Taxi / Rideshare Accidents
Not everybody in Atlanta can rely on public transportation to get where they need to go. People who do not own automobiles are frequently forced to rely on the services provided by taxi companies, commercial carriers, and rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.
In recent years, traditional taxi providers have seen increasing competition from ridesharing services that allow users to make reservations and pay fares through mobile apps. Just like any other motor vehicles, taxis and rideshare automobiles can be involved in crashes on Georgia highways.
When a passenger in one of these types of vehicles suffers injuries because of an accident, he or she can be entitled to compensation. Taxi companies and rideshare services are both required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, but there are some important differences in the amounts of coverage and which additional parties may be liable.
Atlanta Lawyer for Taxi Accidents
If you sustained serious injuries or your loved one was killed in a rideshare or taxi crash in Georgia, you could be entitled to compensation for any lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies for these types of vehicles will aggressively try to get you to accept a settlement as quickly as possible, but it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel so you can ensure that you get every dollar you need and deserve.
Atlanta attorney ReShea Balams fights to get justice for people who have been hurt or lost loved ones in taxi or rideshare wrecks. She handles cases inside and outside the Perimeter, including communities in Clayton County, Gwinnett County, Fulton County, Cobb County, and DeKalb County.
You do not need to worry about paying The Balams Firm anything up front for legal services, as we represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means you only pay if you obtain a financial award, and we also offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case as soon as you call (404) 445-2005.
Georgia Rideshare Accidents Information Center
- How many taxi services are there in Atlanta?
- How are rideshare companies different from ordinary taxis?
- What are some of the challenges in these types of cases?
- Where can I learn more about these issues?
Atlanta Area Taxi Companies
“The A” is home to hundreds of different taxi companies. These companies provide services all over the greater Atlanta area. Some of the most popular companies in Georgia include:
- Ambassador Taxi Service;
- American Cab Company;
- Atlanta Checker Cab Company Inc.;
- Atlanta Lenox Taxi;
- Atlanta On Time Cab Service;
- Atlanta Royal Cabbies;
- Atlanta Yellow Metro Cabz;
- Buckhead Safety Cab Co.;
- Cancun Taxi;
- Cascade Cab Company;
- Checker Cab;
- City Wide Taxi;
- Crown Taxi Cab Company;
- Dollar Taxicab;
- Dunwoody Cab;
- Economy Taxi;
- Emory Safety Cab Company;
- Franchise Taxi;
- Isaiah’s Taxi Cab & Airport Transportation Service;
- National Cab Company;
- North Springs Taxi Company;
- Omega Taxicab;
- Peach Cab Company;
- Rapid Taxi Company;
- Style Taxi;
- Su-Taxi;
- United Express; and
- Yellow Cab.
Unfortunately, taxi drivers in Georgia are not required to carry any more liability insurance than other non-commercial drivers. A can driver could feasibly have as little as $25,000 of coverage per victim and $50,000 for all victims.
The drivers themselves are not the only parties who may be liable though. Additional parties who could be held responsible include:
- Taxi Cab and Rideshare Companies — Most companies including Taxi companies and Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft will attempt to evade any liability be stating that drivers were independent contractors, but these companies could still be responsible if it can be proven that they hired drivers with poor driving records or criminal records;
- The City of Atlanta — The city regulates this industry and is responsible for ensuring that the vehicles companies put on the road are safe; and
- Other Drivers — If another motorist is at fault for a crash, then his or her insurance company could be responsible for compensating the victim.
Rideshare Providers in Atlanta, GA
In May 2015, Georgia enacted House Bill 225 which regulates rideshare drivers and services. The bill made it state law that firms such as Uber and Lyft maintain $1 million liability policy for drivers transporting passengers and $300,000 when drivers are between fares without any passengers.
Despite these higher amounts of liability coverage, rideshare companies will use tactics similar to many local taxi companies and claim that their drivers are independent contractors. Whether or not the company will be liable frequently depends on whether the driver is “on the clock.”
Lyft and Uber drivers rely on their apps while they are working, but their own personal insurance policies will be used to cover the cost of any accidents when they are not using the app and acting as a rideshare driver. It should be noted that drivers who are using these apps while driving are at increased risk of causing distracted driving crashes.
Proving Liability After a Taxi Accident
A significant disparity clearly exists between the insurance requirements of traditional taxis and rideshare vehicles. While an Uber or Lyft driver may have a greater amount of insurance behind his or her vehicle, it does not mean that the insurance company will be more inclined to pay it.
Keep in mind that rideshare and taxi companies will go to great lengths to deny their liability. Georgia courts can often be sympathetic to these claims, so it is critical to make sure that you are being represented by a personal injury lawyer who is highly knowledgeable in investigating these types of vehicle accidents and holding negligent parties accountable.
Insurance companies may attempt to offer some victims settlements with hopes that they will sign agreements that prevent them from taking any future legal action. You should absolutely refuse to sign anything or make any recorded statement until you have spoken to an attorney first.
Resources for Taxi and Rideshare Accidents in Georgia
House Bill 225 | 2015-2016 Regular Session — Read the full text of the legislation that was signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal. In addition to insurance requirements, House Bill 225 also established key provisions relating to background checks for drivers.
Georgia Institute of Technology Calculator – TaxiFareFinder — This Georgia Institute of Technology (more commonly known as Georgia Tech or GT) website uses a proprietary algorithm to calculate cab fares using Atlanta, GA taxi rates. It includes both traditional taxi cab companies as well as reideshare services such as Lyft and Uber.
Find a Taxi / Rideshare Accidents Lawyer in the Atlanta Area
Did you suffer severe injuries or was your loved one killed in a taxi or rideshare crash in Georgia? Whether you were a passenger in one of these vehicles or you were in another automobile that was struck by a negligent Uber, Lyft, or taxi driver, you could be entitled to compensation.
Atlanta personal injury attorney ReShea Balams helps these types of accident victims from communities such as Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Decatur, College Park, Lawrenceville, Smyrna, East Point, Marietta, Duluth, Forest Park, Roswell, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Milton, Riverdale, and Norcross.
The Balams Firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis, which means our firm charges you nothing if we do not get you a financial award. ReShea Balams will provide a thorough evaluation of your case during a free, no obligation consultation as soon as you call (404) 445-2005.
