Any collision on the roads of South Carolina can cause serious injury to drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. But many injury victims who were involved in an accident with a negligent taxi driver wonder if the laws for their recovery apply in the same way as others.
Generally, people who are injured in accidents caused by taxi drivers can file a lawsuit similarly to those who were injured in accidents involving regular personal vehicles. To give yourself the best chance of success, call 911 at the scene, get medical attention immediately, and act quickly to enlist the help of a lawyer in pursuing your claim.
Our South Carolina car accident attorneys are standing by to assist you in seeking the compensation that you deserve. To learn more about your claim through a free first-time case evaluation, contact Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000.
When Can You Sue After a Taxi Accident in South Carolina?
Taxi accidents have the potential to harm not just drivers in other involved vehicles but passengers in the taxi itself, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians. If you were injured in a taxi accident in any way, you must understand your potential right to pursue damages through a lawsuit in South Carolina.
Taxi Hits Your Vehicle
If you were driving and were hit by a taxi driver, your case is essentially like any other car accident situation where one of the parties involved was negligent. You can file a lawsuit in South Carolina to recover compensation for all the harms that your experience and injuries cause you, provided that you can prove that the other driver was at fault and that you sustained damages as a result. The more complicated part of this is identifying whom to sue, as many taxi companies use complex business structures. This is an issue with which your Columbia car accident attorney should be familiar.
Taxi Hits Pedestrian or Bicyclist
You do not have to have been in a car or other motorized vehicle on the road to hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence behind the wheel. This is particularly relevant in accidents involving taxis, which often operate in urban areas that also feature more bicycle and foot traffic than suburban or rural regions.
Injured Taxi Passenger
Just because you voluntarily got into the taxicab does not mean that you accepted the risk that your driver would behave negligently. In fact, passengers who get hurt in a car accident usually have a more straightforward claim than another driver. This is because the passenger does not have to worry as much about determining fault; it is almost impossible to have a two-car accident without at least one of the drivers being deemed negligent. The injured passenger can, therefore, usually file a lawsuit naming one or more drivers and let the named parties sort out liability themselves.
What Should You Do After a Taxi Accident in South Carolina?
It may be difficult to think about your long-term monetary recovery in the time immediately following an accident. However, by taking a few critical steps, you can preserve your ability to recover the compensation to which you are entitled.
You should always call 911 after being involved in any type of car accident, regardless of whether you were a driver, passenger, or pedestrian. The officers who arrive at the scene will investigate the accident, take down the parties’ information, and compile their findings into an official police car accident report. This report is vital for filing an insurance claim or preparing a lawsuit.
While the officers should be able to handle getting information from all parties, you can bolster your evidence by getting information on your own. If your injuries do not prevent you from acting, you should try to speak with the taxi driver, any other parties involved in the accident, and any potential eyewitnesses that saw the accident happen. You can also take pictures and videos of the accident site, damage to vehicles, and road conditions, as these can be useful to support your claim later.
Once you leave the accident scene, your first stop should be your nearest hospital’s emergency room. It is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after an accident, not just to identify any underlying conditions and get critical treatment but also to establish a clear and direct record of the connection between the accident and your injuries.
After receiving immediate medical care, you should reach out to a Sumter, SC car accident attorney. Your lawyer will be able to assist you with the procedural aspects of your recovery that may prove difficult for most injury victims, such as gathering evidence, communicating with insurance representatives, estimating damages, and preparing official filings.
How Long Do You Have to Sue After a Taxi Accident in South Carolina?
It is important that you act quickly on your claim so that your opportunity does not expire. Like every other state, South Carolina has specific time regulations limiting how long a plaintiff has to file their official claim in court. This law, known as the statute of limitations, limits South Carolina car accident victims to three years after the date of their accident.
South Carolina courts take the statute of limitations seriously. If you file your claim too late, the court will almost certainly dismiss the case entirely, leaving you without an opportunity for recovery. With so much at stake, it is vital that you contact a seasoned Lexington car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your injuries have been treated.
Our South Carolina Taxi Accident Lawyers Can Help You File Your Lawsuit
To get your initial case assessment for free from one of our dedicated South Carolina personal injury attorneys, call Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers today at (803) 451-4000.
