Taxis are a convenient and reliable way to travel from the airport to your hotel, or if you need to get around while your vehicle is being serviced, but they aren’t always safe. Taxi drivers who make routine trips can become too brave on the freeway, or they may rely heavily on GPS in unfamiliar areas.
If you rely on taxis to take you to and from LAX and your home in Glendale, for example, you’ve probably had one or two close calls along the way. But when something does go wrong and you are injured in a taxi accident, you likely have a lot of questions on your mind.
Will you recover fully? What about your job? How are you going to pay your medical bills and stay afloat? You deserve compensation for your injuries and losses, but insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with. How can you know if you’re getting a fair offer?
This is when securing the help of an experienced taxi accident lawyer can make a big difference, not just now but for years to come. Here we’ll take a look at some of the ways a lawyer can handle the insurance companies to safeguard your rights and maximize your recovery.
Why Insurance Companies Are So Aggressive After Taxi Accidents
Taxi accident claims are rarely straightforward. Unlike private passenger vehicles, taxis are considered commercial carriers, and the laws that govern them are often more complicated. This complexity creates loopholes and opportunities for insurance providers to dodge full responsibility.
Multiple parties could be on the hook
One reason taxi accident cases are tricky is because multiple parties may be liable, including:
- The taxi driver
- The taxi company
- The vehicle owner (if different from the driver or company)
- A third-party driver
- The manufacturer (if a defect caused the crash)
Each of these parties may be insured by a different company. And when more than one insurer is involved, they may all try to shift blame away from their policyholder and reduce what they owe you.
Commercial insurers are better funded—and more combative
Taxi companies are required to carry higher policy limits than non-commercial drivers. In California, for example, taxicabs must be insured for a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage. Higher limits mean bigger payouts are possible when your injuries are serious.
However, insurance carriers don’t give up large settlements easily. Their claims departments are trained to reduce their liability, and they use some aggressive tactics to achieve that.
How Insurance Companies Try to Undervalue Taxi Accident Claims
Even when the facts are clear, insurers may still attempt to reduce the value of your claim. Their tactics can be subtle or blatantly unfair.
Offering you a quick, cheap settlement
It’s not unusual for insurance companies representing the at-fault parties to contact you within hours of the accident. They may offer a quick settlement—sometimes even before you’ve had a chance to see a doctor or understand the full extent of your injuries.
At a time when you’re in pain, overwhelmed, and possibly unable to work, the idea of fast cash can seem like a lifeline. But what they’re really trying to do is settle the case before you hire a lawyer and learn what your claim is actually worth. Their goal is to minimize their payout, not to compensate you fairly.
Blaming you for the accident
Insurance adjusters often try to shift partial blame to you, even if you were the passenger in the taxi or a pedestrian on the street. If they can show that you were partially at fault for the accident, they may be able to lower their own liability by sharing it with you.
They may argue that:
- You weren't wearing a seatbelt
- You were distracted (such as texting)
- You gave inconsistent statements at the accident scene
Without legal representation, you may not even realize how these accusations are affecting your settlement offer.
Downplaying your injuries
Insurers often question whether your injuries are really as bad as you claim. They may point to gaps in treatment, prior medical conditions, or say you “seemed fine” after the crash.
A lawyer connects you with trusted medical professionals and ensures your injuries are fully documented. This step is key to getting proper compensation for your pain, treatment, and long-term recovery.
What a Taxi Accident Lawyer Does to Protect You
When you're dealing with medical bills, car repairs, and the emotional toll of an accident, the last thing you want to do is fight a multi-layered insurance dispute. A skilled taxi accident attorney does much more than file paperwork—they take over the legal battle entirely, including:
Investigating the accident
Insurance companies often control the narrative by getting to the scene first or relying on biased reports. Your attorney will conduct an independent investigation. This can include:
- Obtaining surveillance footage or dashcam recordings
- Interviewing witnesses
- Consulting accident reconstruction experts
- Reviewing the driver’s history, company records, and logs
The goal is to collect ironclad evidence that proves who was responsible and how the accident impacted your life.
Calculating the real value of your claim
An insurance adjuster might tell you your case is worth $15,000. But is that offer truly fair?
A lawyer assesses every aspect of your damages, including:
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Future medical care and therapy
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
If the accident caused lasting harm, the impacts it will have on you over your lifetime must be factored in. Most people don’t know how to calculate these damages. Your lawyer does.
Shielding you from aggressive insurance tactics
After a taxi accident, insurance companies for the other party may call you. They may ask you to give a recorded statement. They may seem friendly, but anything you say can be used to undermine your claim later. It’s best to avoid saying anything about the accident or your injuries and refer them to the insurance company.
Your attorney acts as a buffer, handling all communication, shielding you from manipulation, and making sure you don’t say anything that could hurt your case.
Negotiating settlements with confidence
Insurance companies know which attorneys will settle quickly and which ones are prepared to go to trial. A strong taxi accident lawyer in Los Angeles won’t back down. They know how to present your case in a way that maximizes leverage and increases the chances of a fair settlement.
And if a fair offer doesn’t come? They can make sure your case is prepared for court, if that’s what it takes to obtain the compensation you deserve.
What Makes Taxi Accident Claims Different from Regular Car Accidents?
