No Win, No FeeIf you’ve been injured in a crash as a taxi passenger, the driver, or as another motorist or pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a taxi accident claim against the responsible party.
Our specially-trained advisors are on hand if you would like a free initial consultation about your taxi accident. During the call, you can ask questions and you’ll receive no-obligation advice after your case has been reviewed. If we believe you should be compensated and one of our personal injury solicitors agrees to represent you, they’ll do so on a No Win, No Fee basis. That means you won’t need to cover any legal fees in advance which should make the taxi accident claims process less stressful.
To see if we can help you begin a taxi accident claim, please get in touch on 0800 652 1345. Alternatively, please continue reading to learn more about your options.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for a Taxi Accident?
To claim compensation for a taxi accident, you must prove that:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- Their negligence caused an accident involving a taxi.
- You were injured as a result.
Establishing a duty of care is usually straightforward, as taxi drivers and other road users must drive safely under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Additionally, taxi operators must comply with local authority licensing conditions regarding vehicle safety.
Rather than worrying about legislation, focus on proving how the accident happened, who was responsible, and how you suffered. We’ll explain what proof could be used to do this shortly.
Common Examples of Taxi Accident Claims
Taxi accidents can happen in various ways, often due to the negligence of the taxi driver, another road user, or even the taxi company. Some common scenarios that may lead to compensation claims include:
- Collisions involving taxis: If a taxi crashes into another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist due to reckless driving, speeding, or failing to adhere to traffic signals.
- Passenger injuries: If a passenger is injured inside a taxi due to sudden braking, unsafe driving, or a failure to ensure seatbelts were available and functioning.
- Taxi driver negligence: Accidents caused by taxi drivers using mobile phones, driving while fatigued, drunk or drug driving, or failing to maintain proper control of the vehicle.
- Poor vehicle maintenance: Where a taxi accident occurs because of faulty brakes, worn tyres, or other mechanical failures due to a lack of regular inspections and maintenance.
- Accidents involving other drivers: If another motorist causes a car accident involving a taxi, the passengers or the taxi driver may be entitled to claim compensation against the at-fault driver.
- Hazardous pick-ups and drop-offs: If a taxi stops in an unsafe location, leading to an accident when a passenger enters or exits the vehicle.
Effectively, anyone injured in a taxi accident due to another party’s negligence could be entitled to compensation.
What Types of Personal Injuries Can I Claim For?
Unfortunately, there are a variety of injuries that could result from road accidents. Some common injuries that can lead to taxi accident claims include:
- Whiplash (soft tissue injuries of the neck, shoulders and back).
- Minor cuts, lacerations and abrasions.
- Mild to severe bruising.
- Fractures of the arms, legs, pelvis and ribs.
- Spinal cord injuries (that can result in paralysation).
- Internal organ damage.
- Concussions and more severe head injuries.
- Sprains, strains and tears (muscles, ligaments, tendons etc).
No matter what type of injury you’ve suffered in an accident involving a taxi, we could help you to claim if the accident was not your fault.
What Evidence Do I Need for a Taxi Accident Claim?
If you are unfortunate enough to be injured in a taxi-related accident, you’ll need as much proof as possible to try and prove what happened, who was at fault, and how you suffered as a result. This can include:
- Information about the taxi and its driver: This should include the local authority licence number, the taxi’s registration plate, the driver’s contact details and insurance details.
- Medical records: After any type of RTA, it’s best to get your injuries x-rayed and checked at a hospital. Later on, your medical notes could be used to prove the extent of your injuries.
- Police reports: If the accident was reported to the police, a copy of their report could be valuable in confirming details and liability.
- Witness details: Always speak to anyone who stopped at the scene of the taxi accident and take their contact details in case your solicitor needs to ask them for a statement.
- Dashcam footage: If footage of the accident was captured on a dashcam, ask for a copy as quickly as possible.
- Accident scene photographs: If you can do so safely, try to take pictures of the taxi accident scene before any vehicles are moved away.
After your accident, the next step might be to seek legal advice about claiming taxi accident compensation. Before you do, it’s a good idea to write down as much as you can about what happened so that it’s clearer when you speak to your solicitor.
If you have collected any proof to support your claim, please try and have it ready if you can when you call.
What Is the Time Limit to Make a Taxi Accident Claim?
If you’ve been injured in a taxi accident, you will typically have three years from the day of the incident to start a compensation claim. This limitation period is set under the Limitation Act 1980. However, exceptions may apply, so it’s always worth confirming with a solicitor from our panel to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.
