How To Make A Taxi Accident Claim

You might want to claim compensation after being injured in a taxi accident. In this guide, we explore road traffic accidents, the possible causes of injuries on the roads and when you might be eligible to claim for injuries caused in a car accident. You could claim for physical injuries and psychological ones such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

We examine different ways an accident could occur and who could be considered at fault in different situations. Also, we look at breaches in the duty of care road users owe each other. We explore traffic accident statistics too.

In addition, we look at examples of compensation payouts, including examining how the general damages and special damages heads of a claim are valued. We also take a brief look at the Whiplash Reform Programme and how this could impact your claim. Following certain steps following an injury could strengthen your potential claim. We take a look at what steps you could have taken and when you could submit these as evidence.

Hiring a No Win No Fee lawyer might make the claims process feel easier than it would otherwise, without the help of a lawyer. We discuss what a No Win No Fee arrangement is and how legal representation could benefit your claim.

Our advisors are waiting to hear from you. They can offer you free legal advice about claiming for your injuries.

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Taxi accident claim guide

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How Can I Make A Taxi Accident Claim?
Examples Of Accidents Involving Taxis
Who Holds Responsibility For A Taxi Accident?
Compensation For A Road Accident
Can No Win No Fee Solicitors Help Me?
Find Out More About Taxi Accident Claims

How Can I Make A Taxi Accident Claim?

If you’ve been injured in a taxi accident, as the driver, passenger or another road user, you might be entitled to claim compensation. In order to do so, you must be able to prove that the accident was caused by a breach of the duty of care you were owed and that it caused you to sustain injuries.

All road users owe each other a duty of care. This is set out in the Road Traffic Act 1988. Road users are expected to act in a way that prevents injury on the road.

This means that you may be able to claim as:

A taxi driver who was injured because of another road user’s breach of duty of care.
Another road user who was injured by a taxi driver’s breach of duty of care.
The passenger of a taxi who was injured by another road user’s breach of duty of care or the taxi driver’s breach of duty of care.

Our advisors can help you work out who is responsible for a taxi accident. Furthermore, if you have a valid claim, they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel.

Taxi Accident Statistics

Road traffic accident statistics are collected by the Department for Transport. 580 road users were killed between January and June 2021.

Of these, there were:

250 car occupants
120 motorcyclists
40 cyclists
130 pedestrians

Examples Of Accidents Involving Taxis

The Highway Code explains the duty of care all road users owe to one another. However, the things that road users are expected to do as part of this duty of care will vary depending on the type of road user. A pedestrian, for example, is not expected to signal when turning like a cyclist or driver. However, the pedestrian is expected to look for traffic before crossing the road.

You could be injured in a taxi accident if this duty of care is breached by the driver of the taxi you are in, as well as another road user. In addition, the road conditions, such as potholes could contribute to or cause an accident. If this is the case, then you may be able to claim against the local council provided it was caused by their negligence.

Accident causes include:

Road users not paying attention to their surroundings, causing them to try and change lanes at an unsafe time.
Dangerous driving, such as driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
Travelling above the speed limit.

Our advisors can help you to start your claim if you were injured as the result of someone breaching their duty of care on the roads. Get in touch today for more information.

Who Holds Responsibility For A Taxi Accident?

Road traffic accident liability must be determined if you would like to make a claim. Your taxi injury compensation could be paid by the insurer of the party who was responsible for the accident. If your taxi was hit by an uninsured or untraceable driver, you might have to file your claim with the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).

After a Taxi Accident

You will need evidence of who breached their duty of care, plus evidence to show how you were injured. The steps you take following an injury could help strengthen your claim for compensation after a taxi accident, should you decide to file one.

You could:

Seek medical attention.
Note witness contact details. Anyone that saw what happened could be contacted at a later date for a statement.
Take photographs. These could include the accident scene and the injuries you suffer.
Request footage. Dashcam and CCTV footage could both support your claim if any exists.
Seek legal advice. A road traffic accident solicitor could offer you advice and guidance throughout the process of claiming.

