Whether you need a ride home from the airport, or you are traveling around Las Vegas or Henderson for the first time, you are bound to grab a taxi. Or, you may splurge and rent yourself a limo. Several cab and limo companies operate in Las Vegas and Henderson. You can hail a cab almost anywhere—though not directly on The Strip. Taxis are convenient, but they are just like any other car and driver. You risk getting into an accident if your taxi driver or another motorist is negligent.
Whether you were a passenger who was injured in a taxi or a taxi driver hit your car, we are here to help. When the taxi is responsible for the crash, it may be difficult to obtain full and fair compensation. Many taxi drivers and companies are skilled in limiting their liability for accidents. But with our knowledge and experience, you have the greatest chance of bringing a successful claim.
To talk with our Las Vegas taxi accident lawyers about your injuries and claim for compensation, contact Oronoz & Ericsson, LLC at (702) 878-2889 or through our online form?. We offer free consultations.
If you are involved in a crash with a taxi or limo, or while riding in one of these vehicles, we recommend you:
Nevada and local law regulate taxis and limos as “common carriers.” Every taxicab or limo company and driver must adhere to numerous regulations and a high standard of care. You can find many of these laws in:
Our Las Vegas taxi accident lawyers at Oronoz & Ericsson Injury Lawyers are well-versed in taxi and limo law. When you are injured in a crash with a taxi or limo, whether you were the driver, a passenger, or in another vehicle, we will thoroughly investigate.
We will look into whether the taxi or limo driver had the proper credentials. Taxi drivers do not need a commercial driver’s license. They only need a current and valid driver’s license and a taxicab permit, which required completing a Driver’s Awareness Program.
Taxis must be kept in good repair and pass inspections. We will investigate whether the driver and company properly maintained the taxi involved in the crash.
Nevada law requires taxicab companies and drivers to use the utmost care in protecting passengers. This is a higher standard of care than what private motorists have to maintain. Private drivers only have to maintain a duty of ordinary care. They must act as reasonably prudent people in avoiding collisions. Taxi drivers must exert a greater amount of diligent to avoid crashing or causing anyone harm.
By holding taxi drivers to a higher standard, the law can hold them responsible when even the slightest amount of negligence leads to an accident and injuries.
One of the most common issues we see in taxi accidents is the taxi passenger failed to wear a seatbelt. Nevada law requires everyone in a cab to wear a seatbelt. Many taxi’s have a sign that says passengers should wear seatbelts.
If you were a taxi passenger who was seriously injured in a crash, and you were not wearing your seatbelt, the other party will claim you were negligent.
The insurance company or court will have to determine if you were careless for not wearing your seatbelt. If so, it will assign you and the negligent driver portions of responsibility, adding up to 100%. If you are 49% or less responsible, you will obtain some compensation. If you are 50% or more liable, you cannot receive compensation.
Taxis are considered common carriers in Nevada, which means they are subject to liability insurance requirements.
Every taxi driver must carry at least:
The purpose of requiring taxis to purchase a greater amount of liability insurance than private drivers is to ensure taxi companies cannot under-fund their businesses or declare bankruptcy to avoid liability.
If you are injured in an accident caused by a taxi driver, this insurance should kick in. Whether you were a passenger in the taxi, in another vehicle, or a pedestrian, we will help you file a claim against the taxi’s auto insurance policy.
However, if another driver caused the crash, not the cab driver, then you would need to pursue compensation from that negligent motorist.
Taxis are not required to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which could be a problem. If the at-fault driver did not have insurance, or they had less insurance than the value of your claim, you may have a difficult time obtaining full compensation for your injuries.
Limousines, as common carriers, also are highly regulated by state and local law. Drivers must obtain a CDL. Limos must pass annual inspections, and limo companies must maintain thorough maintenance logs. When you are injured in a limo accident, we will take a deep dive into the limo driver and company’s maintenance, complaint, and accident histories.
Limo drivers also must maintain a higher standard of care, similar to taxi drivers. A limo driver must be extremely careful and diligent in avoiding a crash. If you were injured in an accident and the limo driver was at fault, we can use evidence of even slight negligence to demand you receive compensation.
We may be able to prove the limo driver was speeding, ran a right light or stop sign, failed to yield the right of way, failed to check their blind spots, or drove carelessly in some other way.
We also may be able to hold the limo company liable if we find it hired and retained an unqualified or dangerous driver. Or, we may discover the limo company failed to maintain their vehicles properly.
When you are injured while riding in a taxi, it is best to talk with a Las Vegas taxi accident lawyer as soon as you can.
To begin with, we will identify the parties involved in your case and begin an independent and in-depth investigation. We will look into the taxi or limo driver’s qualifications and training. We will identify whether that driver has been involved in crashes in the past. We may find that the taxi driver should not have been behind the wheel at all.
We will investigate the taxi or limo company’s history. Do they have a history of their vehicle’s failing inspections? Do they fail to maintain their vehicles properly? A poorly maintained taxi could be the reason for the crash.
We also will determine if the taxi or limo has an electronic data record, commonly referred to as a black box. If the vehicle did record data, we will file a lawsuit and demand a copy of this data during discovery.
We will gather and analyze all evidence available to identify the liable party and build you a strong claim for compensation.
We understand you are dealing with your injuries, and the medical bills are enough to worry about. We will communicate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf. We will provide the insurer with all of the documentation and medical records necessary for the insurer to approve your claim. The next step is to begin settlement negotiations.
When you are injured in a taxi or limo accident, we will vigorously pursue compensation from the at-fault driver, whether that’s the taxi or limo driver or a private motorist. Our hope is usually to win a fair settlement that encompasses your:
We cannot offer insight into the potential value of your limo or taxi accident claim without talking to you in person and learning more about your injuries. Too many factors can influence your financial recovery.
After being injured in a crash with a taxi or limo in Las Vegas, we recommend calling us at Oronoz & Ericsson, LLC. We are highly experienced in handling car accident claims involving common carriers, like taxis and limos. We know taxi and limo laws as well as common tactics insurers use to avoid liability. We will use this knowledge and experience to fight for you to receive the maximum compensation possible for your claim. To talk with us about your taxi accident in Las Vegas or Henderson, call (702) 878-2889 and schedule a free consultation.