Taxis are a top mode of transportation across Chicago, Illinois, and it is hard to look out and not see a taxi on the local roadways. As convenient and useful as taxi cabs are, the sheer number of them and the volume of traffic in Chicago makes accidents an everyday event. If you were injured in a Chicago taxi accident caused by a driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to financial compensation.
However, proving liability and receiving compensation isn’t always a simple process. A taxi accident claim involves several steps and legal requirements. An experienced Chicago taxi accident lawyer can help you figure out what comes next after an accident and how to obtain the financial recovery you deserve. Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers can answer all your questions. Contact our law office today to schedule your free consultation at (312) 635-5400.
How Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Taxi Accident in Chicago, IL
After a serious accident, you could face physical, emotional, and financial hardships. It can be hard to know where to turn if you were injured. The insurance claim process and the legal process can be intimidating when taxi operators are involved. This is where an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can help.
At Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, we have a proven track record of success—securing millions in settlements and jury verdicts for Chicago car accident clients.
When you hire our dedicated team, we will:
- Listen to you and build your legal strategy for recovery
- Gather evidence to prove who was responsible and how much you deserve to be paid
- Hire accident reconstruction experts when needed to explain the accident to an insurance company or jury
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies for the financial settlement you deserve
- Prepare and handle a personal injury lawsuit to fight for your legal rights
- Take your case to court, if necessary
After a serious accident, you can face immediate physical and financial hardships. Our devoted Chicago taxi accident attorneys will work for you on a contingency fee basis to fight for the compensation you deserve. Under a contingency fee agreement, you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. You risk nothing financially by scheduling your free consultation.
Duties of Taxi Operators in Chicago
Taxis have heightened duties to protect passengers and must use the highest degree of care to keep their passengers safe at all times. This is a higher duty than other vehicle drivers are expected to follow. Because of this, it can be easier to prove legal liability once a taxi driver causes an accident.
Liability is usually not limited to the taxi driver after an accident. The owner of the taxicab, owner of the taxicab medallion, and the company affiliated with the taxicab (such as Yellow Cab) could potentially be liable for injuries to a passenger or anyone injured in a taxi accident.
Taxis in Chicago are required to carry Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems to track a taxicab’s movements while operating. This can make it easier to locate the responsible driver after a hit and run accident, or to determine when and where the accident took place.
As you can see, several key features distinguish taxis from other vehicles on Chicago roadways. A taxi accident lawyer can help you navigate the process successfully.
Proving Negligence in a Taxi Accident Case
Negligence is the foundation of most car accident claims in Illinois.
To prove negligence, you need to show four key elements:
- Duty of care by the taxi driver, company, or both
- Breach of that duty
- Causation—There needs to be a clear connection between the breach of duty and the resulting accident.
- Damages, such as physical injuries, medical bills, vehicle damage, and more.
Your Chicago taxi accident lawyer will use physical evidence from the accident—such as photos, video footage, and witness statements—to prove negligence in your case.
Contact a Chicago Taxi Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a taxi accident in Chicago—as a passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist, or driver of another vehicle—you may have a legal right to compensation. The experienced Chicago car accident lawyers at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers will help you understand your options and fight for what you deserve to recover financially. Contact our law office today to schedule your free consultation.