Hailing a cab in Chicago represents one of the most convenient ways to get around the Windy City.
Whether you are bar hopping in Lincoln Park or shuttling from Soldier Field to a western suburb, taking a taxi eliminates the need to find one of the limited parking spaces downtown and throughout the rest of Chicago.
Although cabs are a convenient way to get around Chicago, a Chicago taxi, or any taxi, can cause a motor vehicle accident.
If a Chicago taxi, or any taxi, hit your car while you were in the Windy City, you might have a claim to file in a civil court that seeks monetary damages.
You first have to organize any financial documents such as medical bills and auto repair receipts, before contacting a personal injury lawyer who specializes in handling cases that involve taxi accidents.
How to Handle an Accident with a Taxi
If you received one or more serious injuries, your focus should be getting to a hospital as quickly as possible.
Contacting 911 not only expedites your trip to seek medical care, but it also directs the Chicago Police Department to the accident scene.
While you receive medical care, law enforcement officers will complete an exhaustive investigation at the scene of the accident to determine what caused it.
The official police report is the most important document you will hand over to your personal injury lawyer.
An accident with a Chicago taxi, or any taxi, might not require immediate medical care.
Your primary responsibility is to collect evidence at the accident scene. Start by taking photographs of the damage caused to your vehicle, as well as images of the surrounding area.
Weather conditions might have played a role in causing the crash or maybe of the driver was negligent behind the wheel of the cab.
Interview witnesses to the accident, with the focus on interviewing any passengers riding in the taxi.
Receiving Compensation for an Accident with a Chicago Taxi
Just because you did not receive a serious injury because of an auto accident with a Chicago taxi, or any taxi, does not mean you should not see a doctor.
Hidden injuries like a concussion or the delayed symptoms of whiplash require extensive medical treatment.
Whatever the reason for visiting a physician, you need to make copies of every bill to present as evidence during a civil court hearing.
Medical expenses can run into the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Negligence by a Chicago cab driver, or any cab driver, might mean you are eligible to receive punitive damages.
This type of monetary damage punishes a taxi company for one or more negative behaviors that directly led to the accident.
Here are some examples of driver negligence:
- Overly aggressive driving
- Violating one or more traffic laws
- Texting while driving
- Interacting with the cab’s computer system
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Some cab companies require drivers to take a drug test in the aftermath of a vehicle accident. Your attorney will handle the paperwork for confirming the results of a drug test.
Most personal injury lawyers offer a free case evaluation to determine the strength of a personal injury claim.
You should choose an attorney who operates on a contingency fee basis.
Additional Resources
- When Do I File a Claim After an Accident With a Taxi?
- Finding an Attorney After You Were in a Taxi Crash
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against a Chicago taxi, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
