Can I Sue the Bus or Taxi Company for Personal Injury?
The law imposes stricter requirements for those organizations in the business of transporting people- called “common carriers”. There are additional duties imposed on these common carriers: As Attorney Eric T. Kirk will tell you.
The utmost degree of care, skill and diligence in everything that concerns its passenger’s safety.1
A common carrier is one who engages in public transportation for a fee. Buses and taxis are common carriers. They owe this heightened duty to passengers. Someone may be a passenger, even if they don’t pay the fare.
The unfortunate rub in many cases invovling taxi services is the lack of insurance. Although the driver is under a stricter obligation, as set forth above, his or her liability is often not in dispute.
The amount of collectible insurance, or collectible funds, period, often is. Many taxi service operators employ a purported “independent contractor” business model. Under this arrangement, the cab owner operates as part of a larger association. The cab owner “leases” the cab [often with their name on the side] to a cab driver, who then delivers services to customers as an “independent contractor”, not an employee, at least according to the cab companies. It’s a fine legal, but vitally important, distinction. An employer is responsible for injuries caused by his or her employees. One using the services of an independent contractor is not responsible for injuries caused by the contractor.
I routinely try cases that involve common carriers, and have done so for many years. I’d be happy to apply that background and experience to your claim. Contact me today to arrange a complimentary legal analysis and strategy session.
FN1. Maryland Pattern Jury Instruction 8:3.
- Baltimore Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Eric T. Kirk
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- Baltimore Insurance Claims Denial Lawyer
For over three decades, I have battled against the nation’s largest insurance companies, always endeavoring to ensure my clients receive the compensation they deserve. As lead counsel in thousands of cases across Maryland, New York, and Florida, I have recovered millions for clients whose claims were wrongfully denied and delayed. Whether denying fair compensation for a personal injury victim or denying benefits to a homeowner, Insurance companies employ policy exclusions, technicalities, and lowball offers to deny and defeat claims. They also hire very good lawyers to fight you in court. So should you. When an insurance company unfairly rejects a claim, I stop them.
