Taxi Accident Claims

The number of licensed taxis in Britain has increased to record numbers with the latest figures showing over 242,200 licensed taxi and hire vehicles. When you consider this, coupled with the fact taxi drivers are driving almost every day, then it is inevitable that accidents will happen equalling to more road traffic accident claims.

Can I make a claim if I was driving the taxi?

Taxi drivers are experienced road users, but an accident can happen anywhere and at any time. For a taxi driver who relies on their vehicle for their livelihood, the consequences can be devastating.

We know it is your priority to get back to work as quickly as possible and so if the accident was not your fault we will do everything we can to make this happen. Through making a personal injury claim with TRUE we will:

• Make sure your car is repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible.
• If the damages are substantial we can arrange a temporary replacement plated hire vehicle for you.
• If you are injured, then we can also arrange medical treatment to help you back on the road to recovery.
• Compensate you for your injuries and loss of earnings.

Can I make a claim if I was a passenger involved in a taxi accident?

If you were a passenger injured whist travelling in a taxi you could be eligible to make a compensation claim.  If the accident was caused due to the negligence of the other vehicle that the taxi collided with your claim would be pursued against the other drivers insurance.

If the driver of the taxi in which you were travelling in was at fault for causing the accident then you would pursue a claim against them and the taxi firm that they work for. This also covers taxi ride-hailing apps such as Uber.

Do I claim against the taxi driver or the taxi company?

If you have been involved in an accident whilst travelling in a taxi, mini bus or Uber vehicle you might be able to claim for compensation.

When making a claim following a taxi accident, who you make the claim against depends on the individual circumstances of the incident, for example:

• If the taxi driver was driving dangerously the claim would be made against them.
• The claim would be against another driver if they caused the accident by crashing into the taxi.
• The claim would be against the local council responsible for maintenance of the road, if it was a defective road that caused the accident.
• If it was a fault with the vehicle its self that lead to the accident it would be the car manufacturer that you would make the claim against.

When making a claim your solicitor will determine who the case will be made against.

Can I make a claim if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt?

If you were a passenger not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident you could still be eligible to make a personal injury claim. The amount of compensation that you may receive will however be significantly reduced.

How much compensation could I get?

The amount of money that you could get for your compensation claim varies depending on the individual circumstances of your case. Your solicitor will quantify your claim by taking the following points into consideration:

• Loss of income
• The cost of vehicle repairs
• The value of your vehicle if it has been written- off
• Hire charges
• The cost of re-plating
• Injury compensation
• Medical treatment

Use our online claims calculator to get an idea of how much your physical injuries could be worth:

Calculate my claim

What is the process for making a taxi accident claim?

Taxi accident claims can be more complicated than other road traffic accident claims, due to the number of different parties involved – the taxi driver, the taxi company, other road users and yourself as the injured passenger.

Step 1: Establish Responsibility

True Solicitors have over 25 years’ experience handling car accident claims and are well versed in establishing who is responsible for causing your injuries. Your solicitor will conduct an investigation in order to determine who was responsible for causing the accident, this will include:

• Collecting witness statements and interviewing witnesses over the phone.
• Obtaining a copy of the police report from the scene of the accident.
• Analysing video and photographic evidence from the scene of the accident, including images of the vehicle damage and your physical injuries.

Step 2: Arrange Rehabilitation

Your solicitor will arrange for you to attend an independent medical examination so that they can determine what the long term impact of your injuries will be and what rehabilitation could be needed to help aid your recovery.

If your injuries are serious and the medical expert reports that it may take an extended amount of time for you to recover, your solicitor will aim to recover early interim payments to help to cover the costs of your rehabilitation and lost earnings. The interim payments will be deducted from your final compensation settlement.

Step 3: Valuing your claim

Your solicitor will calculate the value of your claim based on the following factors:

• The seriousness of your injuries.
• Your current and future loss of earnings.
• Rehabilitation costs – i.e. physiotherapy or counselling.
• Medical costs – i.e. prescription fees.
• Home and vehicle adaptation costs (e.g. if the accident left you with injuries that meant that you could no longer walk again and needed to adapt your home to allow you to remain mobile).

Step 4: Settling your claim

The settlement amount will be presented to the third party responsible for causing the accident – typically the insurance company for the other driver. The third party insurer will then either agree to settle the claim and pay out the compensation amount offered, or if they reject the settlement amount or deny responsibility negotiations will commence. If it is not possible to come to a mutual agreement, court proceedings will begin.

It is however, important to note that the vast majority of claims are settled out of court but should your claim end up in court we will be there to support you throughout the process.

Once your claim is settled you will receive your final settlement amount, minus the success fee which will deducted from the compensation amount and paid to your solicitor, to cover the work they have done on your claim.

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

You need to start the claims process within three years of the accident happening. The sooner you instruct the help of a solicitor the better. There are however some exceptions to this rule, including:

Children – If children are involved in a road traffic accident the law allows for their parent or guardian to submit a claim on their behalf at any time before their eighteenth birthday. After the child has turned eighteen they can choose to pursue a claim themselves before the age of twenty-one.

Mental Incapacity – If the person involved in a car accident doesn’t have the mental capacity to make a claim themselves, a family member or friend can make a claim on their behalf at any time after the accident has occurred.

How much will it cost to make a claim?

True Solicitors will handle your claim on a no win, no fee basis.

The success fee we charge in road traffic accident personal injury claims ranges from 25% to 30% (+ VAT) of the compensation settlement, depending on the type of claim and whether court proceedings are issued.