Were you or a family member injured in a car accident involving a taxi in Crowley, LA? You may deserve compensation for medical bills, loss of income, pain, trauma, and other injury-related losses. An experienced Crowley taxi accident lawyer at Kenny Habetz Injury Law is prepared to help you fight for a full financial recovery.
Our founding attorney has over a decade of experience in personal injury law. To date, he’s used his legal skills and knowledge to help accident victims recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
A taxi accident claim in Crowley isn’t governed by the same rules as an ordinary car accident, or a rideshare accident, for that matter. Louisiana law treats taxis as common carriers, which means the driver and company owe passengers a far higher duty of care than a typical motorist owes other drivers on the road. That distinction can make or break a claim.
Now, our team is prepared to help you fight to hold the at-fault party accountable. Contact our law offices in Crowley, Louisiana, to schedule a free consultation with a Crowley taxi accident attorney, or call us at (337) 329-8883 and learn more about how we’ll protect your rights.
Why Taxis Are Held to a Different Legal Standard Than Rideshare Drivers
This is the single biggest difference between a taxi claim and an Uber or Lyft claim, and it’s worth understanding before you talk to an insurance adjuster.
Louisiana law expressly lists taxis among common carriers (La. R.S. 46:1953), and Louisiana courts have consistently held that common carriers owe their passengers the “highest degree of care” and are liable for even “the slightest negligence” that causes injury. Even more significant: once a fare-paying passenger shows they were injured while riding, the burden shifts to the taxi company to prove it wasn’t negligent, not the other way around.
Rideshare drivers don’t get this classification in Louisiana. Uber and Lyft are regulated separately, under a tiered insurance framework (La. R.S. 45:201.6) rather than common-carrier duty law. Practically speaking, that means a taxi passenger often starts from a stronger legal position than a rideshare passenger does in an otherwise identical crash.
How Taxis Are Regulated in Acadia Parish
Unlike rideshare drivers, who self-certify through an app, taxi companies operating in Crowley must be permitted and insured under Louisiana Public Service Commission rules before they can put a single cab on the road. That includes:
- A minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per Louisiana Public Service Commission taxi regulations
- Vehicle inspection and permitting requirements
- Compliance with local business licensing through Crowley City Hall
Acadia Parish’s taxi service has historically run through Acadia Cab Co, based on North Parkerson Avenue in downtown Crowley, the parish’s longest-standing licensed cab operator. (Mentioned for local context only; we do not endorse or profit from any referral to this or any other company.) Because Crowley has a small, concentrated taxi market rather than dozens of competing companies, most local taxi accident claims involve the same handful of vehicles, drivers, and permits, which can actually work in your favor when it comes to obtaining maintenance records, permit history, and prior complaint records.
What Causes Most Taxi Accidents in Crowley?
Taxi drivers are often rushed between fares, and in a small market like Crowley, that usually means:
- Distracted driving, including phone use between dispatches
- Speeding to make up time between pickups
- Unsafe stops in the downtown Parkerson Avenue business district to load or unload passengers
- Fatigue from long shifts, particularly during Rice Festival season when downtown demand spikes
- Failure to yield or unsafe lane changes on LA Highway 13 and other routes leading in and out of downtown
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Taxi Accident?
As a taxi passenger, you can pursue both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical bills, current and future
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life
- Punitive damages, in cases involving an intoxicated or reckless driver
Proving Your Case: Why the Presumption Matters
In an ordinary car accident, you have to prove all four elements of negligence yourself: duty, breach, causation, and damages. As a fare-paying taxi passenger, Louisiana’s common-carrier presumption does much of that work for you; showing that you were injured while riding as a paying passenger creates a presumption of negligence that the taxi company then has to rebut.
That doesn’t mean the case builds itself. We still gather:
- The police crash report
- Your medical records
- The driver’s permit and complaint history
- The taxi company’s vehicle inspection and maintenance records
- Witness statements
But it does mean the taxi company starts the case on the back foot, not you.
What If I Wasn’t a Passenger in the Taxi?
The heightened common-carrier duty applies specifically to the taxi’s own paying passengers. If you were injured as a driver of another vehicle, a cyclist, or a pedestrian struck by a taxi, your claim proceeds under Louisiana’s ordinary negligence and pure comparative fault rules, the same as any other car accident case, meaning you can still recover even if you share some fault, reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit in Louisiana?
You have two years from the date of the accident to file suit (one year if it happened before 7/1/24). Don’t wait to get an attorney involved, especially since permit and inspection records can be harder to obtain the longer you wait.
How Kenny Habetz Injury Law Can Help After a Taxi Accident in Crowley
Cabs remain a popular option even though Uber and Lyft are widely available. That’s true even though many cab drivers have a reputation for being aggressive. The fact is, even though cab drivers have significant experience behind the wheel, they’re often careless.
If you were involved in an accident with a taxi driver in Crowley, LA, our Crowley personal injury lawyer at Kenny Habetz Injury Law can help. Our founding attorney has been recognized as a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” by the National Trial Lawyers. He’s also earned a spot on the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum by recovering millions on behalf of injury victims.
When you choose our law firm, your Crowley personal injury attorney will:
- Investigate and evaluate the evidence
- Work with you to identify the losses you’ve suffered because of the crash
- Determine how much your case is worth
- Bring in trusted experts to testify about complex issues
- Negotiate with the insurance company and defense lawyers on your behalf
Don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice after a cab accident. Call our Crowley taxi accident attorney for a free consultation today.
What Is My Crowley Taxi Accident Case Worth?
