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Lever & Ecker, PLLC July 19, 2022 Car Accidents,Pedestrian Accidents
Taxis rule the New York streets. Pedestrians, drivers, riders, and other users of the road do their best to avoid a collision. However, accidents do happen anywhere, anytime, without notice. Some of the major culprits include adverse weather conditions, faulty vehicles, faulty road signs, and careless drivers.
The violently jarring event can hurl your brain into confusion, wondering what your next steps are. Furthermore, nursing an injury while hunting down insurance compensation or filing lawsuits is stressful. That is why we offer you steps to take following the accident, to allow your lawyer to most effectively pursue the compensation you deserve.
Your best bet is to do the following:
The law requires a driver that causes an accident to stop, especially if they injured a person or damaged property. It is improper for a taxi operator (like any other driver) to continue on after an accident, whether the car bumped into another vehicle, a building, a motorcycle, a parked vehicle, or a pedestrian.
If you get involved in a taxi accident, call 911 so that the police can come and investigate the accident. Their report will prove critical in proving your case down the road.
Be sure to cooperate with the police as much as possible. Narrate what you can recollect about the accident as accurately and thoroughly as possible. If possible, listen to the taxi driver’s side of the story as they answer the police officer’s questions, so that you try to address any errors or misstatements.
Use your smartphone to take as many videos and photos of the scene as possible. If possible, capture the taxi’s position on the roadway immediately after the crash. Excellent photos include the vehicle’s impact point, road signs, traffic signals, lane markings, skid marks, etc.
You may also want to take notes on the location of each vehicle, its direction, speed, and any inclement weather like snow or rain. This will help your lawyer advocate for you and explain why the accident was someone else’s fault.
Take photos, videos, and notes of your own injuries. Also, begin gathering and storing copies of any documents generated: Think medical reports, police records, communication with insurers, and witnesses’ testimonies.
Is the driver still at the scene of the accident? Collect their details, such as:
If the driver flees, contact the police immediately. Several people might have witnessed the accident, considering the bustling nature of New York streets. If possible, talk to some or all of them and gather what they can remember about the accident.
Do not forget to collect eyewitnesses’ contact details too. These people may prove crucial in helping build an air-tight case against the at-fault party.
If you sustained injuries from the crash, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Remember that internal injuries such as bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding may go unnoticed until some days have passed. A doctor can discover them more quickly and administer appropriate care and treatment.
Whether the injuries are minor or major, a medical report can relate those injuries to the accident. It helps you build a strong case against the at-fault party and improve your chances of recovering compensation.
Do not wait for too long to see a doctor for quick diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise, the offender’s legal team may poke holes into your case. For example, they may claim that the injuries were not that serious or were not related to the accident.
The New York law requires taxi cabs to have proper levels of accident insurance coverage. Now, contending with insurance firms to recover the damages you sustained from the incident is not a walk in the park. Remember, these companies do not have your best interests at heart. In fact, they are always seeking a way to slash or even eliminate payouts. Pursuing these companies for compensation is a stressful experience, especially if you are injured and do not have the required legal knowledge, experience, and resources.
But do not worry—with an experienced personal injury lawyer from New York, you boost your chances of getting your rightful compensation. They will investigate the incident, build a rock-solid case and start the lawsuit or claim on your behalf. Such professionals will calculate and pursue the maximum compensation as you recuperate.
Most personal injury cases in New York carry a three-year statute of limitations (although, importantly, this deadline may be far shorter in certain circumstances, such as if the wrongdoer is a municipality). So, generally speaking, if you want to sue the taxi driver for harming you, you must do so within 3 years of the accident. Also, under the new York Insurance Law, only accident victims with “serious injuries” can maintain a lawsuit. Serious injury is defined in New York as:
An attorney can also determine which party or parties to will file the claim against, including the taxi driver and taxi company.
You now understand the actions to take if a taxi accident leaves you injured while visiting New York. But self-representation, from collecting pieces of evidence to filing a claim or lawsuit, can be a difficult or near impossible task. Reach out to a New York car accident attorney to handle the case for you while you focus on your recovery.
At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, our award-winning attorneys have over 65 years of combined experience working for those who have experienced accidents similar to yours. We have the resources, information, and tools necessary to develop your case and recover the compensation you deserve.
Reach out to us by filling out our contact form or giving us a call at either (914) 288-9191 or (718) 933-3632.
