Car accidents can be some of the most traumatizing incidents anyone can encounter. If you are a long-time Florida resident and have been driving for a while, there is a high chance that you might have been involved in a car accident at some point in your life. The aftermath of a car accident can be messy and stressful due to all the complex legal aspects of the case piling onto the trauma and mountains of medical bills.
But what if you have been involved in an accident where you were riding as a passenger in a taxi? You might wonder what to do when seeking financial compensation for damages in such a situation. You can work with Boca Raton car accident lawyers to deal with your insurance company for a reasonable payout if you were driving the car involved in an accident.
You might have a ton of questions about how to go about filing a claim when you are technically not the motorist in the situation. This post is going to be your guide to understanding how to handle an auto accident case when you are a passenger in a taxi so you can be fully compensated for any of the damages you might incur in such a situation.
Taxis In Florida Do Not Fall Under The Sunshine State’s No-Fault Rule
According to the no-fault rule in Florida, all motorists in the Sunshine State share the blame for auto accidents. Drivers must carry no-fault insurance that covers $10,000 in personal injury protection and property damage liability each. If you have been involved in a car accident with normal cars in Florida, you might already know about the complexities of the no-fault rule and how it is dealt with.
However, the no-fault law does not apply to car accidents in Florida involving taxis. Taxi drivers are held to a higher standard of ensuring safety because they take on the responsibility of carrying passengers in their vehicles that they are operating as a part of a transportation business.
You might be wondering where that leaves you as the passenger if taxi drivers do not fall under the same no-fault rules as other motorists driving in Florida. Suppose that you were driving your own vehicle and were hit by a taxi. In that case, you can use your no-fault insurance to your benefit to receive assistance with the medical expenses related to your injuries.
Let’s take a look at the legal avenues you can explore if you are involved in a car accident with a taxi in Florida.
How To Seek Compensation In Florida If You Were A Passenger In The Taxi Involved In A Car Accident
Taxis are businesses that provide a transportation service. Such businesses are legally required to carry personal injury protection and coverage for bodily injury to run the business. It means that if you were a passenger in a taxi involved in a car accident and suffered injuries, you can file a claim to seek compensation – whether it was the taxi driver’s fault or the other motorist’s.
You can file a third-party claim against the drivers involved to seek financial compensation with the help of a Boca Raton car accident lawyer. The Sunshine State’s no-fault rule was set in place to limit the number of auto accident lawsuits filed there, barring exceptions. Being a passenger in a taxi involved in an auto accident is one of those exceptional situations.
How To Seek Compensation In Florida If You Were Struck By A Taxi When Driving Your Own Vehicle
If you are driving your own car and a taxi crashes into your vehicle, the situation is more akin to a regular car accident for you. You will need to prove the other driver’s negligence in causing the crash, and you may have to seek damages by filing a claim with your insurance company. Depending on the severity of the crash, you can file a claim to prove the taxi driver’s negligence and receive more compensation.
Filing A Claim Against Taxi Companies
If you were in a car accident involving a taxi, you can file a claim against the taxi company. However, filing a lawsuit against a business comes with a set of challenges that may warrant working with a qualified legal expert in your corner. You can still choose to sue the taxi company without a lawyer, but your chances of winning a claim might not be strong enough if you do not know your way around the legal world.
The process to file a claim against the taxi company is not simple. You need to consider several factors, including the among your PIP coverage can reward you and whether the insurance policy covers all the damages that you have incurred. If the expenses related to your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage outweigh what you can receive through your own insurance, you might have to file a third-party claim against the taxi company to seek financial compensation for the remaining amount.
If you work with trusted Boca Raton car accident lawyers, you can expect them to advise filing a personal injury lawsuit against the taxi company. Working with a lawyer to file a claim against the taxi company can make your life easier because the attorney will handle serving the papers to the concerned negligent party. They can handle the aspect of communicating between the taxi business’s insurance company and legal representation to figure out possible settlement offers that can adequately compensate you for the damages that you have incurred.
There might be a chance that the taxi company does not feel inclined to settle. In that case, your case may end up being contested in court, and the jury will determine how much you might receive in compensation.
Proving the taxi company’s negligence in court is a significant challenge, and your attorney will have to work hard to secure a favorable outcome for you. We advise contacting a lawyer for assistance in car accident cases involving taxi companies. Their team of auto accident attorneys is adept at dealing with complex personal injury cases. It can provide you with a greater chance of securing a favorable outcome for your personal injury case.
