Car accidents can occur at any place or any time. Whether you are on a highway, city street, or rural road, you can suffer a car accident because of a careless driver. Fortunately, negligent motorists can be held liable for damages they cause. There are a variety of damages available to Chicago plaintiffs in car accident lawsuits.
However, the process for recovering financial compensation after taxi accidents can be complicated. If you were injured because of a negligent driver in a taxi accident, you may potentially sue the taxi driver, the taxi company, or a third-party driver. Our Chicago car accident lawyers can provide guidance and support when assigning fault after suffering injuries in a taxi accident.
If you were injured in a taxi accident because of another driver’s negligence, seek assistance from experienced Chicago car accident lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
Who to Sue After a Taxi Accident in Chicago
Taxi accident victims may face a dilemma when deciding whom to sue. Determining who to sue will depend on the cause of a taxi accident. Knowing who to name as a defendant will be crucial to recovering financial compensation in a taxi accident lawsuit.
Cab Company
Some taxis are part of larger fleets of vehicles run by taxi companies. Taxi companies can be held liable for damages caused by their negligent drivers. Additionally, taxi companies can be held liable for causing accidents through other forms of negligence like poor hiring practices or improper vehicle maintenance.
Filing against a cab company is often the clearest path to recovering compensation after a taxi accident. However, you may face disputes from a cab company’s insurer after filing a claim. Defense attorneys will use various tactics to entice low settlement agreements. Accordingly, the assistance of our Chicago car accident lawyers can be highly beneficial when negotiating with insurance companies during a taxi accident lawsuit.
Cab Drivers
Cab drivers may also be held liable for damages they cause. Although, recovering compensation from a taxi driver can be difficult when they do not have the money or resources to pay for damages they caused. Therefore, victims will typically name both the cab company and taxi driver as defendants in cases where an accident was caused by a taxi driver’s negligence.
Third-Party Drivers
If a taxi accident was caused by a third-party driver, you may not recover damages from the taxi driver or cab company. However, our Chicago car accident lawyers can help recover damages from a negligent, third-party driver.
Common Injuries Caused by Taxi Accidents in Chicago
Taxi accidents can result in numerous types of injuries. The severity of injuries suffered will depend on circumstances surrounding an accident. For example, taxi accidents that occur at high speeds or accidents involving pedestrians may result in more severe injuries. Furthermore, some injuries occur more frequently than others. The following are common injuries caused by taxi accidents in Chicago:
- Cuts and puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Burns
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
In addition to physical injuries, victims may also recover for forms of psychological harm and emotional distress they may endure because of a taxi accident.
Damages Available in Taxi Accident Lawsuits in Chicago
There are several categories of damages available to taxi accident plaintiffs in Chicago. The damages awarded in a particular case will depend on the type of injuries that occurred. Our Chicago car accident lawyers can help recover any of the following forms of damages related to a taxi accident:
Economic Damages
Taxi accident plaintiffs may recover economic damages related to their accident. Economic damages are easily quantifiable losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages seek to compensate taxi accident victims for their physical pain and emotional suffering incurred because of a crash. These losses can be harder to account for but still leave a lasting impact on victims. Our Chicago car accident lawyers can help gather the necessary evidence to prove non-economic losses in your case.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded to discourage a defendant’s especially reckless or malicious conduct. Punitive damages serve to punish a defendant for actions that go beyond mere negligence.
Statute of Limitations for Chicago Taxi Accident Lawsuits
Statutes of limitations set time limits for filing lawsuits. These limitations prevent potential defendants from being subject to unfair prosecution.
In Chicago, plaintiffs will have two years from the date of their taxi accident to file a case. However, their claim may become harder to pursue as time goes by. Various forms of evidence may grow stale or disappear entirely. Accordingly, you should contact our Chicago car accident lawyers immediately after suffering a taxi accident.
Dangerous Intersections in Chicago
There are certain locations where taxi accidents may occur more frequently than others. Many accidents occur at busy intersections where busy streets come together. Factors such as increased vehicle congestion, malfunctioning traffic signals, confusing traffic signs, and heavy pedestrian traffic can all contribute to the risk of collisions occurring. The following are intersections where accidents frequently occur in Chicago:
- E 79th and S Stony Island
- E 95th and S Stony Island
- W Garfield and S Wentworth
- W Garfield and S Wells
- E Wacker and N Michigan
- W Cermak and S Clark
- E Wacker and N Columbus
- W 47th and S Western
- W Hubbard and N Halstead
- W Ontario and N Orleans
However, accidents can occur anywhere. If you suffered a taxi accident at any intersection in Chicago, you may contact our Chicago car accident lawyers for help building your case.
If You Suffered a Taxi Accident in Chicago, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of a taxi accident, get help recovering the compensation you deserve by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
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