverage options that exist and may be available to help pay for a portion of your damages. For example, while all motor vehicles are required to carry liability insurance in New York, taxicabs are specifically required to carry:

• $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person;
• $300,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident; and
• $200,000 in personal injury liability.

If the taxicab/taxicab company was at fault for the crash, then you can take comfort in knowing that this liability insurance coverage will help to pay for your injuries and losses. If there are other available insurance policies available, our lawyers will explore the possibility of filing a claim against these, too.

Understanding Taxi Accident Claims and New York’s No-Fault Law

New York is a no-fault state for motor vehicle collisions. For minor and moderate collisions, a driver’s claim is through their insurance policy—regardless of who was at fault for the crash. That being said, New York law has an exception for serious crashes. If you were seriously injured in a car accident in New York, you can step outside of the no-fault system and file a personal injury claim directly against the at-fault party.

New York City law requires taxi cab companies to purchase and maintain no-fault insurance coverage for their passengers. As a passenger in a taxi in New York City, you should be covered by the taxi company’s no-fault insurance policy when a collision occurs. If you are seriously injured in a crash, you can also step outside of the New York no-fault system and file a fault-based liability claim directly against the at-fault party—whether that is the taxi company or a third party.

Recovering Compensation After a Taxi Cab Accident in New York City

Following a taxi accident, injured victims must be able to access full and fair financial compensation to pay their bills and support their loved ones. Unfortunately, taxi companies and their insurers can make the claims process difficult for people and families. At the law office of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, our Queens taxi cab accident lawyers fight tirelessly to help injured victims maximize their settlement or verdict. You may be eligible to recover financial support for:

• Property damage (vehicle repairs);
• Ambulance costs and emergency room care;
• Hospital bills and other medical costs;
• Rehabilitative care;
• Loss wages and diminished earning power;
• Pain and suffering & emotional distress;
• Physical scarring or physical impairment; and
• Wrongful death damages

As with other types of personal injury claims, most taxi cab accident claims are eventually resolved with a settlement. However, there are certainly plenty of exceptions. Litigation may be required to help you secure the full and fair financial compensation that you deserve. A trial-tested New York City taxi accident lawyer will do what is necessary to help you secure full compensation—whether through a settlement or a trial verdict.

How Our Queens Taxi Injury Lawyers Can Help

Motor vehicle accident claims are complicated—and taxi injury claims are certainly no exceptions. You do not have to go through the personal injury claims process alone. At the law office of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, we have the professional expertise that injured victims can trust. Our Queens taxi injury lawyers are 100 percent dedicated to you when you’ve been in a crash. We will help you by:

• Investigating your accident;
• Bringing in experts to work on your claim;
• Making a determination about fault and liability;
• Identifying available insurance policies;
• Determining the value of your claim and calculating your damages;
• Filing a demand letter against the responsible party;
• Reviewing a settlement offer;
• Rejecting and negotiating a settlement on your behalf;
• Informing you of all claims deadlines and keeping you in the know about other legal elements of your case; and
• Filing a lawsuit and bringing your case to court if necessary.

You can count on our law firm to handle all of the elements of your case so that you can focus on the more important parts of your life, such as your recovery and planning for your future. Throughout the process, our Queens taxi injury lawyers will keep you informed about what’s going on, be available to answer your questions, and give your claim the level of attention both it and you deserve.

Taxi Cab Accidents in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to See a Doctor After a Taxi Cab Accident in New York?

You should always see a doctor if you were injured in a taxi cab collision in New York City. First and foremost, seeking professional medical care is crucial to protect your own health and well-being. All injuries should be evaluated by a qualified physician. You need the proper treatment. Additionally, New York law requires people to see a doctor bring a personal injury claim. If you do not have medical records, you will not be in a position to recover compensation for a taxi cab accident.

Should I Give a Statement to an Insurance Company After a Taxi Cab Accident?

If you sustained a serious injury in a taxi cab accident, you should be very wary about giving any statement to an insurance company—at least not without first consulting with an experienced attorney. The unfortunate reality is that the big insurance companies that represent New York’s major taxi cab carriers are not on your side. They are looking for information that they can use to reduce your settlement or deny your claim. Consult with a top-rated New York City taxi cab accident lawyer before giving a statement to an insurance company.

What if a Taxi Cab Company and Another Driver Both Shared Fault for My Accident?

In New York, it is possible to bring a motor vehicle accident injury claim against multiple people. The state has a comparative negligence standard for fault-based car accident claims. If both a taxi cab company and another party—third party driver, truck company, vehicle manufacturer, etc—shared fault for your serious accident, you may have a claim against both parties. They may split liability for the collision.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Queens Taxi Injury Lawyers Today

At the law office of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP, our New York City auto accident injury attorneys have the skills and experience to handle tax injury claims. If you have been injured in a taxicab accident in Queens or the surrounding areas, don’t just accept the losses you have and don’t think that you can represent yourself in the claims process. We will help you get justice.

For a free, no-obligation consultation with our law firm, please call our Queens taxi injury lawyers at the law office of Sullivan & Galleshaw LLP directly today at 718-843-0300. You can also connect with us by using the contact form on our website to send us a message telling us more about your case. From our Queens law office, we provide personal injury representation throughout New York City.