How To Make Taxi Accident Claims

This guide will explain what taxi accident claims are and how you could make one if injured in a taxi accident. If you were a passenger or pedestrian when a taxi or minicab accident occurred, you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim. Depending on who is at fault for the accident will be contingent on who you will make the claim against. If you are a taxi driver injured in an accident that is not your fault, you too could be eligible to make a taxi accident claim. Your claim will usually be against a driver, a taxi company or a third party.

Every day, Advice helps people like you who have suffered traffic injuries. To see if you can claim, please get in touch with our team today. If you are eligible for compensation, an experienced solicitor from our panel can start work on your claim today.

Call our helpline on 0161 696 9685
Please fill out our online claims form to contact us
Alternatively, a team member can speak to you online if you use the Live Support widget.

What Are Taxi Accident Claims?

For this guide, a taxi accident is any road traffic accident involving a taxi. This guide will use taxi accidents as an umbrella term to include minicab accidents. Taxi accidents can injure the driver, the passengers, pedestrians or other people on the road.

Under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957, companies owe a duty of care to the public that use or visit their service, premises or property. A duty of care means that one party is legally responsible for another party’s health and safety. So, if a taxi company fails to maintain a vehicle to a safe standard, which leads to an accident, the company could be liable for any injuries caused.

Similarly, a taxi driver could have made an error whilst driving. Or the accident could have happened because of the negligent driving of another road user or due to poor road conditions. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, all road users have a duty of care towards other road users. So, if a road user is negligent on the roads such as a vehicle driver or cab driver, they could be responsible for any harm or damage that is caused.

If you are injured as a taxi passenger in an accident, you could be eligible to make a taxi passenger accident claim. Please contact Advice today to see if you are eligible to claim. There is a time limit to making personal injury claims, so please get in touch with our team to see if you are still within time to start your claim.

Types Of Taxi Accidents

Here are some examples of types of taxi accidents:

The taxi skids because the roads were not gritted
The taxi hits a pedestrian using the road
A taxi and another vehicle collide
The taxi driver and a cyclist or motorbike rider are involved in a road accident

Can You Claim If You Weren’t Wearing A Seat Belt?

Passengers are legally required to wear seat belts where they are provided. If you were injured in a taxi accident and were not wearing your seatbelt, it may be concluded that you are partially at fault for certain injuries you suffered. This is called contributory negligence and can affect how much compensation you receive in a successful personal injury claim.

Taxi accident claims can sometimes be a little complex, so why not call our advisors for free legal advice today? They can offer to assess your case free of charge.

Pedestrian Taxi Accident Claims

To make a pedestrian accident claim, the pedestrian will have to prove the taxi driver acted negligently and caused the accident in which they were injured. In some cases, the pedestrian may be liable for their injuries. For instance, if a pedestrian walked out into the path of the taxi or didn’t look before crossing the road.

If the pedestrian hit by a taxi is fully responsible for the accident, they cannot make a taxi accident claim. However, if the taxi driver and the pedestrian acted negligently and caused the accident, the pedestrian could make a split liability claim.

What Injuries Could You Claim For?

Taxi accidents can cause injuries that range from minor to severe. Here are some examples of injuries a taxi accident could cause:

If the taxi accident is particularly traumatic, the injured person may develop psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
A collision can cause broken or fractured bones, which can be debilitating and painful.
A serious taxi accident can lead to organ damage, which can be life-threatening.
The injured person may experience head injuries or a traumatic brain injury, which can lead to cognitive impairment.
The accident could cause nerve damage, which can cause long-term mobility problems.
Or the injured person may suffer from cuts, lacerations or other wounds.

Will The Whiplash Reform Program Affect My Claim?

Since the introduction of the Whiplash Reform Programme on 31st May 21, the way road users inside vehicles can make a personal injury claim has changed for some. If you have suffered soft tissue injuries such as whiplash and your injuries are valued at no more than £5000, you would make your claim through the Official Injury Claim portal. The table below has figures taken from The Whiplash Injury Regulation 2021, which is now used when awarding compensation for these types of injuries.

Duration Of Injury	Settlement Amount Under Regulation 2(1)(a)	Settlement Amount Under Regulation 2(1)(b)
Up to and including 3 months	£240	£260
Greater than 3 months, but no longer than 6 months	£495	£520
Greater than 6 months, but no longer than 9 months	£840	£895
Greater than 9 months, but no longer than 12 months	£1,320	£1,390
Greater than 12 months, but no longer than 15 months	£2,040	£2,125
Greater than 15 months, but no longer than 18 months	£3,005	£3,100
Greater than 18 months, but no longer than 24 months	£4,215	£4,345

We have included another table below for injuries that are not tariffed by The Whiplash Injury Regulation 2021 and for which you will not claim through the Official Injury Claim portal. To find out which way taxi accident claims will be made, call our advisors today.

Taxi Accident Claims Payout

If you make a successful taxi accident claim, you can receive up to two heads of loss. These are as follows:

General damages – compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenities caused.
Special damages – compensation for the out-of-pocket expenses your injuries caused.

Claimants often receive compensation for the following special damages:

Travel expenses
Medical expenses
Specialist care costs
Reimbursement for loss of earnings
If the claimant becomes disabled, they can claim compensation for mobility equipment and adapt their home or car.

We have used the Judicial College Guidelines JCG (16th edition) for the compensation amounts brackets. Personal injury solicitors use the JCG to calculate general damages.

Severity And Injury	Injury Notes	Guideline Amounts
Very Severe Head Or Brain Injury	The brain injury could leave the person with little to no meaningful response to their environment, no language function and double incontinence.	£282,010 to £403,990
Severe (A i) Back Injury	The person could be left in severe pain and suffer incomplete paraplegia. This has resulted from spinal cord damage and damage to the nerve roots.	£91,090 to £160,980
Severe Neck Injury (A i)	The person may have been left with incomplete paraplegia and little movement in the neck even though a collar has been worn constantly for years.	Approximately £148,330
Severe Pelvic Or Hip Injury (A i)	Fractures of the pelvis that are extensive and cause a dislocation of the lower back that leads to spinal fusion.	£78,400 to £130,930
Severe Arm Injuries (A)	An injury which does not require the amputation of the arm, but which leaves the person little better off.	£96,160 to £130,930
Severe Knee Injury (A i)	An injury that can cause gross ligamentous damage, considerable pain and loss of function.	£69,730 to £96,210
Severe Shoulder Injury (A)	An injury that will effect the brachial plexus. The person could be left with a severe disability.	£19,200 to £48,030
Arm Injuries (D)	Forearm fractures that are considered of a simple nature.	£6,610 to £19,200
Less Severe Elbow Injuries	An injury to the elbow which has impaired the function of the joint.	£15,650 to £32,010

Special damages are excluded. If you call Advice’s helpline, an advisor can help you to estimate how much compensation you could claim.

Make Your Taxi Accident Claim

To see if you can claim compensation for a taxi accident, please get in touch with us today. An advisor can assess your case, and if you have a valid reason to claim, Advice.co.uk can help you. They could introduce you to a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel who could offer to take on your case under a Conditional Fee Agreement.

The benefits of using a No Win No Fee solicitor:

You won’t be charged a solicitors fee before starting the claims process.
If the claim fails, generally, you have nothing to pay for the solicitor’s service.
Instead, you will pay a pre-set success fee if you win your claim.

Please enquire with our team to see if you meet the criteria to claim for a taxi accident: