When we need it, getting a ride in a taxi can be a convenient way to around time. However, when an accident happens, trying to get the compensation you might be entitled to receive can be frustrating. The attorneys at Golden State Lawyers know what you are going through and how to get you the best available results after a taxi accident in San Jose. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
Continue reading to learn what to expect after a San Jose taxi accident and how one of our San Jose personal injury lawyers can help through this challenging process.
Why Choose the Attorneys at Golden State Lawyers
Choose our legal team to represent you after a taxi accident in San Jose. Our lawyers will use our knowledge and experience to get you the full and fair compensation you deserve after a tax accident.
We have a proven track record of getting results for our clients. Taxi accidents can involve complex liability issues that often require claims against multiple parties. One of our lawyers will help investigate your case to ensure you get the desired results. We offer compassionate representation for all of our clients. We want to see you win, and we will be here at every stage to make sure of it!
Time is of the essence, so do not delay. Let Golden State Lawyers now ease the burden of pursuing financial compensation after a taxi accident. Call us today for a free initial consultation.
How Can a San Jose Accident Attorney Help Me Fight The Insurance Company?
Many taxi accident cases are resolved through settlement negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Although this is common practice, fighting the insurance company can be an overwhelming process. An experienced San Jose taxi accident attorney can help fight the insurance company and overcome some of their common bad-faith practices:
Investigating the Cause of the Accident
After a crash, the driver’s and company’s insurance companies will investigate the cause of the accident. You need a lawyer to conduct an independent investigation on your behalf. Your legal team will gather key evidence and information to build a strong case on your behalf. A legal team can obtain police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and expert opinions to establish fault. Who is liable if I am injured in a taxi accident? This evidence will help determine if the taxi driver, taxi company, or another party shares responsibility for your injuries.
Calculating the True Value of Your Claim
After gathering the pertinent evidence, an attorney can help calculate the value of your claim. A legal professional will assess medical bills, the amount of your lost earnings, and future expenses. An attorney will review your economic and non-economic losses after an accident.
Handling Insurance Negotiations
A car accident attorney will help protect you against insurance companies that want you to settle for a lowball settlement offer. They will use the evidence they find and their knowledge and experience to counter the insurance company if they choose to use underhanded tactics designed to reduce or deny your claim. Attorneys ensure that commercial insurance companies often have much higher policy limits and pay you the money they owe.
What Types of Cases Does Golden State Lawyers Handle?
Our legal team handles a variety of traffic accidents, including San Jose taxi accidents. We are here to help you navigate the often frustrating and overwhelming process of protecting your legal rights and getting the compensation you deserve.
There are various types of taxi accidents, including the following:
- Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents present unique insurance complications. Having an attorney will help navigate these problems.
- Intersection Accidents
Taxis running red lights, making unsafe turns, or failing to yield can cause serious accidents in intersections.
- Rear-end Collisions
Taxi rear-end accidents can be caused by distracted driving, tailgating, or sudden stops. Passengers in the car that was hit and who were in the taxi might have a claim for damages.
- Taxi-bicycle or Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable motorists on the road, and bicyclists face a similar amount of danger. Accidents happen when taxi drivers fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes or speeding.
- Taxi-Pedestrian Accidents
If a taxi hits a pedestrian who was in a crosswalk, on the sidewalk, or in a parking lot, the driver might face legal liability for damages. These accidents happen for many reasons, including failure to yield or distracted driving.
- Tax-Vehicle Collisions
A taxi driver’s negligence, like running a red light or speeding, can leave you seriously injured. When this happens, insurance claims may involve the tax driver’s commercial insurance and the other driver’s personal insurance policy.
- Taxi-Passenger Accidents
If you were the passenger when the taxi accident happened, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Liability might fall on the taxi company, the driver, or a third party. An attorney can help navigate this process.
How Much Is My San Jose Taxi Accident Worth?
Knowing what your case can be worth can motivate you to avoid accepting a mediocre settlement offer that does not cover the full extent of your damages. While no attorney can give you a guaranteed value of your claim, they can explain what contributes to the final value of your claim.
Here are some important factors that contribute to the overall settlement value of your San Jose taxi accident case:
Liability and Fault
Determining fault in any accident case is critically important. Knowing who is liable or who caused the accident helps you focus on pursuing compensation for the losses that you have endured. In taxi accident cases, multiple liable parties (i.e., taxi drivers, taxi companies, or a third party) could have contributed to the accident and can impact the final payout.
