Many people use taxi cabs in Lakewood, Colorado. Like all other vehicles, taxis are subject to being involved in traffic accidents. If you were injured in a taxi accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
However, you must submit and prove a claim to recover money for your damages. Working with an experienced Lakewood taxi accident lawyer can increase your chance of receiving a fair settlement.
Our Colorado personal injury lawyers at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers have nearly 40 years of combined legal experience. We have won millions for our clients and are ready to help you, too.
Contact Matos Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Lakewood taxi accident attorneys to discuss your case or call at 720-912-7274.
How Matos Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover Compensation After a Taxi Accident in Lakewood, Colorado
Accidents and crashes involving taxi cabs happen for many reasons. If a taxi driver or another party was negligent, you may have a legal claim against them for the losses and harm the accident caused you. However, insurance companies and at-fault parties are uninterested in your pain and suffering. Instead, they try to avoid liability for your claim.
Taxi accident cases may be complicated. The taxi driver could be an independent contractor, or they may own the taxi cab. Other parties could be partially to blame for the accident. Sorting out these details takes time, experience, and resources.
When you hire our top-rated Lakewood personal injury lawyers, we handle these matters for you. You can expect us to:
- Investigate the cause of the taxi accident to determine who is responsible for causing the crash
- Analyze copies of accident and police reports for evidence proving fault
- Work with leading expert witnesses when necessary, including accident reconstructionists, financial professionals, and medical experts
- Determine how much your taxi accident claim is worth based on your damages
- File insurance claims and negotiate fair settlements
- Defend you against claims that you are partly to blame for causing the taxi accident
- Take your case to court if the at-fault parties refuse to pay a fair amount for your injury claim
At Matos Personal Injury Lawyers, we limit the number of cases we take so that our attorneys can devote the time and resources necessary to each case. Our entire legal practice is devoted to personal injury cases.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced taxi accident lawyer in Lakewood, CO. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay any attorney’s fees unless and until we win money for your case.
Why Do Taxi Accidents Happen in Lakewood, CO?
Negligence (carelessness) by one or more parties is usually why crashes happen. The most common causes of taxi accidents include:
- Drowsy and fatigued driving
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Driving under the influence
- Illegal turns and lane changes
- Running red lights
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Tailgating and following too closely
- Distracted driving
Other factors could play a role in the cause of a taxi accident. For example, lack of adequate maintenance and failure to make necessary repairs could cause a mechanical problem that leads to a crash (i.e., tire blowouts, brake failures, and more). Road conditions may also contribute to the cause of a taxi accident.
Who Is Liable for Damages in a Taxi Accident in Colorado?
Colorado tort laws hold parties who contributed to the cause of the accident liable for damages. Potentially liable parties for a taxi accident claim include:
- The taxi driver
- The taxi company
- The other of the taxi cab
- Other motorists
- Pedestrians and bicyclists
- Repair and maintenance facilities
- Parts and car manufacturers
- Government entity
- Passengers
Identifying the parties responsible for contributing to the cause of the accident is essential. Our legal team at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers pursues all parties who could be liable for your damages.
Common Injuries in Lakewood Taxi Accidents
As with other car accidents, a taxi accident can cause severe injuries. Possible taxi accident injuries include:
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Fractured and broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash
You should be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident. Delays in medical care could raise questions about the severity of your injuries or whether the taxi accident caused your injuries. You don’t want to give the insurance company or at-fault party any reason to doubt the crash caused your injuries.
What Damages Can I Receive for a Taxi Accident in Lakewood, CO?
The court cannot undo what happened to you. However, it can hold the party who caused your injuries responsible for damages. Accident victims in Colorado can recover compensation for their economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical therapy and other rehabilitative care
In addition to economic damages, an accident victim can receive money for their pain and suffering damages. These losses are referred to as non-economic damages and include:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Impairments and disabilities
- Diminished quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Physical discomfort and pain
- Scarring and disfigurement
The amount you receive for damages depends on the facts of your taxi accident case. For example, the severity of your injuries, the parties involved in the case, and the availability of insurance coverage are factors that could impact how much your taxi accident claim is worth.
Our Lakewood taxi accident lawyers analyze each factor to determine how it impacts your case to maximize the settlement or jury verdict.
Does Contributory Fault Apply in Lakewood Taxi Accident Cases?
Contributory fault prevents an accident victim from receiving compensation for damages if they share any fault for the cause of their injuries. Colorado adopted a modified comparative negligence law that sets a 50% bar for damages. If the accident victim is 50% or more to blame for the accident, they cannot recover damages.
However, you can recover damages if you are less than 50% to blame for the taxi accident. The court will reduce your damages award by the percentage of fault the jurors assign to you for contributing to the cause of the crash.
Comparative negligence applies in taxi accident cases. Anyone who contributes to the cause of the accident is liable for damages relative to their level of fault.
Generally, passengers are not liable for damages in a car accident case. However, passenger negligence could have contributed to the cause of the taxi accident. Examples of passenger negligence include hitting or grabbing the driver, distracting the driver by yelling or doing something dangerous, and grabbing the steering wheel.
If you were partially to blame for the cause of the taxi accident, your compensation could be reduced or barred. Talk with your Lakewood taxi accident lawyers immediately if someone accuses you of being partially to blame for the accident.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Tax Accident Lawsuits in Lakewood, CO?
A statute of limitations restricts the time you have to file a lawsuit. The court can dismiss the case if you file your lawsuit after the filing deadline expires. The judge does not need to consider whether you have a valid claim before dismissing the lawsuit.
Colorado’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the injury date. However, you have three years to file a lawsuit for a car accident claim.
There are exceptions to the general rules for the time limits to file personal injury lawsuits. We strongly recommend contacting our Lakewood taxi accident attorneys as soon as possible to discuss your case.
Steps To Take After a Taxi Accident in Lakewood, CO
If you are involved in a taxi accident, it is essential you take steps to protect your rights. Regardless of your role in the accident, steps to take include:
- Call 911 to report the accident
- Make a video of the accident scene and take pictures to preserve evidence
- Ask bystanders and witnesses for their names, cell numbers, and contact information
- Do not admit fault or apologize for the cause of the taxi accident
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries
- Do not discuss the accident details with anyone other than the police officers and your attorney
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and document your expenses and losses
Seeking legal advice from an experienced Lakewood car accident attorney is also wise. An attorney can help you take further steps to protect your rights while helping you avoid mistakes that could hurt your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lakewood Taxi Accident Lawyers
A taxi accident can cause devastating injuries. If you or a loved one is the victim of a taxi accident in Colorado, call Matos Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case review with a Lakewood taxi accident attorney. We can help you pursue a claim to recover compensation for your damages.
Our personal injury law firm in Lakewood, CO, also provides:
- Car Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Brain Injury Attorneys in Lakewood, CO
- Bus Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Construction Accident Attorneys in Lakewood, CO
- Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Product Liability Attorneys in Lakewood, CO
- Truck Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Workplace Accident Lawyers in Lakewood, CO
- Wrongful Death Attorneys in Lakewood, CO