What is the average taxi cab accident settlement? There isn’t a national or state average for taxi cab accident settlements, with each case varying depending on a number of factors and often involving private settlements. Depending on the degree of liability, the extent of injuries and damages, and other elements, claimants and plaintiffs in these cases may recover anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars in compensation.
If you would like to determine whether you’re eligible for compensation in a taxi cab accident claim or lawsuit, call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at 702-388-2005 to schedule a free consultation with a Las Vegas taxi cab accident lawyer.
Who Is Liable for a Taxi Cab Accident in Las Vegas?
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, 43,683 vehicle crashes occurred in 2021, a number of which involved taxi cabs. 41.6% of those accidents resulted in injuries. When taxi trips send passengers to the hospital, victims need compensation from liable parties if negligence was the cause of the accident.
Like other auto accident cases, various parties may be liable for taxi cab accidents. The following are the responsible parties involved in these cases:
Taxi Companies
In many instances, taxi companies are responsible for taxi cab accidents. These entities have responsibilities when it comes to insurance and other factors that could make them liable for negligence if an accident with one of their cabs happens.
For example, a taxi company must properly maintain its fleets with routine maintenance and required repairs or replacements. They must also carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage under Nevada law to cover bodily injuries and property damage in the event of an accident.
Taxi companies may also be liable for negligent hiring if they failed to hire a taxi driver who qualifies for the job and subsequently causes an accident.
Other Drivers
If a taxi company or driver isn’t liable, others involved in the accident could be responsible. Drivers could be liable if they engage in negligent driving behaviors that cause an accident.
For instance, drivers may speed, engage in distracted driving, drive under the influence of alcohol, display road rage, or otherwise drive recklessly to the point of endangering others and causing a collision.
Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers
If a faulty part or vehicle causes an accident, whether through faulty design or manufacture, the manufacturers behind them might be liable for an auto accident settlement. The key is to identify faulty parts and connect them to manufacturers, which often results in recalls.
Mechanics
Even if vehicle owners and taxi companies ensure their vehicles undergo regular maintenance checks, mechanics may fail to identify or address issues that could contribute to accidents. Mechanics must reasonably determine if a vehicle has damaged or faulty components and make the necessary repairs or replacements to avoid liability.
Governments and Municipalities
Local, state, and federal governments must properly maintain their roadways. Over time, potholes and other hazards can appear that put people at risk. If an agency fails to properly address these issues when made aware of them, or if it should have been aware of hazards, it could be responsible for covering damages in an accident settlement.
What Factors Impact Average Taxi Cab Accident Settlements?
Different elements will contribute to taxi cab accident settlements, depending on the nature of the case. Some main factors include:
The Extent of Injuries
The severity of your injuries could significantly influence your total settlement amount. Generally, the more serious and debilitating your injuries are, the more compensation you’re able to recover. Serious injuries could require long-term or even a lifetime of treatment, and if an injury leads to a disability, victims may be unable to return to work or gain employment in the same capacity as before the accident.
The Degree of Liability
Another factor that will affect your settlement is the degree of liability seen with every party involved. Nevada works on a modified comparative negligence model, meaning that plaintiffs in car accident lawsuits can recover compensation as long as they aren’t more liable than the defendant.
Different parties could share a percentage of the liability, including drivers, taxi cab companies, and vehicle manufacturers.
Insurance Coverage
When filing an insurance claim against a liable party’s insurer, the amount of compensation you’re able to recover could fall within the limits of the coverage.
Other Damages
In addition to the financial damages pertaining to injuries resulting from an accident, other damages might increase your settlement. For instance, you might sustain extensive property damage or pain and suffering in addition to core financial expenses.
Evidence
You need plenty of evidence to support your case, proving liability and the nature of your injuries. There are many pieces of evidence that can factor into your case, such as medical records, proof of lost income, receipts for property damage, police accident reports, and more.
To account for all the factors involved in your case and increase your chances of succeeding, it’s often best to work with a taxi cab accident attorney in Las Vegas. An attorney will be able to determine how much you’re able to recover and represent you in a claim or lawsuit against liable parties.
Types of Damages Included in Taxi Cab Accident Settlements
A passenger in a car accident settlement could recover different types of damages. In taxi cab accident cases, primary damages include economic and non-economic damages, but a settlement may also involve wrongful death or punitive damages.
Economic Damages
The principal type of damage that taxi accident victims may recover is economic, i.e., monetary. These damages apply to the financial losses endured because of a taxi cab accident, including:
- Medical bills and receipts
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Disability costs
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Repairs or replacements for damaged property
These damages are generally easy to identify with ample documentation, with dollar amounts that will directly contribute to a settlement.
Non-Economic Damages
Additionally, individuals may be able to recover non-economic or non-monetary damages, which factor into the average pain and suffering settlement in third-party lawsuits.
These damages can account for physical pain and suffering, psychological distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium, among other personal losses that supplement financial damages.
While these damages are more difficult to calculate in many cases, an attorney can help you quantify them and incorporate them into a settlement.
Wrongful Death Damages
In the event of a fatal accident, a fatal accident investigation procedure will take place, at which point the decedent’s loved ones may be able to calculate wrongful death damages. These damages will take into account the aforementioned economic and non-economic damages incurred before the person’s death, along with death-related losses.
Wrongful death damages may include the costs of holding a burial and funeral, as well as the economic and personal losses stemming from the person’s death.
Punitive Damages
In rare instances, taxi cab accident cases could involve punitive damages on top of compensatory damages. The goal of these damages is to punish defendants for egregious behavior, including gross negligence or malicious intent. Only the courts can award these damages in a trial setting.
An example of a case resulting in punitive damages could involve a taxi cab driver who engages in reckless driving behaviors while blatantly ignoring the well-being of other drivers or pedestrians, such as speeding while driving under the influence and continuing to drive recklessly even after several collisions.
Why You Should Hire a Taxi Cab Accident Lawyer After Your Accident
If you sustain injuries and other damages in a taxi cab accident, it’s important to know how to protect your rights. To maximize your chances of success and recovering total compensation, it’s in your best interest to work with a taxi cab accident lawyer.
An experienced attorney can meet with you in a free initial consultation to discuss a case. If he or she decides to represent you, you may then begin working with the attorney to build a case, whether it’s in the form of a third-party insurance claim or a lawsuit. Your attorney could then begin working to prove fault and collect all relevant evidence to support your case. If the case goes to trial, he or she may also be able to represent you in court.
Generally, having a lawyer by your side could mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful case. The key is finding the right representation with plenty of experience handling taxi cab accident cases.To find out what options are available to you in a potential claim or suit, George Bochanis Injury Law Offices may be able to represent you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Las Vegas taxi cab accident lawyers.
