These simple steps can help make the process easier if you are injured as a passenger in a taxi accident.
1. Safety First
If you exit the taxi, ensure that you are not in the path of oncoming traffic or at risk of getting hit by other vehicles. You should contact the police or someone present at the scene of the accident to contact the police. Ask for the police file number and a copy of the police report. If you or anyone involved in the car accident are experiencing a medical emergency, contact 9-1-1. Phone a friend or family member to meet you and help you get medical attention. Phone 811 in Alberta for Health Link, to help assess your injuries and for information on the nearest clinics and emergency departments.
2. Gather Information
Write down and take photos of the licence plate of the taxi and the taxi number, and of the other vehicles involved in the taxi accident. Also write down the taxi driver’s licence information, vehicle and insurance information. Also, ask for the name and contact information of the owner of the taxi. Ask for the name and insurance information of the other drivers involved in the collision and any witnesses. Write down details on the location of the accident, time of day, road conditions, damage to the vehicles, and how the accident happened. Personal injury cases can take several years to settle depending on such factors as the severity of your injuries and whether there are disputes on who is at fault for the accident. You may not remember all the details several years after the accident, so it is important to record the details of the taxi accident as soon as possible.
3. Get Legal Advice
Speak to a Car Accident Injury Lawyer to ensure you understand your legal rights. Motor vehicle accidents require thorough and timely investigation to ensure the crucial evidence in your case is preserved. This often involves a team of lawyers, accident reconstruction engineers and specialized analysts to work diligently to gather evidence so that your strongest case is advanced. If there are multiple people injured in the collision, claims can exceed available insurance coverage, so it is important to contact a Car Accident Injury Lawyer right away. Get legal advice as soon as possible after the accident so that you understand your rights and the legal process.
4. Contact the Section B Accident Benefits Adjuster
If you are injured in a car accident, seek medical attention. In some cases, the taxi driver may be at fault or partly at fault for the Collision. Before you speak to the insurance company for the taxi, call us. You may contact the Section B Accident Benefits Adjuster of the insurance company for the taxi and inform the Section B Accident Benefits Adjuster that you were injured in the accident. You may be eligible for Section B Accident Benefits that provide specific coverage for treatment such as physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment and massage therapy. A claim may not yet be opened by the insurance company for the taxi, especially if the taxi accident has not yet been reported by the taxi driver or the car accident was not reported to the police. Before you provide details of the accident and your injuries to the insurance company for the taxi, call us first so that you understand the legal process.
5. Understand the Claims Process so You Can Focus on Your Recovery
In a taxi accident, there may be more than one driver at fault, especially if it is a multiple vehicle collision. In some cases, both the taxi driver and the other drivers may be at fault for the collision. By taking photos and gathering the information you can at the scene, such as the names, insurance and vehicle information of all the vehicles involved, the process of determining who is at fault for the collision, can be established more quickly. If the at-fault driver cannot be identified or the vehicle of the at-fault driver is uninsured, the claims process involves the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund. The Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund must be notified. If the Administrator is not notified in time, you can lose your right to compensation. There are important steps you need to take when the at-fault driver cannot be identified or does not have insurance.
Remember that there are limitation laws that specify the time you have to sue. After the limitation has passed, you lose the right to sue. Call us today so that you understand the claims process and you can focus on your recovery.
Have You or a Loved One Been Injured In A Taxi Accident?
Talking with an injury lawyer is the first step on the road to justice. Contact us today to speak to a lawyer and book a free, no-obligation consultation with James H. Brown and Associates.
