Did a taxi accident hurt you? The Law Offices of Mickey Fine can pursue the negligent driver for compensation for your injuries, medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and much more.
While most taxi rides occur without incident, some fares are not so lucky. Whether you were a passenger in the taxi or an occupant of a vehicle the taxi hit, you deserve representation from an aggressive Bakersfield taxi accident attorney who will seek maximum compensation from the at-fault party.
You deserve the Law Offices of Mickey Fine.
Lead attorney Mickey Fine combines sophisticated legal techniques with steadfast dedication to the outcome of your case. This approach has achieved positive results for clients with similar cases, including one who received an $800,000 settlement after a taxi rollover accident.
Don’t wait to get started with a free consultation. Contact us to speak with a Bakersfield taxi accident lawyer today.
Why Hire the Law Offices of Mickey Fine After a Taxi Accident
Since 1989, the Law Offices of Mickey Fine has represented accident victims in Bakersfield with compassion and dedication. Our principal attorney Mickey Fine has over 30 years of legal experience in personal injury matters, including cases involving accidents involving taxi drivers.
When you hire our legal team for your taxi accident case, you gain:
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- An experienced advocate who is always available to answer your questions
- A dedicated legal representative who will stand by your side through every twist and turn in the legal process
- A boutique law firm with a personalized touch but big-firm resources
- A legal team with a proven track record of success, including on behalf of a taxi accident victim who suffered a back injury in a rollover accident and received an $800,000 settlement
- A commitment to recovering maximum compensation for your injuries
- The support you need without any out-of-pocket costs
Common Causes of Bakersfield Taxi Accidents
Based on my 30 years of legal experience representing accident victims in Bakersfield, the following factors cause most taxi accidents:
Drunk Driving
State law requires local authorities to implement a mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program for taxicab companies based therein with minimum requirements, including:
- A negative test for controlled substances before employment
- A negative test for controlled substances and alcohol as a condition of permit renewal or at other times as designated by the city or county
California law considers taxi drivers to be driving under the influence if their blood alcohol concentration is 0.02 percent or more. Even at this low level, the Cleveland Clinic suggests individuals may experience an altered mood, relaxation, and slight loss of judgment. This loss of judgment could cause a taxi driver to make a mistake, such as misjudging following distance resulting in a rear-end collision.
Distracted Driving
According to a recent study of taxi drivers in San Diego, 31.8 percent of participating taxi drivers received a citation for electronic device use, far more than app-based drivers such as Uber and Lyft drivers. Furthermore, 29.6 percent of taxi drivers were in a collision while using an electronic device, compared with only 4.6 percent of app-based drivers.
Fatigue
Taxi drivers often work long hours, particularly at night, increasing the likelihood of being drowsy behind the wheel and committing dangerous driving errors. Concern about fatigue among shift workers like taxi drivers has led the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to unveil a program to reduce the threat.
Speeding
The more fares they take, the more money taxi drivers make. This fact incentivizes them to speed, increasing both the likelihood of an accident and the severity of any injuries sustained in it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that excessive speed was a factor in 29 percent of fatal accidents in one recent year.
Disobeying Traffic Laws
Taxi drivers must comply with the same traffic laws as everyone else. That includes the speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs, and right-of-way rules. Sometimes, taxi drivers disobey traffic laws to complete a trip quickly or secure a hailed ride, putting their passengers and proximate drivers and passengers at risk. Unfortunately, the City of Bakersfield will not revoke a taxi driver’s permit for violating a traffic law.
Who Is Responsible for a Taxi Accident?
After a taxi accident, victims may have difficulty determining which entity is responsible. Is it the taxi driver or their employer? Does the taxi driver even have an employer, or do they own their vehicle? Did a vehicle defect cause the accident, or was it inadequate maintenance by the taxi company? A determined taxi accident lawyer can help uncover the answers to these essential questions by conducting a thorough investigation.
Depending on the facts of the case, you could potentially hold the following entities responsible for a taxi accident:
- The taxi driver. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1,150 taxi drivers operate in California, the third-highest total in the United States. Our taxi drivers owe a duty to drive safely to their passengers and others on the road. You could hold them liable for your injuries if they negligently fail to uphold this duty. Examples of taxi driver negligence include speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, and violating a traffic law.
- The taxi company. Taxi companies are responsible for their drivers’ actions, qualifications, and training. Taxi drivers are employees in California, which makes their employers vicariously liable for their on-the-job actions. Taxi companies can also be liable for their own actions, such as when they employ unqualified drivers or pressure them to work long hours under extreme fatigue.
- The taxi manufacturer or maintainer. Vehicle defects or malfunctions, such as brake failures or tire blowouts, could lead to an accident. In that case, you could hold the manufacturer of the taxi or its parts responsible. However, if inadequate maintenance caused the vehicle to malfunction, the entity responsible for the vehicle’s maintenance could be liable.
- Another driver. If a motorist other than the taxi driver causes the accident, you could hold that driver accountable for your injuries. For example, suppose a distracted driver rear-ends a taxi stopped at a red light. If a passenger in that taxi suffers an injury, they could pursue compensation from the distracted driver.
