Taxi drivers are trusted to get us to our destinations safely and securely. Unfortunately, numerous passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists are injured because of taxi drivers’ negligence in Maryland. The injuries from these accidents can often be severe. In accidents caused by taxi drivers, injured parties may wonder if there is a path to compensation.
If you suffered injury in a taxi accident because of the taxi driver’s negligence, you may seek monetary damages in a taxi accident lawsuit. However, determining liability can be more difficult in taxi accident cases because there are multiple parties involved. Our Maryland taxi accident lawyers can help you prove whom was at fault after a taxi accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a taxi accident, get help from our experienced Baltimore taxi accident lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.
You Can Sue a Taxi Driver or Taxi Company After a Taxi Accident in Maryland
Those who were injured because of taxi accidents in Maryland may file a lawsuit seeking damages against a taxi driver or taxi company. Maryland is an at-fault state, meaning that drivers are allowed to sue other motorists for compensation after a crash, opposed to filing with their own insurance company. However, in order to recover damages in a taxi accident lawsuit, plaintiffs must establish that a defendant caused or contributed to their injuries. Our Maryland personal injury lawyers can help gather evidence to build your case.
Who to Sue After a Taxi Accident in Maryland?
If you were injured because of a taxi accident, you may be entitled to recover damages from the taxi driver, the taxicab company, or a third-party driver. Determining whom to sue will depend on which party caused the accident.
Most plaintiffs in Maryland will name both the driver and their taxi company as defendants in a taxi accident lawsuit. However, attempting to recover compensation from the driver can be difficult when drivers do not have the money or resources to pay for the damages they caused. Accordingly, the taxi company is often the one who actually pays the damages. Victims of taxi accidents can contact our Maryland taxi accident lawyers for help recovering compensation from taxi companies.
How to Recover from a Taxi Company in a Maryland Taxi Accident Lawsuit
In most taxi accident lawsuits, you need to prove that the taxi driver was negligent in order to recover compensation from the taxi company they work for. You must establish that an at-fault driver was a taxi company’s employee and was working within the scope of their employment when the crash happened. This process could require gathering employment records and logs to prove that the driver was working for the taxi company when they caused the crash. Accordingly, our Baltimore personal injury lawyers can help taxi accident victims establish liability on behalf of a taxi company.
Limitations on Suing for Damages in Maryland Taxi Accident Lawsuits
Maryland is one of only four states that uses a pure contributory negligence doctrine. Under this doctrine, plaintiffs cannot recover compensation in negligence claims if they were even 1% at fault for their injuries. Plaintiffs in Maryland accident cases cannot recover compensation if they contributed in any way to their injuries. Therefore, even if you are only 1% at fault for a taxi accident, you will not be able to recover compensation for the damages you incurred.
Our Bel Air personal lawyers can help you fight allegations of contributory negligence. Defendants will often attempt to use this doctrine as a defense. In practice, this contributory negligence rule can be unfair to injured parties and make personal injury damages difficult to pursue after a taxi accident. Therefore, it is beneficial to have experienced attorneys on your side when fighting defendants’ claims of contributory negligence.
Damages Available in Maryland Taxi Accident Lawsuits
There are several types of injuries that can be caused by a taxi accident. Some injuries will be easy to account for while others are more difficult to quantify. Accordingly, there is a wide range of damages available to taxi accident victims in Maryland. Our Easton personal injury lawyers can help you seek compensation for any of the following damages stemming from a taxi accident:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are compensation for objectively verifiable monetary losses suffered because of an accident. In other words, economic damages are financial losses that are easier to account for such as medical expenses. Medical expenses are often the most significant costs that taxi accident victims need compensation for. These expenses can include everything from emergency treatment to post-operative rehabilitation. Furthermore, if you have suffered a chronic or permanent injury because of a taxi accident, you may be entitled to damages for the cost of future medical treatment.
Lost wages are another common area of economic damages. Many who suffer injuries from taxi accidents are unable to work for a period of time. If you missed work because of a taxi accident, you may be able to recover the amount you would have made if you were working during that time period. Additionally, if you are unable to perform the same work you performed before a taxi accident, our Maryland taxi accident lawyers can help you recover damages for the loss of earning capacity. An expert economist may use a plaintiff’s education, training, and experience to estimate their lost earning capacity.
Lastly, property damage is another form of economic damages frequently suffered in taxi accidents in Maryland. If physical property was damaged in an accident, the cost of replacing or repairing the property may be recovered. For example, if your vehicle was damaged because of a taxi driver’s negligence, you may be able to recover the cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages are damages that can be more difficult to quantify because they are not tied to monetary harm. However, the impact of noneconomic damages on victims can still be severe.
Taxi accidents can have a very traumatic effect on victims. Accordingly, noneconomic damages seek to compensate a victim for their physical pain or emotional distress suffered because of an accident.
You may be able to recover for the loss of enjoyment of life you suffered because of the taxi accident. Serious injuries can inhibit your ability to enjoy the same activities you could before an accident. Furthermore, some injuries leave large scars, damaged limbs, or other forms of disfigurement. Our Rockville personal injury lawyers can help you recover for the lifelong pain and suffering that accompanies such accidents.
How Long Do I Have to File a Taxi Accident Lawsuit?
Taxi accident lawsuits are a form of personal injury lawsuit. Accordingly, if you suffered injuries because of a taxi accident, you have three years from the date of your injuries to file a lawsuit in Maryland under the personal injury statute of limitations. However, you should contact our Maryland taxi accident lawyers as soon as possible after an accident. Important evidence may be more difficult to collect over time. Furthermore, if you do not file your claim on time, your case will likely be disallowed.
If You Have Been Injured in a Taxi Accident in Maryland, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you suffered injuries because of a taxi accident, get help recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Towson personal injury lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.