Our lawyers get this question all the time. After all, before starting a legal battle, most injured parties want to first know whether it’s worth taking legal action.
Reviewing the facts of your case is the only way our attorneys can offer an accurate answer. Your situation will be different from that of any other accident victim.
Factors that will be relevant as we calculate your case value include:
- The cost of your medical care and other expenses
- The severity and anticipated permanence of your injuries
- Your need for future ongoing care or rehabilitative care and the cost
- The value of the income you’ve lost during your recovery
- Whether your future earnings will be impacted
- Any pain and trauma you have experienced
- The impact on your quality of life
- Whether you share any fault
- The amount of insurance coverage available to cover your losses
Taxis in Louisiana are subject to specific regulations. Before they’re able to operate the taxi, they must provide proof that they have at least $25,000 in insurance to cover bodily injuries after an accident.
That doesn’t mean it’ll always be easy to get the compensation you deserve. The insurance company will likely push back and attempt to undervalue your claim–or even deny it entirely. It’s important to have an experienced attorney in your corner as you advocate for the full compensation you deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Taxi Accident Victims in Crowley, LA?
Like any other car accident victim, taxi accident victims can seek compensation for the full value of their economic and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of damages victims often receive when their cases succeed include:
- Current medical bills
- Anticipated future medical expenses
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Lost future earning potential
- Nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Help with basic activities around the house
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages, while rare, may be available in cases where the at-fault driver demonstrated a reckless disregard for your safety. For example, if the taxi driver was intoxicated, the court may be inclined to offer punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Louisiana?
Most personal injury law firms take cases on contingency. This means that your attorneys’ fees depend on the amount of money they recover in your case. While every case is different, you’ll never pay attorneys’ fees unless your attorney does recover compensation in your case.
How Do Louisiana’s Shared Fault Laws Impact My Right to Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for a Taxi Accident?
Under Louisiana law, pure comparative negligence laws apply. Liability is divided between any party that shares blame for the accident. Once your case is resolved, your compensation is reduced by whatever share of fault is allocated to you.
Don’t be surprised if the insurance company tries to blame you. Unless you were a passenger in the taxi, it’s very likely that they’ll try to pin at least some of the blame on you. That’s even more true if your injuries were serious and your expected settlement is relatively high.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Taxi Accident Injuries
Our team at Kenny Habetz Injury Law handles all types of injury cases. Whether you’re expected to recover or suffer a long-term disability, we know how to fight for every dollar you deserve.
We often represent injured clients who have sustained the following:
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Whiplash injuries
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Chest injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Before you take any insurance deal, contact our lawyers in Crowley for the legal advice you deserve. We offer a free case review, so there’s never any risk in learning about the compensation you deserve.
What Causes Most Accidents Involving Taxis in Crowley?
As we all know, taxi drivers can be extremely aggressive. They’re trying to maximize the number of trips they complete each day. They’re often rushed, distracted, and–let’s be honest–tired from all that time spent behind the wheel.
Some of the most common causes of taxi accidents involve driver errors, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving or cell phone use
- Speeding
- Fatigued cab drivers
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Stopping in unsafe locations to pick up passengers or drop them off
- Weaving between lanes
- Aggressive driving
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal lane changes
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving or drug use
A lawyer can help you determine all factors that played a role in your taxi crash. Once we know why your crash occurred, we’ll be prepared to help you pursue the fair compensation you deserve. We’re ready to start our investigation today, so call our law firm to schedule your free case review.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Taxicab Accident in Louisiana?
Again, negligent driving behavior is the root cause of most taxi accidents in Crowley.
The elements of a successful negligence case include:
- The driver had a legal duty to exercise a reasonable amount of caution (all drivers do)
- They breached that duty by some act or omission
- That breach was the direct cause of your accident
- You suffered specific damages due to the accident and injury
Taxi drivers are subject to a heightened duty of care because they’re operating the vehicle for a profit. Still, you’ll have to provide evidence to prove every element of your claim. It can be tough to think about launching an investigation when you’re dealing with painful injuries.
Our lawyers will help by collecting and evaluating:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- The taxi driver’s record
- The taxi company’s hiring practices
- Cell phone records
- Drug or alcohol test results
- Video footage
- Witness statements
- And more
You can count on our legal team to compile the evidence you need to prove you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Taxi Accident in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations in Louisiana is two years for accidents occurring on or after 7/1/2024. Prior to that, victims only had one year to bring a claim. You lose your right to pursue damages in court once the statute of limitations has passed.
While your case will likely start with an insurance claim, it’s important to keep the threat of a lawsuit on the table. That’s often the only thing motivating the insurance company to negotiate in good faith.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crowley Taxi Accidents
Do I have to prove exactly what the driver did wrong? Not entirely. As a paying passenger, simply showing you were injured during the ride shifts the burden to the taxi company to prove it wasn’t negligent.
What if I was hit by a taxi while driving my own car? You can still recover compensation, but your claim follows ordinary negligence rules rather than the common-carrier presumption, since that heightened duty is owed to the taxi’s own passengers.
Are Crowley taxis required to carry insurance? Yes. Louisiana Public Service Commission rules require a minimum $25,000 bodily injury policy before a taxi company can operate.
Contact a Crowley Taxi Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Accidents and injuries in Crowley, LA, are never easy. If you were injured, call Kenny Habetz Injury Law today. Our Crowley taxi accident lawyer will review your case and help you understand your legal options. Your initial consultation won’t cost you a dime, so don’t hesitate to reach out for advice today.
