A taxicab accident in Birmingham can leave you unsure of what to do in the following days and weeks. Of course, you know to get any needed medical care right away. But do you know who to hold financially responsible for your medical bills?
Do you know who is responsible for filing a police report? Do you know if your medical bills are the only covered expense? Do you know if PIP insurance coverage on your personal insurance policy will cover you when you are involved in a taxicab accident?
Reach out to a Birmingham taxicab accident attorney today to get the answers to these questions, any other questions you might have, and options for financial recovery.
Know What Expenses Qualify for Compensation
Car accidents are a common cause of personal injury claims, according to the American Bar Association (ABA). If the taxicab driver was negligent, their employer might be held financially responsible for your injuries. If another car hit the taxicab you were riding in, you and the taxicab driver might be able to hold the at-fault driver financially responsible.
Our attorneys must sort out all the facts of a case when pursuing compensation. In addition, we need to gather documentation of the expenses and losses the client suffered because of the crash.
The economic and noneconomic damages that might be recoverable after an accident in a taxicab include:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
You may be able to recover compensation for your current damages and any future related costs. This includes future medical care, expenses related to ongoing support needs, diminished earning ability if you cannot return to work, and continued pain and suffering.
If you or a family member got injured in a taxicab accident that also left you in a difficult financial position, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver or another party accountable and recover compensation. An attorney from the Morris Bart law firm can give you a free initial consultation today.
Wrongful Death in a Taxicab Accident in Birmingham
If your loved one died from their injuries in a taxicab collision, pursuing damages through a wrongful death action may be possible. Immediate family members may recover compensation based on the accident that caused their loved one’s death.
However, Alabama has unique laws that only allow you to pursue punitive damages after your loved one’s deadly accident, per Ala. Code § 6-5-410. Our lawyers can review your case and explain how these claims work.
For a free legal consultation with a Taxicab Accident lawyer serving Birmingham, call 800-537-8185
Taxicabs Are Required to Meet Alabama’s Insurance Minimums
Every vehicle registered in the state must carry a minimum amount of insurance. These insurance minimums are put in place to ensure accidents are not financially devastating and at-fault drivers can compensate car accident victims.
Your lawyer can investigate whether the taxicab you were riding in has the required minimum insurance coverage. According to the Alabama Department of Insurance, that means each taxicab must carry:
- $25,000 per person for injury or death
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
- $50,000 per accident for multiple injured parties
In some cases, the cab company may have additional liability coverage. This is important to know because it may be possible to build a case against the taxicab driver’s employer in addition to the individual driver. This is possible because of a 1929 Alabama Supreme Court decision in St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co. v. Robbins.
This opinion states that a company may be vicariously liable when:
- The negligent party was an employee of the company
- The employee was acting within “the scope of his employment” when the accident occurred
Contact a Birmingham taxicab accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident by calling the Morris Bart law firm. Your lawyer can accurately value your claim and pursue money for your expenses and losses to the fullest extent allowed under Alabama’s tort laws.
What to Do if You Were Injured in a Taxicab Accident in Birmingham
When you get into a taxicab, you count on the driver to get you safely to your destination. When you are involved in an accident in your car, make sure that you:
- Call the police
- File a report
- Trade license and insurance information with other involved parties
- Seek medical attention if needed
- Call your insurer
You should also take two additional steps after an accident with a taxicab in Birmingham. In addition to the taxicab driver’s license and insurance, obtain the taxicab company’s information and consider calling a lawyer right away.
Working with a lawyer can help you move through any car accident claim with less stress. Additionally, our lawyers know how to deal with cab companies, their insurers, and corporate lawyers. You do not have to deal with this on your own. We can make this process easier, especially if you are still undergoing treatment and healing from your injuries.
Consider Hiring a Lawyer Before Attempting to Settle Your Taxicab Claim
Sometimes an insurance company might make a speedy settlement offer to resolve a compensation claim quickly. This is especially common in accidents when they think you may not know how serious your injuries are. Settlement negotiations without a lawyer by your side could result in a smaller settlement than you deserve. It could also mean you receive a settlement that will not adequately cover all the expenses and losses caused by the accident.
You cannot go back and recover additional compensation after you accept an offer and sign the agreement. These agreements almost always include a clause that releases the involved parties and their insurers from any additional liability in the accident. This is why it is imperative to understand the value of your case before signing anything.
Avoid talking to the insurance company, lawyer who represents the taxicab driver, or their employer without your attorney. Whether or not you accept a settlement offer is always up to you, even if your lawyer is present. Your lawyer is your advocate, though, and can help ensure you receive a fair value for your claim.
Click to contact our Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers today
A Lawyer Will Fight for the Financial Payout You Deserve
While you focus on healing from your physical and emotional injuries, our lawyers will handle the complex legal process while keeping you fully informed.
In addition to advocating for a fair settlement during settlement negotiations, your lawyer can also:
- Identify all potentially liable parties
- Investigate the crash and determine what happened
- Help you define fault and appropriately assign liability
- Compile paperwork, complete forms, and gather evidence
- Ensure your case is fully and accurately valued
- Ensure your claim meets and complies with filing guidelines
One of the most important things your lawyer can do is work on your case when you cannot. Your Birmingham taxicab accident lawyer can ensure you do not run out of time to file your case by missing the two-year statute of limitations under Ala. Code § 6-2-38. In some cases, the deadline may be even shorter.
Your Birmingham Taxicab Accident Lawyer Is on Your Side
Injuries you suffer in the backseat of a Birmingham taxicab can leave you stressed, unable to return to work, and can damage property you brought into the taxicab. You should not be responsible for an accident where you were not the driver and played no causative role.
Taxicab passengers have financial recovery rights when they are injured in an accident. Find out what your rights and financial recovery options are by calling the Morris Bart law firm for your free case review today. We can help you understand your rights and handle your claim for you.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
