Taxicab Crash Attorneys in Boynton Beach, FL Represent Taxi Accident Victims in Palm Beach County and Throughout Florida
When people hail a taxi, they do so with the expectation that they will be transported to their destination safely. But of course, taxi drivers are not immune from being involved in an accident, especially considering that they drive for a living, so they spend a lot of time on our area’s roads. While taking a taxi is a satisfactory experience the overwhelming majority of the time, what happens in those rare cases when it isn’t? What happens in those cases when passengers are injured or killed because a taxi driver was negligent? In a case like that, you should call the Boynton Beach taxi accident lawyers who can help get full and fair compensation for any and all injuries suffered. Consider Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., whose taxicab crash attorneys in Boynton Beach, FL can evaluate your case and explain your options for pursuing legal action.
As you might expect, interacting with a taxi driver’s insurance company or employer can be intimidating, but top Boynton Beach taxi accident lawyers can help level the playing field. The compassionate attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright are ready to listen to your story and to advocate on your behalf, utilizing their 35 years of combined experience to ensure that your rights are protected.
Insurance Requirements for Taxi Drivers
When a run-of-the-mill car accident occurs in Florida, an injured person will typically turn to his or her own insurance carrier to recover compensation, regardless of who was at fault. That’s because Florida is a “no-fault” state, which means that every driver is required to carry a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage.
But the state of Florida has specifically excluded taxi drivers from the state’s no-fault rule. So, for example, if you were driving your car, and a taxi driver negligently caused an accident, you might be entitled to recover from the taxi driver’s insurance carrier, and from the cab company, and from your own insurance carrier.
In general, all drivers owe other drivers a duty to exercise reasonable care while driving, which is defined as acting in the same manner in which a prudent person would behave under similar circumstances. However, as so-called “common carriers,” taxi drivers are required to adhere to a heightened standard of care when transporting passengers.
Moreover, under Florida law, taxi drivers must carry a certain amount of insurance:
- $50,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage.
- Bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage of $125,000 per person and $250,000 per accident.
This insurance helps to ensure that there is money available to compensate taxi accident victims. However, there may also be other parties from whom you can potentially receive financial compensation, part of the reason why our taxicab crash attorneys in Boynton Beach, FL can be invaluable to an accident victim who has suffered serious or catastrophic injuries.
The Compassionate Lawyers at Gonzalez & Cartwright Help Clients Obtain Full Compensation for Taxi Accident Injuries
Of course, recovering from serious injuries isn’t easy, but the Boynton Beach taxi accident lawyers at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., do everything possible to minimize the stress of pursuing legal action, even as they fight to recover financial compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. In a taxi accident case, damages can include (but are not limited to):
- Hospital bills and other medical bills
- Long-term rehabilitation and/or disability expenses
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
Our firm also prides itself on offering a safe, supportive environment, one in which we regularly update clients on the status of their case. In fact, every client receives the personal cell phone number of his or her attorney, so speaking to one’s legal representative is never more than a personal call away.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Bilingual Boynton Beach Taxi Accident Lawyers
Moreover, at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., we have long represented clients from the local Hispanic community. In fact, we have a Boynton Beach personal injury lawyer who is fluent in Spanish, and most of our staff is bilingual as well, so you (or and your family members) can communicate in the language in which you are most comfortable. Simply call our office or fill out this online form to schedule your free initial consultation. Most commonly the free consult takes place in our main office in downtown Lake Worth, but we are also available to travel to your home or hospital room. Evening or weekend appointments are available as well.
About Boynton Beach, Florida
The municipality of Boynton Beach may be found in Palm Beach County, which is located in the state of Florida, United States. As a result of the park’s proximity to some of the most picturesque beaches in the region, Ocean Inlet Park is consistently ranked as one of the most popular locations in the region. This charming little town in Florida is well-known not just for its role as “America’s Gateway to the Gulfstream,” but also for the numerous and varied exhibitions of public art that can be found around the area. In point of fact, the town takes up hardly more than a couple square miles of land.
Residents of Boynton Beach take pleasure in a laid-back way of life that is characterized by an abundance of live entertainment, a wide variety of retail establishments, and dining options that are located along the water’s edge. Additionally, residents have access to a multitude of shopping and dining options. Residents of the City do not have to travel outside of the city limits in order to eat, buy, or have fun because there are so many malls, outdoor lifestyle centers, and restaurants within the city. This is because there are malls located throughout the region.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taxi Accidents
Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that if you receive an award, it can be reduced in proportion to the degree to which your own actions were deemed to have caused the accident or injuries. So, for example, if you win an award of $200,000 and you are deemed to be 25% responsible, then you would recover $150,000. At any rate, it’s generally considered to be best practice to speak with our Boynton Beach taxi accident lawyers before speaking with an insurance adjuster or making a recorded statement.
As of this writing, there aren’t any regulations about how many hours per day or week a taxi driver can drive. But it’s not unheard of for South Florida taxi drivers to work for long stretches at a time, making driver fatigue a significant factor in some accidents. As you may know, lack of sleep can lead to slowed reaction times and an inability to concentrate, not to mention irritability and recklessness. Witness statements, the police report, cab company records, and cell phone records can all help to illustrate the role driver fatigue may have played in a crash.