Three People Injured in Upper East Side Taxicab Crash

 A taxicab accident on the Upper East Side sent one of the taxis onto the sidewalk injuring a toddler and two passengers. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the taxi van was driving west on East 85th Street when it struck another cab broadside pushing it onto the sidewalk dining area of a restaurant on Second Avenue. Witnesses said the impact sounded like a bomb went off. The vehicle crashed through tables and chairs injuring a 1-year-old boy who was sitting in a stroller next to his father.

Red Light Violation
Witnesses also said one of the cabs ran a red light at the intersection. The vehicle that was T-boned then jumped onto the sidewalk. Several people got out of the way in a hurry as the cab struck a railing and then climbed the curb. Officials say without the railing, more people would have been injured.
Both of the taxicab drivers remained at the scene. The passengers in one of the cabs, a 46-year-old woman and her 9-year-old daughter, were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Neither driver was charged in connection with the crash and police are still looking into what caused the collision.
Injured in a Taxi Accident?
Whether you are a passenger, pedestrian or occupant of another vehicle who has been injured in a taxi accident, there are a number of steps you can take in order to protect your rights. First, make sure you get the driver’s license numbers and proof of insurance from all parties involved in the crash. If you have been injured and need to get to the hospital right away, ask a family member or friend to secure that information for you. Some of the crucial pieces of information needed include the taxi driver’s name, registration number and contact information for the taxicab company, if you can get that information.
Take detailed photographs of the accident scene. File a police report and obtain a copy for your records. Get contact information for any witnesses at the scene. Obtain prompt medical attention, treatment and care. Never admit fault or provide statements to an insurance company. Contact an experienced New York City taxi accident lawyer who can help evaluate your legal rights and options, and who can obtain the police report for you.
Liability Issues
A number of parties may be held liable for injuries and damages sustained in a taxi accident depending on the nature and circumstances of the crash. In cases where the taxi driver caused the crash, he or she may be held liable for the injuries and damages. In such cases, the taxi company and/or the driver’s employer may also be held liable. If the accident occurred due to the fault or negligence of another driver, he or she may be held accountable. Taxi companies owe their passengers the highest duty of care, which means they owe a duty to passengers as “common carriers” to ensure their safety. Taxi companies have a responsibility to safely operate the vehicles as well as maintain them.
Taxicabs are also required by the New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission to carry a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 in liability insurance coverage. This means that when a person is injured in a taxicab or while traveling as a passenger in a taxicab, he or she has minimum insurance coverage of $100,000 available.
But, if more than one person is injured, there is a maximum of at least $300,000 of liability insurance available to the injured victims. New York also has a “No-Fault” insurance system, which means that an injured person’s basic economic losses are covered regardless of whose fault the accident was. Most taxicab companies carry a minimum No-Fault coverage of $50,000 in addition to liability insurance coverage. This coverage usually helps pay for economic damages such as medical expenses, lost income and other costs.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of taxi accidents can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injury, disability, loss of earning capacity, loss of life’s enjoyment, past and future pain and suffering, etc. The family of a deceased victim can seek compensation as well by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a taxicab accident or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a reckless driver or due to someone else’s negligence, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. We have recovered $4,625,000 and $5,600,000 for motor vehicle accident victims.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/injured-including-kid-manhattan-taxi-crash-article-1.3370123