Know Your Rights After A Taxi Or Ridesharing Accident

Taxi accidents in Bay Area cities are an infrequent occurrence, but you should still be on your guard. There are no laws requiring taxi passengers to fasten their seat belts. A Department of Transportation survey revealed that while 87 percent of Americans use a seat belt in their private cars, 57 percent of Americans traveling in taxis don’t buckle up. This can lead to terrible injuries in an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a taxi accident, you need to be aware of your rights and legal liabilities.

What To Do If You Or A Loved One Has Been Injured In A Taxi Accident

If you’re injured in a taxi accident and you have received medical attention and any requisite mental health care, then your next step should be to immediately hire a lawyer. The major San Francisco cab companies (Yellow Cab, De Soto and SF Green) have good financial resources and may hire an expert legal team to defend themselves. You’ll require a competent taxi accidents attorney to assist you in navigating the nebulous world of public transportation and liability law.

We can help you file suit against a taxi driver or company if it can be proven that:

• The taxi driver shouldn’t have been driving (if he or she had a record of driving violations and should have had his or her medallion revoked)
• The taxi driver was tired (which may indicate negligence on the part of the company for scheduling long shifts in a row)
• The taxi driver was exhibiting reckless driving or violated traffic laws
• The taxicab was not in good repair, and a mechanical failure or error contributed to the accident

Taxi companies are required by law and by unspoken societal codes of conduct to transport their passengers in a safe manner, keep their vehicles in repair, and conform to traffic and safety laws. When a taxi driver or company fails to do this and you are injured in an avoidable accident, you have ample reason to file a personal injury suit.

Are You Aware Of Your Legal Rights In Ridesharing Accidents?

Even though companies like Uber and Lyft provide transportation services more or less identical to those provided by taxis, these newer app-based businesses are often referred to as “ridesharing.”

Ridesharing accidents, though few and far between, have highlighted the shortcomings in the law and the changing times we live in. The advance of social media and mobile phone apps has opened up a world of possibility for businesses. These opportunities, in turn, have given rise to “transportation network companies” (TNCs) such as Lyft and Uber, which offer serious competition to taxicab companies the world over. In fact, in San Francisco (where Uber and Lyft are headquartered), two of the largest taxicab companies, SF Yellow Cab and SF Green, are on the verge of bankruptcy — thanks in no small part to transportation networking.

San Francisco Bay Area Taxi Accident Lawyers Here To Serve You

When you have been harmed, you need an experienced and aggressive law firm on your side. Our San Francisco Bay Area personal injury attorneys understand how difficult the legal process can be for individuals and their families. We care about the challenges you and your family face and it shows. Call today for a free initial consultation and a review of your case. Call us at 415-981-1850 or contact us here.