Top-Rated Nevada Taxi Accident Lawyer

You should retain an experienced taxi accident attorney to pursue injury-related damages after your accident. Attorneys who have experience in taxi accident cases have likely spent many years obtaining the education and training needed to serve their clients. When you retain an attorney, he or she will evaluate your case, consider time limits built into the legal process, negotiate with at-fault parties and their insurance companies, understand the evidence and witness testimony needed to prove your case, work with a network of professionals who can strengthen your case, and assist in collecting your settlement or award.

All of these services provide you with the ability to focus on your recovery while your attorney focuses on the legal process involved in recovering damages.

For a free consultation with our experienced Nevada taxi accident attorneys, contact Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, personal injury settlements and awards are not considered income, and therefore are not taxable. The exception is punitive damages—which are damage awards not related to the injuries that the plaintiff has sustained or the expenses that he or she incurred. Rather, punitive damages punish a defendant for particularly reckless behavior. Additionally, if you claimed your accident-related medical expenses as a tax deduction one year and then received a settlement or award that included medical expenses the next year, you likely will be expected to return the amount deducted.

If the other driver has fled the scene, call law enforcement immediately. Officers may be able to locate the fleeing driver and arrest them for a hit and run, as all parties are legally required to stay at the scene if injury or property damage has occurred.

Not necessarily. In fact, because the vast majority of Nevada taxi accident cases settle before they ever see the inside of a courtroom, chances are more likely that your case will settle before trial, as well. Hire an experienced taxi accident attorney who is comfortable and confident in litigating your case all the way to trial, just in case.

The required amount of insurance that taxi companies and privately-owned cabs must provide includes:

• $250,000 for bodily injury or death of one person involved in the crash.
• $500,000 liability insurance for bodily injury or death of at least two people involved in the crash.
• $50,000 of property damage liability.

Both the taxi driver and the company that he or she works may share liability, depending on the circumstances of your accident. In Las Vegas, taxis are owned by companies required to provide insurance to protect the taxi driver, passenger, and occupants of the other vehicle in the event of an accident caused by the driver. However, outside of Las Vegas, a taxi driver can own his or her own vehicle, in which case liability would rest solely with the driver.

Taxis are commonplace in Nevada, and so are taxi accidents. In fact, in a year’s time, more than 6,000 taxis were in accidents in Nevada, and more than 4,000 citations were issued against taxi drivers. A Nevada taxi accident case may include several different sources of liability, such as:

• The driver of the taxi cab, if he or she was at-fault for the accident.
• The driver of another car, if that individual was responsible for causing the accident.
• The governmental agency tasked with maintaining public streets, if the accident was due to a condition with the maintenance of the roadway, an issue with street signage or traffic control devices, or a feature on public property that obstructed the driver’s view.
• The manufacturer or distributor of vehicle parts, if the accident was caused due to a vehicle defect.
• The taxi company, if it was negligent in the maintenance of the vehicle.

Logistically, an accident involving a taxi is no different than any other accident. The steps you need to take after an accident are the same: check for injuries, call emergency services, gather evidence, exchange information, and report the accident. But certain things set taxi drivers apart from other drivers on the road. Nevada’s common carrier laws require all taxi drivers to hold a minimum level of liability insurance. Specifically, each driver must have all of the following:

• $250,000 bodily injury insurance for an accident involving one person
• $500,000 bodily injury insurance for an accident involving two or more people
• $50,000 property damage protection

In addition to the insurance requirements, all taxi drivers must undergo a background check before employment and maintain a valid commercial driver’s license. A company that fails to ensure compliance with these laws may bear financial responsibility in an accident.