At first glance, a crash involving a taxi might seem no different from any other vehicle collision. But under the hood, these cases come with a set of legal and logistical hurdles that require special handling.
Commercial regulations and higher duty of care
Taxi drivers in California and most other states are considered common carriers. That means they owe their passengers a higher duty of care than typical drivers. They must drive with extreme caution and ensure passenger safety at all times. When they fail in that duty, the consequences can be serious.
In legal terms, this heightened responsibility may make it easier to prove negligence, but only if the lawyer handling your case knows how to use the laws in your favor and demonstrate them effectively.
Logbooks, licenses, and inspections come into play
Taxis are often subject to additional local ordinances and inspection requirements. In the city of Los Angeles, for example, taxis must undergo:
- Periodic vehicle inspections
- Regular background checks of drivers
- Maintenance and mileage tracking
If a taxi was not properly maintained or inspected, or if the driver had a known history of unsafe behavior, those violations can help bolster your case. But you need an attorney who knows how to dig for that evidence.
When Should You Call a Taxi Accident Lawyer?
If you’re wondering when to get a lawyer involved, the short answer is—as soon as possible. The sooner you get legal help, the stronger your case will be.
Here’s why acting quickly matters:
Evidence fades fast
Traffic camera footage, dashcam video, digital images, eyewitness memories, and even vehicle damage can disappear, get erased, or become less reliable within days or weeks. A lawyer can secure this evidence before it’s lost.
Insurance companies act fast
From the moment the accident is reported, insurers begin building their defense. They may call you with questions or ask for a statement, hoping to catch you off guard or get you to say something they can later use to deny your claim.
Having a lawyer on your side from day one ensures that all communication is controlled and your rights are protected.
Medical documentation needs to be solid
Gaps in treatment, delays in seeing a doctor, or vague descriptions of your injuries can hurt your claim. Your attorney will guide you on how to document your medical care in a way that strengthens, not weakens, your case.
Common Myths About Taxi Accident Insurance Claims
Insurance adjusters often count on accident victims not knowing the full truth about their rights. Here are a few common myths—and the facts that can help you avoid settling for less than you deserve.
Myth #1: “You can only sue the driver.”
In many taxi accident cases, the taxi company, vehicle owner, or another party could be liable. Even the manufacturer of a defective part could play a role. A thorough investigation can uncover multiple sources of compensation.
Myth #2: “If you didn’t go to the hospital right away, you must not be hurt.”
Some injuries—like whiplash, concussions, or soft tissue damage—don’t show symptoms immediately. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious. A delay in symptoms doesn’t mean your injuries aren’t real or valid.
Myth #3: “The insurance company will treat you fairly if you cooperate.”
While it might feel like the adjuster is on your side, remember—they work for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is to close your claim quickly and cheaply. That’s why having a lawyer in your corner can make all the difference between securing a little money and the maximum you’re eligible to receive for all you’ve suffered.
How Settlements Work in Taxi Accident Cases
One of the most common questions accident victims ask is, “How much is my case worth?” The answer depends on a wide range of factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical care, lost income, and how the accident has affected your life long term.
Taxi accident settlements are based on “damages”
In personal injury law, the term damages refers to the financial and emotional harm you’ve suffered. There are two main types:
- Economic damages: These are the measurable losses—hospital bills, medications, lost wages, property damage, and rehabilitation costs.
- Non-economic damages: These cover things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and in some cases, disfigurement or disability.
California also allows for punitive damages in rare cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, though these are not common in most taxi crashes.
The insurance company doesn’t determine what your case is worth—you do
When you have a lawyer, they don’t just calculate your current expenses. They take a forward-looking approach. If you’ll need ongoing physical therapy, surgeries, or if your injury impacts your ability to work or care for your family, that must be factored into the settlement demand.
An attorney presents these numbers backed by documentation and opinions from experts, making it much harder for the insurer to dismiss your claim.
FAQs About Taxi Accidents and Legal Claims
What is the deadline for filing a taxi accident claim in California?
Every state has its own statute of limitations, the time limit for taking legal action. In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims—including those involving taxi accidents—is two years from the date of the accident. Certain exceptions could shorten the timeframe of your case, so contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
California follows the rule of pure comparative fault, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partly to blame. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Every state has its own rules for shared fault and how that affects your compensation, so be sure to check with a lawyer in your state.
How much does a taxi accident lawyer cost?
Most personal injury attorneys—including those handling taxi accident claims—work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront, and the attorney only gets paid if they win your case. If there’s no recovery, you don’t owe anything.
This model ensures that quality legal representation is accessible, no matter your financial situation.
Free Consultations for Those Injured in a Taxi Accident in the LA or Glendale Area
At Legal Fighters, we help people in Glendale and the greater Los Angeles area get real results after devastating motor vehicle accidents. Our team maintains strategic relationships with a network of experts to build the strongest case possible. Whether your injuries are minor or life-altering, we’re ready to stand with you. We’ll take on the legal burden so you can focus on your recovery and reclaiming your life.
Reach out now for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll review your case, answer your questions, and explain your best legal options without any pressure or obligation. Call us at (800) 210-0000 or fill out our contact form today.
Let Legal Fighters take care of the insurance companies. You take care of healing.