Boston is a bustling city, rich with culture and diversity. Known for its arts, universities, and world-famous marathon, our city draws people from all over the globe. Taxi cabs are a convenient way for locals and visitors to get around this lively metropolis. Yet, all it takes is one negligent taxi driver to cause a car accident that injures tourists and residents alike.
If you have been injured due to a taxi driver’s negligence, contact our Boston personal injury lawyer to get a free consultation.
Make use of our free case review to get reliable legal advice. If you’ve been in a taxi crash, you Better Phone Stone®. Contact us to talk to a Boston taxi accident lawyer today. There’s No Obligation, Just Information®.
Common Causes of Boston Taxi Accidents
Taxi drivers make their living from getting customers from A to B, and the more customers they have, the more money they make. However, some taxi drivers make careless choices or take risky short-cuts just to make a quick buck. The negligence of a taxi driver can contribute to unnecessary pain and suffering for passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.
Some of the common causes of taxi cab accidents in the Boston area include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Speeding
- Driving aggressively
- Running a red light
- Unsafe or illegal lane changes
- Failing to stop or give way
- Rear-ending
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Hazardous road conditions
The City of Boston sees an average of over 200 serious injuries and over 20 fatalities every year from car accidents, which has prompted the Boston Transportation Department to set up the Vision Zero initiative with the goal of eliminating fatal and serious traffic crashes by 2030.
According to the Vision Zero dashboard for 2021, around 3,000 traffic incidents on the streets of Boston result in a response from emergency services annually in recent years. If you have been among this number, what can you do to recover and ensure your peace of mind?
Come talk to Jason Stone Injury Lawyers in a free consultation. Our local office is located right near TD Garden and North Station, so you can be sure our local personal injury lawyers are familiar with the neighborhood, know the traffic laws, and have the right connections to get things done. You can rely on us to work for your best interests and deliver on our promises.
What is the Modified Comparative Negligence Rule?
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts follows the modified comparative negligence law for cases involving negligence. This means that if you have an accident involving a taxi cab, you can only recover damages if you are less than 50 percent at fault for the accident.
The amount of compensation is reduced according to the percentage of fault the injured party shares. If you are found to be 51 percent at fault, you will not be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
If you have been in a taxi accident, it is crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible. A qualified taxi accident attorney can review the facts of your incident to determine who is considered more at fault in causing the accident. Our team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers thoroughly examines all available evidence such as photos, police reports, witness statements, and video footage to help establish where the fault lies.
Boston Taxi Liability
In the City of Boston, taxi owners must obtain a permit, sometimes called a medallion, to legally operate within the city boundaries. Massachusetts law requires taxi cab drivers to carry liability insurance to protect both the drivers and passengers in the case of an accident.
Some taxi drivers, though, only have coverage for the minimum insurance required of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. Others have opted to only post a $10,000 bond. This simply won’t be enough to cover your medical expenses if you have major injuries from your taxi accident.
Proving Negligence
Proving negligence on the part of the taxi driver and cab company can be complicated. Taxi companies may try to classify the status of cab drivers as independent contractors so as to avoid liability. It’s therefore vital to have a Boston taxi accident lawyer on your side to prove negligence and verify what insurance is available to be claimed.
Four basic elements must be established when proving a taxi driver’s negligence:
- A duty of care existed
- The party responsible breached that duty of care
- The breach caused your injuries
- You suffered damages as a result of your injuries
Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has a team of licensed professionals with over 20 years of experience. We can back you up, especially since we are fully aware of the methods a taxi company might use to evade accountability. We always do our utmost to make sure the at-fault party is held accountable for our client’s injuries.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Massachusetts follows a no-fault auto insurance system. This means that everybody in Massachusetts is required to get personal injury protection (PIP) when registering a car.
If your vehicle was involved in a crash with a taxi cab, your auto insurance policy will cover your initial medical costs and out-of-pocket losses regardless of who caused the accident. They will cover up to the limits of your policy which is usually $8,000.
