‘Travel like you know them’: Road safety made personal
Earlier this summer, the UK government relaunched its THINK! road safety campaign, reminding people to ‘Travel like you know them’ to highlight the human cost of road traffic accidents. The...
When you grab a taxi or order an Uber, you expect to get to your destination safely. And although most taxi and mini-cab drivers are very experienced, there is always the risk that you will be involved in a crash.
If you are a passenger in a taxi that’s been involved in an accident and you have been seriously injured, our expert team of specialist personal injury solicitors may be able to help you make a taxi passenger accident claim.
Louise Gardner, a specialist road traffic accident solicitor from our Swindon team, explains more.
Taxi passenger safety concerns
UK Government statistics show an increase in the number of taxi and private hire vehicles over the last decade with the average passenger taking 10 taxi trips per year, mainly for leisure purposes or commuting.
At the same time, it’s never been easier to order a cab using popular taxi apps like Uber, Bolt and Ola on your smartphone.
However, over the years there have been some concerns about taxi passenger safety. Taxis and mini cabs tend to be constantly in use, driven at all times of the day and night, and in all weather conditions.
According to the latest data from Transport for London, there were 2 people killed, 150 people seriously injured and 850 sustained minor injuries in crashes involving taxis in London in 2022, an increase of 4% on 2021.
If you or a family member is unfortunate enough to be injured in a taxi or Uber accident, it’s vital to speak to a specialist solicitor who can talk you through the taxi accident claims process and how to make a No Win, No Fee claim.
Who is responsible in a taxi accident?
Taxi drivers have a duty of care to their passengers. They must drive carefully, safely, and responsibly to ensure their passengers’ safety.
If they fail to drive safely and they are involved in an accident that was their fault, they could be liable for any claims made by passengers or anyone else involved in the crash.
All taxi and private hire vehicle drivers must have a license from their local council, a full driving license, and must pass character and criminal record checks. In some cases, they also need to have additional checks such as medical examinations or additional driving tests.
Like other drivers, taxi and private hire vehicle drivers must be insured, so that if they have an accident, those involved can claim compensation.
If the taxi driver caused the accident or injuries, you might be able to make a compensation claim against the taxi driver. This is the case whether you were a passenger in the taxi or private hire vehicle, or if you are another road user such as a cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian and have been hit by a taxi.
You are also able to claim compensation if another driver caused an accident involving a taxi, for example by crashing into it, or if you are a taxi driver and have been injured in an accident that was not your fault.
By claiming compensation after an accident you can access the financial support and care you need to cover lost earnings, medical and rehabilitation treatment, damage to your belongings or vehicle and any adjustments or adaptations you need to your home or vehicle if you have disabilities after the accident.
How much compensation for a taxi passenger accident claim?
The amount of compensation you can expect to receive following a road traffic accident involving a taxi or Uber will depend on the seriousness of your injuries and any financial losses or costs you have due to the accident.
Your solicitor will calculate how much money you could be owed based on:
- Loss of earnings (including future earnings)
- Medical and travel expenses
- Your pain and suffering
- Mobility aids
- Adaptations to your home and vehicle
- Care and support needs
- Rehabilitation costs
Claiming compensation after a taxi accident
If you have been injured in a taxi accident in the last 3 years and the accident was somebody else’s fault, then you may be able to make a no win no fee taxi passenger accident compensation claim.
Louise Gardner says:
“Getting a taxi is a convenient way to get around, especially when driving yourself is not an option.
“However, if you are injured in a taxi or Uber accident it’s important to know what to do. Whether a third party or the cab driver caused the accident, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer who specialises in road accidents as soon as possible. They will help you establish what happened and the level of compensation you deserve so that you can get back on the road to recovery.”
“Just don’t leave it too late, as you typically have just 3 years to make a claim following an accident.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in a taxi accident that was not entirely your fault, you might be able to claim compensation. Novum Law’s expert team of personal injury solicitors can help you on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis to ensure you get the justice you deserve.
To find out more, call our Freephone on 0800 884 0777, email info@novumlaw.com or complete our online enquiry form for a free, no obligations chat.
