Can You Sue After a Taxi Accident in Indiana?

When you hail a taxi, you likely expect a short trip and don’t think twice about arriving at your destination. However, if you are injured in an unexpected accident, you may be left with serious injuries that make a major impact on your life and leave you with significant medical bills and other debt. In these situations you may have a right to substantial compensation for your injuries.

After a taxi accident, you may be entitled to recovery against the taxi driver, the driver’s employer, and any other person that contributed to your injuries. Often, insurance companies act unfairly in these situations and attempt to pressure injury victims into accepting payments which are far less than their cases are actually worth. In these situations, the insurers may rely on the fact that the injury victim is under financial pressure and does not have legal counsel to advise them.

It is very important that victims of a taxi accident get legal assistance as soon as possible, both to preserve evidence and to make sure that they understand their legal rights and aren’t taken advantage of by the insurance companies. Our experienced Indiana car accident attorneys are ready to help. For a free evaluation of your case, call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166.

Legal Options After a Taxi Accident in Indiana

After a taxi accident, many injured drivers immediately try to seek recovery from insurance companies without legal help. The act of making an insurance claim is very important and is usually the beginning of the legal process of recovery. However, there are many mistakes that can be made at this stage of the process that can jeopardize an injury victim’s ability to recover. Insurance companies are very experienced in developing tactics designed to pay as little as possible on claims.

We understand these tactics and can advise you on how to best manage this part of the process. Many people wrongly believe that the legal process of recovery doesn’t begin until after an insurance claim is denied. In reality, it is very important to have legal representation when dealing with the insurance company as this can be the difference between a full recovery and getting far less than what is owed.

If initial attempts to resolve the claim with the insurance company are unsuccessful, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit after a car accident. Insurance companies often resist paying the full amount of claims during the initial settlement process, especially when the claimant is not represented by a lawyer. In these situations, our Indiana taxi accident attorneys can help file a lawsuit on your behalf to obtain the compensation you need and deserve.

Pursuing a lawsuit through a skilled law firm is a powerful weapon because courts and juries are impartial and the courts are a level playing field. While behemoth insurance companies may be worth billions of dollars, they have no more power in a courtroom than an injury victim who is represented by experienced Indianapolis car accident attorneys.

When Should I File a Lawsuit After a Taxi Accident in Indiana?

Usually, the first step in the recovery process is to fully investigate the accident, gather and preserve evidence, and determine the potentially responsible parties. From there, we will identify all potential insurance companies and put them on notice of your claims and their duty to preserve evidence. Acting from a position of strength, we will often then attempt to negotiate a settlement on your behalf without even having to file a lawsuit.

However, our Indiana taxi accident lawyers are ready to file a lawsuit when the insurance companies fail to meet their obligations. We will do so as soon as it is clear that presuit resolution is not possible. We are also mindful of of the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Indiana.

Pursuant to Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, a plaintiff has only 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Indiana. This statute of limitations begins to run the day of your taxi accident. While 2 years might seem like plenty of time to find a lawyer and begin a lawsuit, it is actually a narrow window of time. There is a lot of initial work, like gathering evidence, finding witnesses, assessing damages, and presuit negotiations that must happen before filing your initial complaint. For this reason, it is important to begin as soon after your accident as possible to allow plenty of time to complete our work.

Why Should I Sue After a Taxi Accident in Indiana?

If you were injured through someone else’s negligence, including a careless taxi driver, you are entitled to damages. The aftermath of a crash not only has financial consequences, but it also can have physical and emotional consequences which can be long lasting and life changing.

If you were injured as a passenger in a taxi, you likely had no control over what led to these injuries, although you bear the consequence. Indiana law provides you have a right to full money compensation for these injuries, and the relevant insurance companies are responsible for paying this compensation together with the people who injured you.

If these insurance companies and at-fault parties refuse to pay you what is rightfully owed, you have been injured a second time and have the right to be made whole. When presuit negotiations are unsuccessful, filing a lawsuit will allow you to hold these parties responsible in a court of law.

How Do I Start a Lawsuit After an Indiana Taxi Accident?

The first step you should take before talking to an insurance company or beginning a lawsuit is to hire a skilled, experienced attorney. Our Milwaukee car accident attorneys have helped many car accident victims in the past, and we are prepared to fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Once hired, your lawyer will take over the entire legal process, including talking to insurance companies and preparing and filing your lawsuit.

A lawsuit starts by filing a complaint, which must contain specific details about you, the defendant, the accident, and your damages. Your complaint does not have to include every piece of evidence possible, but will be specific enough to show the court that your lawsuit presents a matter of dispute. The complaint must also specify the damages and relief that you are seeking.

Once filed, our Fort Wayne car accident lawyers will gather and prepare evidence, develop legal strategies, and prepare for further settlement negotiations. While we prepare for a trial, the court’s will almost always require that the parties meet for a formal “mediation” which is a type of settlement meeting where an outside mediator tries to help the parties negotiate a resolution of the case. All cases are different, but the vast majority of the cases we handle that require a lawsuit are settled as a part of the mediation process.

However, when the defendants and their insurance companies continue to refuse to pay the full value of your case, we will take your case to trial before a jury and hold them accountable in the courtroom.

Call Our Indiana Taxi Accident Lawyers for Help

If you were hurt in a crash with a taxi, our Hammond taxi accident lawyers can help you file a lawsuit to get justice for your injuries and expenses. For a free case evaluation, call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166.