Our advisors can discuss what evidence could be used to support your claim for an accident in or with a taxi. Get in touch today for free legal advice.

Compensation For A Road Accident

If you would like to file a taxi injury claim, your claim could be made up of two heads. General damages form one head, with special damages forming the other. We break these down below, but first, you should know about the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 and the Whiplash Reform Programme.

The Whiplash Injury Regulations reclassified how much compensation many whiplash claims are worth. The Whiplash Reform Programme apply to drivers and passengers over the age of 18 at the time of the accident. Injuries valued at £5,000 or less are claimed through a government portal. This applies to injuries that happened on or after 31st May 2021.

It is best to seek the advice of personal injury lawyers before starting, as you might be underestimating how much your injuries are worth. They can assess your case in order to gain knowledge of the full extent of your injuries.

General Damages

Your compensation for a taxi injury, along with any emotional distress suffered as a result is claimed through general damages. An independent medical assessment might be required for a more accurate assessment of your injuries.

The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a document used by legal professionals to assign value to your injuries. Potential compensation brackets are listed with the injuries that might bring in that amount. Examples from the 16th edition of the JCG published in April 2022 are included in the table below.

Injury	Potential Compensation	Notes
Moderate brain damage (iii)	£43,060 to £90,720	Small epilepsy risk with memory and concentration issues.
Traumatic chest injury (c)	£31,310 to £54,830	Chest and lung damage leading to some continuing disability.
Moderate neck injuries (i)	£24,990 to £38,490	Severe immediate symptoms from fractures and dislocations.
Loss of sight	£23,680 to £39,340	Serious but incomplete vision loss in one eye without significant risk to vision in remaining eye.
Moderately severe post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	£23,150 to £59,860	Significant disability for the foreseeable future from PTSD symptoms.
Less severe facial scarring	£17,960 to £48,420	Significant psychological reaction from substantially disfiguring facial scars.
Serious shoulder injuries	£12,770 to £19,200	Dislocation with lower brachial plexus damage leading to pain in neck and shoulder with sensory issues down the arm.
Penetrating bowel injuries	£12,590 to £24,480	Some permanent damage but eventual return to natural functioning.
Moderate back injuries (ii)	£12,510 to £27,760	Backache caused by ligament and muscle disturbance.
Traumatic digestive system injuries (iii)	£6,610 to £12,590	Injuries caused by serious seat-belt pressure.

Special Damages

Claim special damages to recover costs incurred due to your injuries. To claim under the special damages head, however, you must supply evidence of your costs, such as receipts.

Examples of special damages include:

Repairs or property damage. If you are filing a taxi passenger claim, you could recover any repair costs to your personal property, such as having your phone screen replaced if this was damaged.
Medical expenses. You could claim back the cost of treatment that you can’t get for free on the NHS, such as therapy or cosmetic surgery.
Lost wages. Recover your loss of earnings, even if you receive statutory sick pay (SSP) or are part of a work sickness scheme, provided it means that you don’t receive full pay while off work.
The cost of adapting your home or vehicle if you were left with life-changing injuries such as brain damage or quadriplegia.

Talk to our advisors to learn more about what you could claim under special damages. If you have a valid case, it could be passed to a lawyer from our panel.

Can No Win No Fee Solicitors Help Me?

You might find the personal injury claims process easier with a solicitor when making a claim after being injured in a taxi accident. Traditionally, legal fees can prevent people from making a claim with the help of a legal representative, as working with a lawyer can incur large upfront fees. That isn’t the case with a No Win No Fee agreement, also called a Conditional Fee Arrangement (CFA).

Instead of an upfront solicitor fee, successful claims will have a success fee deducted from their award. A legal cap applies to this fee. If your claim isn’t successful, then you won’t need to pay this success fee. Legal representation becomes accessible to everyone who has been injured in a taxi accident due to a duty of care breach.

Chat To Us About A Taxi Accident Claim

Free legal advice is available from our advisors. They can estimate the value of your injuries and help you work out if you have a valid claim. If your claim seems eligible they could connect you with our panel of personal injury solicitors.