Taxi Accident Attorney in Queens
New York City is the center of the universe. In the Borough of Manhattan
(but less so in Queens and Bronx) it is becoming increasingly difficult
to own and operate a private car. Street parking during daytime is nonexistent,
there are bus lanes and fire lanes, and parts of roadways closed off for
pedestrian walking and sitting areas.
If you don’t take public transportation – like a bus or subway
– taxis can be the best way to get around New York City. Every year
some 240 million people use a taxi; and each year the average New Yorker
rides a taxi 100 times. Even if you don’t ride taxis, you probably
share the roads with them – whether you bicycle, drive a car, truck,
motorcycle or bus, or walk, as your main means of transportation.
Looking at the Potential Danger
Every year many New Yorkers and New York tourists are hurt while passengers in taxi cabs, or when in another vehicle involved in a collision with a taxi cab. About 13,000 taxi accidents occur each year. There are two basic types of taxi cabs in New York City. Yellow or medallion taxi cabs and livery cars. Livery cars are also known as “black cars” (they were once all black). Livery cars and limousines are always only supposed to be dispatched by a car service in response to a passenger request. In other words, in New York City only yellow (medallion) taxis can make street pick-ups without being sent for in advance. Of course, every New Yorker knows that livery cabs do make illegal street pickups. In case you were wondering, in New York, livery cars outnumber yellow taxis by more than 3 to 1.
Studies show that New York City cab drivers are less likely to have accidents then drivers of other types of motor vehicles. People who study these types of accidents and injuries believe that taxi drivers’ good safety records are due to the drivers’ length of time (experience) driving and because unsafe taxi drivers, with too many accidents or traffic tickets – may have their driving privileges taken away or lose the ability to get insurance coverage.
Understanding Common Injuries
Because taxicabs have a solid plexiglass partition separating passengers
from driver and, also, because most taxi cab and livery passengers don’t
wear their seatbelts, passengers hurt in a taxi cab tend to be hurt or
injured worse than passengers in other vehicles. The partitions are particularly
known for contributing to serious personal injury to passengers –
including broken bones in the face, eye injuries, fractured teeth, and
cuts and bruises to the face.
In the Boroughs of New York City, including the Bronx and Queens, there
are about 30 cab accidents daily. Licensed taxi cabs and livery cars are
required by law to minimum insurance coverage of $100,000/$300,000. This
means that any single person injured due to a taxi or livery driver's
negligence can recover up to $100,000. The maximum that the insurance
company would pay negligently injured people would be $300,000. And while
$300,000 sounds like a lot of money, it may not go very far if more than
one person is seriously hurt in an accident. In certain cases there may
be ways to recover more money, even from the owner of a taxi medallion;
an issue best explored by an experienced tax or livery car personal injury
or negligence lawyer.
Unlicensed "gypsy" cars that sometimes don't even have taxi or
livery license plates are common in some parts of New York City. They
may have no insurance at all or only minimum New York State insurance
coverage limits of $25,000/$50,000. Hardly enough to protect consumers
from a driver's negligence in the event of a serious car crash.
Over 35 Years of Legal Experience in Queens County
As a taxi cab or livery passenger, if you are hurt in a taxicab accident,
you are entitled to receive New York State No-Fault insurance benefits
to pay for your medical bills and treatment. No-Fault insurance is different
from monetary recovery for your pain and suffering.
The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission has enacted a Bill of
Rights for passengers of taxi (medallion) cabs
and a different Bill of Rights for riders in livery cars. I represent New
York taxi cab accident victims and those hurt in
car accidents,
motorcycle accidents, pedestrian and
bicycle accidents and other accidents involving
taxi cabs. For the legal representation you deserve,
contact a Queens injury attorney at my office for your free consultation. We serve clients in New York
City, including the Boroughs of Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Bronx.
Contact us today.
What Sets Us Apart?
-
Free Books to Help You Understand Your Rights
-
Free Initial Case Evaluations
-
Top-Rated & Highly Reputable Attorney
-
Countless Cases Successfully Handled
-
35+ Years of Legal Experience