Injuries Caused by Taxi Accidents
Like any motor vehicle accident, a taxi crash can result in severe injuries. some of the most common include:
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Dislocations
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries, such as muscle strains
- Crushed or amputated limbs
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
Bakersfield Taxi Regulations
California law permits cities and counties to adopt local ordinances or resolutions regulating taxicabs. If a taxi driver fails to comply with these regulations and that failure leads to an accident, you could pursue compensation from the taxi driver under the principle of negligence per se. This principle states that, in certain circumstances, disobeying a law or regulation constitutes negligence.
The City of Bakersfield has instituted these taxi regulations.
Permits
A taxi driver substantially located in Bakersfield must have a taxi permit from the city.
An application for a taxi permit must contain:
- The applicant’s name, age, home address, and past taxi service experience
- Proof of valid California driver’s license
- Proof of insurance
- Whether a public organization has denied, revoked, or suspended a taxi permit to the applicant in the past, with an explanation for the circumstances of that denial, revocation, or suspension
- The applicant’s five-year driving record, including any misdemeanors or felonies and the nature of those convictions
- A fingerprint-based criminal history check
- A substance and alcohol test
- The business address of the taxicab company for which the applicant works
- Trip sheets demonstrating the taxi’s substantial location within Bakersfield
- Proof of the taxi’s certification by the National Institute for Automatic Service Excellence or a facility registered with the Bureau of Automotive Repair
- The taxi’s trade name and distinguishing vehicle markings or colors
- Fee payment
A taxi driver must renew their permit annually by reviewing and updating the above information, including trip sheets from the previous year and permit fees.
Permit Revocation
The chief of police, city manager, or their designee has the power to revoke a taxi permit due to:
- Suspension, revocation, or expiration of the taxi driver’s license
- The violation by the taxi driver of any terms, conditions, or requirements of the taxi permit
- Any act or omission of the taxi driver that would have warranted a denial of their application
- Failure by the taxi driver to pay any judgment against them for personal injury, death, or property damage within 30 days after the judgment becomes final
- Driving the taxi under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Conviction of a crime related to drugs or alcohol
- Failure to pay taxes
The chief of police or their designee can revoke a permit via written notice to the taxi driver whenever they have reasonable cause to believe grounds for revocation exists. The taxi driver can appeal the decision to the city manager or their designee, whose decision is final.
Compensation Available for Taxi Accident Victims
With help from a taxi accident attorney, victims may recover compensation from a negligent taxi driver, taxi company, or another driver by filing a claim with the negligent party’s insurance provider. California requires passenger carriers with a seating capacity of seven or fewer to carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance.
The compensation you might recover depends on the amount of your accident-related losses, including the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and benefits if you must miss work during your recovery
- Future lost earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to work
- Property losses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement
If the negligent party’s insurer refuses to adequately compensate you for your injuries, a taxi accident attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit against the taxi driver, taxi company, another driver, or some other responsible entity to seek damages at trial.
What to Do After a Taxi Accident
A sudden taxi accident can leave you wondering what to do next.
Based on our 30 years of experience handling personal injury cases, we recommend the following actions:
- Get medical attention. No matter how minor your injuries may seem, you must get medical attention as soon as possible. Prompt medical attention can improve your prognosis and prevent your condition from worsening. Furthermore, it protects your right to compensation by documenting your injuries and their connection to the taxi accident.
- Keep notes about the taxi. Keep notes and documentation about the taxi and the driver, including their name, employer (if applicable), address, license plate number, and any other pertinent information that can help your lawyer identify the liable entity.
- Do not talk to an insurance agent. The taxi company’s insurance provider may contact you about the accident. Do not talk to them. Instead, tell them you will only communicate through your lawyer. Insurance agents are not your friends. They want to save their employer money by diminishing or entirely avoiding financial responsibility for the accident and the injuries it caused. When they call to purportedly “check on you,” do not believe them. In actuality, they hope to catch you in a vulnerable moment saying something that jeopardizes your right to compensation.
- Contact a lawyer. You deserve to focus on your recovery rather than stress out about a legal case. Contact an experienced, attentive lawyer who can manage your case while you get better. Not only does this lift a burden from your shoulder, but it puts you in a better position to recover the full compensation you need.
Contact the Law Offices of Mickey Fine Today
Mickey Fine, Taxi Accident Injury Attorney in Bakersfield
Were you hurt in a taxi accident in Bakersfield? You could have a case for compensation. Contact us at the Law Offices of Mickey Fine right now at (661) 333-3333 and ask us for a free, confidential consultation with a Bakersfield taxi accident lawyer.
Our legal team at Bakersfield personal injury law firm is ready and waiting to help you pursue the compensation you need to fund your recovery.
Law Offices of Mickey Fine – Bakersfield Office
930 Truxtun Ave, Suite 110
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 333-3333
Client Testimonials
I am grateful to Mickey Fine and his wonderful staff for their personal care and support throughout this entire ordeal. Tess and Micheal were great his team definitely went the extra mile for me. I could not have chosen a better attorney and staff , Thank You guys from the bottom of my heart I will…
Katherine W.