By Cat Grayson. Last Updated 1st September 2023. There are a number of ways that an accident in a taxi or minicab could occur, and our guide will discuss these. Personal injury and accident claims can be complex, but our team are here to help.
It may be that the driver made a mistake or was careless, or it could be that the car was faulty, or possibly that another driver or third party did something to cause an accident leaving you with an injury. As long as your injury was caused by someone else’s actions, you may be able to claim compensation.
In order to make a successful taxi accident claim, you need to be able to determine and prove who was at fault, whether that be taxi drivers or other road users.
Proving liability can often be quite complicated so it is a great help to consult with an experienced legal team that can give sound advice on the best course of action to take for your compensation claim.
Here at Advice.co.uk, we work with specialist personal injury solicitors and can offer you free help and guidance surrounding accident claims, and also direct you to an experienced solicitor should you need more in-depth legal advice or representation.
Please contact us on 0161 696 9685 for help with your taxi accident compensation claim.
Select a Section
- Could I Claim For A Taxi Or Minicab Accident?
- How Is Compensation For A Taxi Passenger Accident Claim Calculated?
- What Else Can A Payout For Taxi Passenger Accident Include?
- How Long Do I Have To Make A Taxi Accident Claim
- No Win No Fee Taxi And Minicab Accident Claims
- Advice For Road Traffic Accident Victims
Could I Claim For A Taxi Or Minicab Accident?
If you were in a taxi accident, you could potentially claim compensation if you can prove that:
- You were owed a duty of care by a taxi driver or another road user
- That duty of care was breached by the taxi driver or another road user
- You were injured as a result
The Highway Code sets out the responsibilities that road users have to reduce the danger or threat that they could pose to others. Additionally, the Road Traffic Act 1988 outlines that every road user has a legal duty of care to follow the correct measures to avoid accidents or harm to others.
In order to make a valid claim, it’s important for you to exchange details with the other parties involved, and it may also be helpful to collect the contact information of any witnesses. Also, consider taking photographs of any damage to your vehicle and your injuries as evidence of the accident happening.
We would also recommend seeking free legal advice. Our advisors can inform you about making an injury claim after a car accident, and can offer further information on claiming for taxi accidents.
Taxi Accident Compensation Claims Guide
Taxi Accident Caused By A Taxi Or Minicab Company
Although often taxi accident claims may be brought against the driver, sometimes it is not necessarily the drivers fault, but actually the company they are employed by. If you have suffered an injury whilst riding in a taxi firm’s vehicle, your claim may need to be brought against them directly depending on the circumstances involved. Some examples of when the taxi firm may be at fault are:
- When vehicles have not been regularly maintained.
- If the company has failed to make sure that the driver carries a full and valid driver’s license and the appropriate insurance.
- If the company fails to fully investigate the competency of new drivers.
- If the company doesn’t make sure that they are fully compliant with all legal requirements.
Contact our team today to learn more about making a taxi accident claim.
How Could A Taxi Passenger Accident Occur?
This section looks at examples of when you could potentially claim a taxi accident compensation settlement.
- A taxi driver may be in a rush to get you to your destination in order to move on to their next job. However, as a result of their speeding, they could lose control of the vehicle and crash into another vehicle.
- If your taxi driver is drink driving or intoxicated, their ability to drive may be significantly reduced. As such, they could accidentally drive on the wrong side of the road and cause a collision.
- Due to texting or talking on a mobile phone, your taxi driver may not be paying enough attention to the roads and cause an accident.
For more information on car accident claims or taxi accident claims, speak to an advisor at any time using our online chat. You won’t be charged to use this service, and then can offer more information on claims against taxi drivers.
How Is Compensation For A Taxi Passenger Accident Claim Calculated?
A taxi accident compensation settlement can consist of up to two parts. The first is general damages, which is compensation aimed at addressing your injuries, both physical and mental, and the way that these injuries affect you. Every successful claim will result in general damages.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) help solicitors and other professionals value this head of claim by providing guideline settlement amounts. You can find some examples of these guidelines in the table below. Please note that this table is for illustrative purposes only.
Judicial College Guidelines Brackets
| Injury | Notes | Maximum compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries + Special Damages | A combination of multiple severe injuries and significant financial damages, such as lost earnings, the cost of home adjustments, and the cost of counselling and medication. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | There is a need for full-time nursing care, because the claimant shows little to no meaningful response to the environment surrounding them and has little if any language function remaining. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | There is a substantial dependence on others as a result of a significant cognitive or physical disability, and a need for full time care. | £219,070 to £282,010 |
| Severe Back Injuries | The most severe back injuries, including damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots resulting in significant disability, pain, and potential paralysis. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Severe Arm Injuries | Injuries that are very serious and disabling but fall short of amputation. | £96,160 to £130,930 |
| Severe Leg Injuries (i) | The most serious leg injuries that fall short of amputation, such as extensive degloving. | £96,250 to £135,920 |
| Chest Injuries (c) | Damage to the chest and lungs, resulting in some level of disability. | £31,310 to £54,830 |
| Digestive System (iii) | Penetrating wounds, such as serious seat-belt pressure injuries. | £6,610 to £12,590 |
| 1+ Whiplash Injuries | Symptoms that last between 18 and 24 months | £4,345 |
| 1+ Whiplash Injuries & 1+ Psychiatric Injuries | Symptoms that last between 18 and 24 months | £4,215 |
What Else Can A Payout For Taxi Passenger Accident Include?
