Residents and visitors alike often need to rely on motor vehicles for getting around Atlanta. When public transportation is not an option, people frequently turn to local taxi companies or rideshare services—transportation network company (TNC) platforms that connect passengers with drivers who provide transportation—such as Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, or Arcade City.
If a passenger or pedestrian suffers serious injuries as the result of a taxi or rideshare driver’s negligence, the injured individual can be entitled to compensation. While taxi companies and rideshare services both provide rides to passengers in Atlanta, there is a significant difference in the liability insurance requirements for each.
If you sustained catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in a taxi or ridesharing crash anywhere in Georgia, it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. Marcus A. Roberts & Associates represents clients injured in all kinds of automobile collisions in Cobb County, Clayton County, Fulton County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, and many other surrounding areas.
Atlanta personal injury attorney Marcus A. Roberts can fight to get you the compensation you need and deserve for your lost wages, medical expenses, and other damages. He can provide a complete evaluation of your case as soon as you call 404-577-4444 to take advantage of a free, no obligation consultation.
Atlanta has several different cab companies of different sizes throughout the city limits. Some firms are large operations with hundreds of vehicles while others are smaller operations with perhaps only a single car.
Accidents involving taxis in Atlanta can be especially complicated because any one of the following could be considered as having engaged in negligent conduct that caused or contributed to a person suffering a serious injury:
Taxi drivers in Georgia are not required to carry any more liability insurance than non-commercial drivers. This means that many cab drivers in Atlanta often have the bare minimum of $25,000 coverage per victim and $50,000 for all victims, an amount that can be inadequate for covering the significant damages resulting from taxi crashes.
Some of the most popular cab companies in the Atlanta area include, but are not limited to:
Rideshare companies such as Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Arcade City essentially provide a service that is the same as most taxi companies in Atlanta, but passengers can usually arrange rides through cell phone apps or other electronic means not available to most cab companies. Generally, accidents caused by rideshare drivers often share many similarities to crashes caused by taxi drivers because both drivers often encounter similar issues while operating.
The key difference between accidents caused by traditional taxi drivers and those caused by rideshare drivers is the state law in Georgia requires rideshare companies to maintain much higher minimum liability limits for their drivers. The enactment of House Bill (HB) in May 2015 required all rideshare firms to maintain $1 million liability policies for drivers transporting passengers and $300,000 when drivers are between fares without any passengers.
Despite the increased minimum liability limits, rideshare companies can be just as—if not more—difficult to obtain compensation from than taxi companies. Both taxi and rideshare services will typically attempt to deny their liability by claiming drivers were independent contractors who may have been “off the clock” when accidents occurred.
It is critical for any person who is injured in any kind of crash caused by a taxi or rideshare driver to not say or sign anything without first speaking to a personal injury lawyer. An experienced attorney will not only identify all possible sources of compensation, but will also know the most effective ways to seek compensation.
Georgia Institute of Technology Calculator | TaxiFareFinder — Visit this Georgia Institute of Technology (more commonly known as Georgia Tech or GT) website to calculate your cab fare using taxi rates in Atlanta. TaxiFareFinder’s calculations are based on a proprietary algorithm that takes into account a multitude of considerations, and actual fares can vary depending on unforeseen factors. The website claims that its “fare estimates are known to be the most accurate of any taxi website.”
House Study Committee on For-Hire Transportation Services — The House Study Committee on For-Hire Transportation Services was established to further study after HB 907—which sought to provide for a state sanctioned background check and vehicle inspection for for-hire transportation services—was introduced during the 2014 Legislative Session. On December 31, 2014, the committee released this report, which includes several considerations and recommendations. The report specifically states that “Georgia consumers should be fully aware of the terms and conditions they agree to when agreeing to such rideshare services.”
Did you suffer serious injuries or was your loved one killed in a crash caused by a rideshare or taxi driver in Georgia? Do not make any statements to insurance companies without first contacting Marcus A. Roberts & Associates.
Marcus A. Roberts is an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta who represents individuals all over Clayton County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, and Gwinnett County. Call 404-577-4444 or submit an online contact form to have our attorney review your case and help you understand all of your legal options during a free initial consultation.