Insurance Policy Limits
The value of the taxi accident claim is often heavily dependent on the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits. Taxi companies often have commercial insurance policies with higher limits, but their insurers may try to minimize your claim.
Severity of Injuries
Generally, the more severe your injuries, the higher the payout. Discuss the overall types of injuries that you have suffered with your attorney to learn what you can expect as compensation after getting into a taxi accident in San Jose.
Impact on Daily Life
You deserve financial compensation for the impact that your injuries have had on your daily life. If your injuries cause long-term disability, chronic pain, or permanent limitations, for example, your case may be worth more financially.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a San Jose Taxi Accident?
No two cases are alike, but three general categories of accident-related financial compensation might fall into. An attorney can help understand your legal rights to financial compensation after getting into an accident. The three major categories of damages- economic, non-economic, and punitive damages- are explained in further detail below.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the tangible and physical losses an accident victim might face after a crash. These losses might seem obvious, but it is important to review the facts of your taxi accident with an experienced attorney to determine if you have identified each of your economic losses.
Here are some common examples of economic losses that San Jose taxi accident victims endure:
- Current and future medical expenses can be recovered after an accident. Examples of medical expenses that might be compensable after a traffic accident can include emergency room visits, surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, and ongoing medical care.
- After a taxi accident in San Jose, lost income, including current and future lost income, can be pursued. This compensation includes payment for time off work due to injuries and lost benefits or bonuses.
- Accident victims might be entitled to recover for their lost earning capacity. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit your ability to work.
- If there was property damage, an accident victim might be entitled to recover for this loss as part of their overall compensation package.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages include the intangible losses that an accident victim might face in San Jose. An experienced attorney will review your claim to determine if you suffered these types of losses, including the following:
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: An accident victim might recover compensation if their injuries prevent them from participating in activities they once loved.
- Loss of Consortium: A loss of consortium claim can be filed by a loved one, usually a spouse, if the accident has impacted their relationship and companionship.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain caused by the accident from the crash is considered a compensable loss.
- Emotional Distress: Traffic accidents can come with an immense amount of mental anguish. A victim can receive compensation for their accident-related anxiety, depression, PTSD, or mental trauma.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, accident victims might recover punitive damages for their losses in a San Jose taxi accident. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim. Courts award punitive damages to punish the defendant and, hopefully, deter them from acting in a similarly dangerous way in the future. Discuss the availability of punitive damages with your lawyer.
What Should I Do After a Taxi Accident in San Jose?
The steps that you take after a taxi accident can make all the difference when you pursue compensation for the losses you suffered after an accident. Consider taking the following steps after getting into a taxi accident in San Jose:
Get Medical Help
Seek medical attention immediately after an accident. You should see a doctor, even if you do not believe that your injuries are bad or you are not in pain. Seeing a doctor protects your well-being. Some injuries cannot be detected without a medical evaluation, like internal bleeding or organ damage. Getting medical attention also protects your legal claim by taking away the insurance company’s ability to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Do Not Admit Fault or Give Statements to Insurance
It is essential to avoid making any statements that admit fault. It is always a good idea to speak to an attorney before making any statements to the insurance company, even if you are filing a claim against your insurance company. Making even simple statements to insurance adjusters can put your claim at risk. Never give a recorded statement to the insurance company without legal guidance.
Keep Records of Everything
You need sufficient evidence of your injuries and losses to win your claim. While your case is pending, you must keep proof of your losses. Save medical records and bills, receipts, car repair estimates, documentation of lost earnings, etc. Maintaining a journal documenting your pay, emotional distress, and daily struggles caused by the accident can be beneficial to your case.
Contact a San Jose Taxi Accident Lawyer
An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, handle insurance negotiations, and fight for full and fair compensation. Your lawyer can take legal action if the insurance company tries to lowball or deny your claim. Golden State Lawyers has the experience you need to protect your rights and get you the recovery you deserve.
Contact a San Jose Taxi Accident Lawyer Today!
Injured in a taxi accident in San Jose? You need professional legal help from a skilled team! Taxi accidents can leave you facing significant financial burdens, like medical bills and lost earnings. You might have suffered severe injuries, too. The good news? You do not need to face these challenges alone!
At Golden State Lawyers, our experienced San Jose taxi accident attorneys will fight alongside you as you go on your journey to full and fair compensation for your injuries, damages, and other losses. We know what you need to recover fully and are committed to seeing you get your life back after an accident.
Get started today. Contact our office today at (408) 279-4222 or visit us online to schedule an initial consultation and experience the support and attention we give to all of our clients facing the challenges that come with taxi accident cases.