In addition to general damages for pain and suffering discussed above, some payouts for a taxi accident include special damages. This is compensation for any expenses incurred due to your injuries from the car accident. To claim special damages, it is likely you will need to submit evidence of your injury-related costs.
Special damages in taxi accident and injury claims could recover:
- Medical costs. These could include for plastic surgery, therapy and prescriptions.
- Injury aids, including crutches or wheelchair purchase.
- Home adaptations, such as fitting a ramp.
- Carer assistance, if you need any help with your injuries.
- Loss of earnings, this could include pension contributions and missed bonuses as well.
Call our advisors to discuss what costs could be recovered in your taxi accident claim based on your individual circumstances. Additionally, they can give your claim for a taxi accident a free valuation.
Taxi Accident Whiplash Injuries
Due to the introduction of the Whiplash Reform Programme, the process of how certain road traffic accidents are made in England and Wales has changed. This is also applicable to taxi accidents.
If you were a driver or passenger of a vehicle over the age of 18 and suffered injured valued at £5,000 or less in the accident, you will now make your claim via a different avenue. This also includes claims being made for whiplash injuries.
Your whiplash injuries will now be valued in line with the tariff set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. These are fixed amounts, and we have included some of them in our table above. Any additional injuries you suffered that are not covered by this tariff will be valued traditionally.
Contact our advisors today to discuss your potential taxi accident claim if you are unsure which avenue you should take.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Taxi Accident Claim
If you are eligible to make a taxi accident claim, it’s important to make sure that you begin your claim within the taxi accident claims time limit. This means that you must start your claim within three years from the date of the accident, in accordance with the Limitation Act 1980. Though there are some exceptions.
For example, those who are under the age of eighteen cannot claim for themselves, and because of this, the time limit is frozen until their 18th birthday. A litigation friend can start the claim on their behalf while the time limit is frozen. If a claim has not been made for them, the claimiant will have three years from the date of the 18th birthday to start legal proceedings.
Likewise, the time limit is frozen for those who lack the mental capacity to claim for themselves. The time limit remains frozen indefinitely unless the claimant regains the appropriate capacity, in which case it will begin on the date of their recovery. Otherwise, a litigation friend can make the claim on their behalf.
To find out if you are within the personal injury claims time limit, or to get started on your taxi accident claim, contact our team today.
No Win No Fee Taxi And Minicab Accident Claims
A No Win No Fee based personal injury claim is financially the safest way to make a taxi accident claim for compensation. This is because with no win no fee, there aren’t any costs upfront or fees throughout the claiming process, which in some cases can take several months or even years in more complex cases, instead, the fee is paid as a slight percentage (maximum of 25%) of the final settlement award and only if the case is successful. If the case doesn’t win, there aren’t any fees to be paid.
By offering this service, we are giving anyone who has been injured through someone else’s mistake, carelessness or negligence, has the opportunity to expert legal representation for their claim, giving them the chance of successfully claiming the compensation they are entitled to.
How To Make A Taxi Accident Claim
Contact Us
For further help, information, and advice on how to claim compensation, please contact us at Advice.co.uk on 0161 696 9685. One of our team will endeavour to fulfil your claim requirements as best they can, or follow the steps below.
| Contact our team by email, or telephone | Our team will assess your claim | Once you are ready, we can then start your claim |
Advice For Road Traffic Accident Victims
Below are some useful links leading to relevant websites where you will find further help and information on making a taxi accident claim.
The Motor Insurance Bureau will need to be involved if you have been injured through a hit and run taxi or minicab accident and so you may find this link helpful as it provides all the information about claiming through the MIB.
The government’s website showing interesting statistics regarding road traffic accidents in the UK.
Gov.UK – Taxi and Private Hire services
More government Information regarding taxi and private hire vehicles in the UK which you may find useful.
Other guides you may find useful
- Car Accident Claims
- Claim Compensation As A Passenger In A Car Accident
- HGV Accident Compensation
- Snow And Ice Car Accidents
- Learner Driver Car Accident
- What To Do After A Car Accident?
- Time Limit For A Car Accident Claim
- Proving A Car Accident Wasn’t Your Fault
- Time Limit On Car Accident Claims
- How To Report A Car Accident
- Car Insurance Excess Fees After An Accident
- Rights In A Car Accident
- What Should I Do If I’m Injured In A Car Accident?
- Who Pays The Excess Fees In A Rear End Car Accident?
- How Long Do You Have To Report A Car Accident?
- How Do You Prove Injuries Sustained In A Car Accident?
- Symptoms To Watch Out For After A Car Accident
- Can You Sue For A Car Accident With No Injuries?
- What Happens If You Get Injured In A Car Accident?
- Car Accident Injury Payouts
- Who Is Liable In A Multi Car Pile Up?
- Emergency Braking Bus Accident
- Can I Claim If A Car Accident Aggravated A Pre-existing Condition?
- Claim For Anxiety After A Car Accident
- Mud On The Road Car Accident
- How To Claim For An Accident During A Driving Lesson
Thank you for reading our guide on making a taxi accident claim. For more advice on claiming for a car accident, contact our team.