Crucially, for children injured in taxi accidents, the three-year time limit does not begin until their 18th birthday. Until then, a responsible adult can apply to act as a litigation friend and pursue a claim on their behalf. If no claim is made before then, the injured child will have three years from their 18th birthday to take legal action themselves.
Similarly, if the injured person lacks the mental capacity to make legal decisions due to a disability or brain injury, the three-year time limit may be suspended indefinitely. A litigation friend can also be appointed to claim on their behalf.
Starting the claims process as early as possible is advisable, as gathering strong evidence is often easier while details of the taxi accident are still fresh and supporting proof is more readily available.
How Much Compensation for a Taxi Accident Can I Claim?
If you are injured in a taxi crash, you could be awarded compensation for any suffering you endured. This is called general damages and is based on the severity of your injuries. Additionally, if you’ve been left out of pocket because of the accident, special damages could be claimed to recoup your losses.
As such, if you make a successful taxi accident claim, you may receive compensation to cover:
- Physical pain, discomfort and suffering.
- Psychological damage caused by anxiety, distress and similar forms of mental harm.
- Any negative effect your injuries have on your normal activities (loss of amenity).
- Damage to your personal property.
- Medical expenses including private hospital treatment.
- The cost of a professional carer or supportive friend or family member.
- Travel costs including alternative transport arrangements.
- Quality of life improvements to your home if you’ve suffered a permanent disability.
When you claim compensation for a taxi crash, you must try to factor in all aspects of your suffering. That’s vital because if you forget something, you won’t be able to request further compensation once the claim is settled.
Can I Claim for Loss of Earnings Due to a Taxi crash?
If you’ve been injured in a taxi crash, you could claim compensation for any income lost while recovering. This may include your regular wages, overtime, bonuses, and commission, provided there is clear financial evidence to support your claim.
Where multiple injuries or a serious injury affects your ability to work in the long term, you may also be entitled to claim for future loss of earnings. If your injuries impact your career progression or ability to return to work entirely, compensation could reflect this financial hardship.
Will I Need a Solicitor to Claim Taxi Accident Compensation?
While it is possible to make a taxi accident claim alone, you might find you’ll face strong objections from the defendant’s insurance provider. As such, we believe that claimants have a better chance of winning a fair settlement if they’re represented by a solicitor who specialises in road traffic accidents.
However, we understand that paying legal fees to be represented by a solicitor can put you off from claiming compensation for a taxi accident. So, to reduce your financial risk and to try and improve your chances of being compensated, our solicitors work on a No Win, No Fee basis for any taxi accident claim they handle.
If you make a claim with us, your solicitor won’t ask you to pay any legal fees upfront. You also won’t need to pay for their work if the claim is lost. Should there be a positive outcome to your claim though, your solicitor will deduct a success fee of up to 25% (legally capped) of your settlement to cover the cost of their work.
Your success fee will be listed in your No Win, No Fee agreement so it will be clear from the start.
Taxi Accident Claims Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Claim If the Taxi Driver Was Not at Fault?
Yes, even if the taxi driver wasn’t responsible for the accident you may be entitled to compensation. For instance, if another driver caused the crash, your claim would usually be made against their insurance provider. If the accident was due to poor road conditions, such as potholes or faulty traffic lights, a claim might be directed at the local authority. In any case, you’ll need evidence to prove who was responsible.
What Happens if I Wasn’t Wearing My Seatbelt?
By law, passengers in taxis and other vehicles must wear a seatbelt unless they fall under specific exemptions. If you weren’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation. However, your payout could be reduced under contributory negligence rules if it’s determined that wearing a seatbelt would have lessened your injuries. A solicitor from our panel can assess your case and argue for fair compensation based on the specific circumstances of your taxi accident.
Who Pays My Compensation in a Taxi Accident?
Who pays your compensation depends on who was responsible for the accident. If the taxi driver was at fault, their insurer would usually cover your claim. If another road user caused the accident, their insurer would be responsible. In hit-and-run cases or accidents involving uninsured drivers, compensation may be sought through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
Start a Taxi Accident Compensation Claim Today
Our team are ready to answer any questions you might have about taxi accident claims so call today on 0800 652 1345 to get started. During your no-obligation review, you’ll receive straightforward advice about what to do next after your case has been reviewed.
We’ll reiterate that your solicitor will handle all aspects of the claim on a No Win, No Fee basis so you won’t have to pay any legal fees unless compensation is awarded.
Our live chat service is available if you’ve any more questions about taxi accident claims process so please feel free to get in touch.