What if the Insurance company makes an offer?
If you were injured in a taxi accident, it is highly recommended that you consult a Boston taxi accident attorney before accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company. Generally, insurance companies will offer you a relatively low settlement right away.
Why? Because they evaluate your situation based on data and statistics and hope you will make a rash decision. Accepting an initial offer from an insurance company could mean that you will possibly lose out on thousands of dollars of compensation.
We here at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers consider the human factor when calculating the amount of fair compensation for your injuries. We won’t undervalue your pain and suffering, but we will work to get the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
When do you need to go to court?
Taxi crash victims may be able to seek additional compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. We understand that you may hesitate to hire a lawyer or go to court, but the reality is you may have to – if you want to recover your losses. However, many cases end up settling out of court with a satisfying offer.
Our attorneys at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers have successfully secured millions of dollars for our personal injury clients. Let our legal team work for you and we will make sure the insurance companies make you an offer that is fair and reasonable.
Types of Injuries That Result From Taxi Accidents
The physical and emotional suffering caused by your injuries can have a severe impact on your day-to-day life. Victims of taxi cab accidents may suffer devastating injuries or permanent impairments for the rest of their lives.
Types of injuries may include:
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Significant limb injuries
- Internal injuries
The team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers understands the extensive costs associated with car accidents. A qualified personal injury attorney can assess your case details and give you an idea of the financial recovery we can get for your losses.
What Types of Financial Recovery Are Available For Taxi Accidents
Mounting medical bills and costly treatments can place a significant financial burden on you and your family. Yet, many taxi accident victims don’t realize that they have the legal right to pursue fair compensation for their suffering. There are 2 types of compensation we may pursue for your injuries: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are out-of-pocket or monetary expenses that result from your injuries. These can be assigned a dollar value according to evidence such as receipts, invoices, wages, or financial records.
Examples of recoverable economic damages can include:
- Medical expenses, past, current, and future
- Lost wages and earnings
- Loss of future earnings
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation costs
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are subjective and non-tangible, so they can’t be easily assigned a monetary value. Examples of non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of love and consortium
Our Boston taxi accident attorneys know your personal injury rights and we can give you a realistic evaluation of what you’re entitled to. When we take on a case, we work hard on your behalf so that you can have peace of mind.
Is There a Time Limit for Boston Taxi Accident Cases?
Yes, there is. Massachusetts law limits your time to file a personal injury lawsuit for taxi accidents. If you miss the deadline (which is known as the statute of limitations) and fail to file the necessary documents on time, your case will most likely be rejected.
We don’t want you to be barred from recovering compensation for your injuries indefinitely. If you or a loved one has been injured in a taxi accident, please seek legal counsel right away.
Contact one of our Boston taxi accident lawyers as soon as possible. An experienced personal injury lawyer can make sure your claim is filed before the statute of limitations expires, giving you the best chance of success.
How a Boston Taxi Accident Lawyer Can Help
Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has been helping Bay Staters since 2004. We take care of our own and, when we take on your case, we will protect you from those who try to take advantage of your circumstances. Our team is familiar with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and federal laws, so we can confidently guide you through the complex legal procedures specific to your case.
Tasks that our professional Boston team can help you with include:
- Managing correspondence and negotiations with insurance companies
- Gathering necessary evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and affidavits
- Thoroughly investigating your case details to determine who is at fault
- Seeking specialist and expert advice to support your claim
- Filing required paperwork and documentation within the required time constraints
- Pursuing the maximum compensation from responsible parties
- Regularly keeping our clients up to date with the progress of the case
Jason Stone Injury Lawyers is the only firm to offer the Stone Cold Guarantee®, a set of 10 promises that we make to every client who comes through the door. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a taxi accident, let us do the hard yards for you, so that you can focus on your recovery and move on with your life.
Call us at 800-577-5188 or contact us online to arrange your free consultation by phone or video conference, as you prefer.
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