Although cab usage has declined in recent years due to the rise in popularity of Lyft, Uber, and other rideshare services, taxis still have a relatively large presence in and around Port Orange. Unfortunately, taxi accidents in Port Orange occasionally occur.
If you or your loved one suffered harm in a cab collision, you need to fully understand your legal rights because they may be different from those in a typical car accident between two passenger vehicles. Our dedicated car accident attorneys at Rue & Ziffra can give you and your case the personalized attention you deserve. We can help you throughout every step of the legal process, from the initial free consultation to the courtroom, providing you with guidance and support at every step.
Taxi drivers are licensed professionals who owe a higher duty of care to everyone they encounter on the roads. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes compromise their duty of care to operate safely for several reasons.
Because they only earn money by picking up passengers, they are often in a rush to complete their rides as quickly as possible to move on to the next passenger. The faster a taxi driver works, the more money they can potentially earn in additional fares. Consequently, taxi drivers occasionally speed, tailgate, run stop signs, and make unsafe lane changes to arrive more quickly at their next destination.
Taxi drivers can be more prone to distracted driving than other drivers. Because they frequently drive on unfamiliar routes, they often rely heavily on GPS for directions. Additionally, taxi drivers need to communicate regularly with their taxi companies to learn about their next pickups.
Many taxi drivers work long hours or even overnight to earn a living, which can lead to fatigue. Overly tired drivers make mistakes. They have slower reaction times, and their judgments can be compromised.
Regardless of what caused your cab accident, our Port Orange lawyers from Rue & Ziffra know how to help. We will carefully examine the evidence from the wreck to pinpoint the cause and identify who is liable.
Determining liability in a Port Orange taxi crash can be complicated because multiple parties could potentially be legally at fault. You might be able to pursue a lawsuit against a negligent taxi driver. However, the driver’s personal insurance policy might not fully cover all your losses from the accident.
In some situations, you might also be able to sue the taxi company where the driver worked. Unfortunately, many taxi companies try to protect themselves from liability in lawsuits by claiming that their drivers are independent contractors who only lease their cabs for a shift. By making that argument, the taxi company is trying to argue that vicarious liability, in which an employer is responsible for their employee’s negligent actions, would not apply because an independent contractor taxi driver does not work directly for the cab company.
Our experienced legal team at Rue & Ziffra knows how to fight back to build strong claims against taxi companies. We can examine the working relationship between the taxi company and the driver to determine whether the taxi company exerted control over the cab driver’s actions, which would indicate an employer-employee relationship rather than the driver being an independent contractor. We can also assess whether the taxi company acted negligently, such as by failing to conduct adequate background checks on its drivers before hiring them.
Taxi accidents in Port Orange can be traumatic and overwhelming. Work with our compassionate and seasoned local lawyers. We are in your community and on your side, and we want to help you.
Call Rue & Ziffra to set up a free initial consultation.
Rue & Ziffra – Your Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers
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