Many taxi accidents are caused by drivers’ careless and reckless conduct. After such accidents, victims may file lawsuits against at-fault motorists.
If your taxi accident was caused by a third-party driver, then you may be able to seek payment from that careless motorist. However, if your accident was caused by a taxi driver, the path to compensation can become more complicated. Taxi drivers can be held accountable for accidents they cause. Further, in some cases, taxi companies can be sued for crashes caused by their employees. A car accident lawyer can help evaluate the legal options available to you.
If you were hurt because of a taxi accident in Georgia, get help obtaining the monetary damages you deserve. Reach out to our experienced Georgia car accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357. Our attorneys can review your case for free.
Who to Sue After a Taxi Accident in Georgia
Determining who to sue for a taxi accident is not always a straightforward task. Our Georgia car accident lawyers can help review the facts of your case and determine the appropriate next steps.
If your taxi accident occurred because of a third-party driver’s negligence, then you may seek payment from that motorist. For example, if you were riding as a passenger in cab that was struck by a drunk driver, then the drunk driver can be sued for injuries you suffered. In such cases, the at-fault driver will typically be represented by an insurance company who will pay for the damages caused by their policyholder.
If your taxi accident happened because of a taxi driver’s negligence, then the road to recovery can become more complicated. In most cases, taxi drivers can be sued directly for accidents they cause. However, drivers might not have the resources to pay for the full damages.
Under certain circumstances, taxi companies can be sued for crashes their drivers cause. In Georgia, employers can be held liable for accidents that occur because of their employees’ negligent conduct. Employers must adequately train their employees and properly screen them for employment. The following are examples of situations where a taxi company may be sued for their driver’s actions:
- A taxi driver with a bad driving record causes an accident after being hired by a cab company that failed check the applicant’s driving history.
- A taxi accident occurs because a cab company knowingly hired a driver with a bad driving record.
- A taxi accident occurs because a cab company did not perform proper maintenance on their vehicle.
Our experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers can help evaluate the strength of your claim against a taxi company.
Can You Sue After a Taxi Accident Caused by a Defective Part?
Outside of cab drivers and third-party motorists, there are other parties that may be held liable for taxi accidents in Georgia. In rare cases taxi accidents occur because of defective and dangerous auto parts. For example, a harmful collision may occur because a taxi was equipped with defective braking components. When this happens, sellers and manufacturers can be sued crashes caused by their defective products.
Our Savannah car accident lawyers can investigate whether your taxi accident occurred because of a defective part. If so, our team will help collect and preserve the information necessary to prove fault in your case.
Can You Sue if You Share Fault for Your Taxi Accident in Georgia?
In some cases, victims share fault for their taxi accidents. For example, a motorist may have been travelling slightly faster than the posted speed limit before being struck by a taxi driver who ran a red light. If you share some of the fault for your taxi accident in Georgia, you may be limited in the amount of compensation you can recover.
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that damages will be awarded based on percentages of fault. For instance, if you share 25% of the blame for your accident while the cab driver is 75% at fault, then the cab driver will be accountable for 75% of the damages related to the crash while you will be left to pay for the remaining 25% yourself. However, if are considered to be over 50% at fault for your taxi accident, then you will be unable to recover compensation.
Defendants in taxi accident lawsuits are usually represented by insurance companies who will try to shift blame onto plaintiffs. Our experienced Alpharetta car accident lawyers can help fight insurance companies and prove that defendants are at fault. If you suffered a taxi accident, our team will help recover the full range of damages available to you.
Time Limit to File a Taxi Accident Lawsuit in Georgia
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 establishes the time limit for filing a taxi accident lawsuit in Georgia. Typically, you will have two years from the date of your crash to seek payment for the injuries you suffered. Failure to comply with this deadline could cause you to miss out on compensation.
Still, there are several other requirements you must satisfy when bringing your lawsuit to court. For instance, plaintiffs must file their cases in the correct jurisdictions, pay any required filing fees, serve all named defendants, and avoid filing incomplete claims. Noncompliance with any one of these conditions could mean you have to re-file your case. Accordingly, you should attempt to file your case as quickly as possible, so that you may have time to re-file if necessary.
A separate statute of limitations applies to claims for property damage. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-31, you will have four years from the date of your taxi accident to seek compensation for the property damage you incurred. Our attorneys can help recover damages for the cost of repair or replacement of your vehicle.
If You Suffered a Taxi Accident in Georgia, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you were hurt because of a taxi accident in Georgia, seek assistance from our experienced Valdosta car accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 to review your case for free.
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