A taxi crash in Elmhurst rarely happens at a quiet moment. It happens on Queens Boulevard at rush hour, on Broadway outside a busy bus stop, or in the stream of cabs and app cars circling Queens Center on a Saturday afternoon. One moment you are on your way to work, to the mall or to visit someone at Elmhurst Hospital; the next you are holding your neck, answering a police officer’s questions and wondering who will pay for any of it. If that is where you are right now, take a breath. You do not have to sort it out alone, and you do not have to sort it out in a language that is not your own.
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates, P.C. helps people hurt by yellow and green taxis, Uber and Lyft cars, black cars and other TLC-licensed vehicles. Elmhurst is one of the most linguistically diverse places in New York, and we take that seriously: we offer consultations in English, Russian and Spanish, and we can meet you at home, at your hospital bedside or by video. There is no fee unless we win. Call 718.775.3110 any time; our phone intake is open 24/7.
You Were Hurt in a Cab. Here Is What We Want You to Know First
People who call us after a taxi crash usually carry the same worries: I can’t afford to miss work. I don’t know whose insurance this is. The driver said it was my fault. My English isn’t good enough to argue with an adjuster. Each of those worries has an answer, and most of the answers are better than people expect.
- Your medical bills do not wait on a fault decision. New York is a no-fault state, so basic medical costs and lost earnings are paid through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) regardless of who caused the crash.
- Taxis carry their own insurance rules. Vehicles licensed by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission must carry coverage set by TLC rules, which are different from an ordinary private car.
- A driver’s opinion is not a finding of fault. Fault is decided from evidence, and in a lawsuit it is decided before anyone looks at whether your injury qualifies.
- Language is not a barrier to a claim. You can tell your story to us in English, Russian or Spanish, and we handle the paperwork and the insurance calls.
Who Pays After an Elmhurst Taxi Crash
There are usually two layers of money in a taxi case. The first layer is no-fault PIP, which covers basic economic loss. The second layer is a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance for the losses no-fault does not cover, including pain and suffering, once the law’s injury threshold is met. Which policy you start with depends on where you were when the crash happened.
| Where you were | Where no-fault (PIP) usually comes from | Where a pain-and-suffering claim may go |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger in a yellow or green cab, Uber, Lyft or black car | The vehicle you were riding in | The at-fault driver, which may be your own cab driver, another driver, or both |
| Pedestrian crossing Queens Blvd or Broadway | The vehicle that struck you | The driver and owner of that vehicle |
| Cyclist hit by a cab | The vehicle that struck you | The driver and owner of that vehicle |
| Driver of a private car hit by a cab | Your own car’s policy | The taxi driver and owner, if the taxi was at fault |
| Hit by a city or MTA vehicle | Depends on the vehicle involved | The city or agency, after a notice of claim filed within 90 days |
How much coverage does a taxi have?
The state minimum for PIP is $50,000 per person. For TLC-licensed vehicles, which include yellow and green taxis, for-hire vehicles such as Uber and Lyft, and limousines, the required PIP was reduced to $100,000 per person effective March 1, 2026, under a TLC rule implementing Local Law 90 of 2025. A medallion taxi must also carry liability coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Those are minimums; the actual policy may be different, and finding every available policy is part of our job. You can read about TLC licensing on the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission website and about no-fault generally from the Department of Financial Services.
The 2026 Changes Elmhurst Families Should Understand
New York changed several rules for car-accident lawsuits in 2026. These changes matter whether your crash happened this year or earlier, because they apply to lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, regardless of when the accident happened (see DFS Circular Letter 2026-01). We explain them to every client in the language they are most comfortable with, because they can change how a case is valued.
The serious injury threshold now has eight categories
To recover pain-and-suffering damages beyond no-fault, an injured person must show a “serious injury” under Insurance Law § 5102(d). The 2026 state budget removed one of the old categories, leaving eight:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- Fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
Because the list is narrower, medical documentation from the very first visit matters more than ever. Tell every doctor about every symptom, even ones that seem minor on the first day.
Fault now works differently in car cases
Under new CPLR 1411(b), in a motor-vehicle injury lawsuit covered by Insurance Law Article 51 and filed on or after May 26, 2026, a claimant whose share of fault is greater than the defendant’s (or the defendants’ combined share) recovers nothing. A claimant who is 50% or less at fault has the award reduced in proportion to that share. Claims that do not involve a motor vehicle remain under the older rule in CPLR 1411(a). Under Insurance Law § 5104, the jury or judge must decide fault before deciding whether the injury is serious.
The same law added a $100,000 cap on non-economic damages for an at-fault claimant who was driving uninsured (with an exception for a lapse of under 30 days that was not their own responsibility), or who was convicted of impaired driving or of a felony committed while driving. That cap does not limit economic damages, other people’s claims, or wrongful death claims. For a taxi passenger or a pedestrian, the practical lesson is simple: if the cab driver or insurer is trying to put blame on you, that argument now carries higher stakes, and it deserves a careful answer.
Whatever language you think in, your account of the crash is evidence. We take the time to hear it fully, in English, Russian or Spanish, before anyone else gets to tell it for you.
Deadlines That Cannot Be Missed
- 30 days from the accident to file your no-fault application (11 NYCRR 65-1.1).
- 90 days to serve a notice of claim if a City of New York or MTA vehicle was involved (General Municipal Law 50-e).
- 3 years to start a personal injury lawsuit (CPLR 214(5)).
- 2 years for a wrongful death action (EPTL 5-4.1), which in New York currently allows recovery of pecuniary damages only.
The 30-day no-fault deadline catches many people off guard, especially when they are recovering at home or caring for an injured family member. If you are unsure whether it has been met, call us and we will check.
Where Taxi Crashes Happen Around Elmhurst
Elmhurst sits at a crossroads. Queens Boulevard, Broadway, Woodhaven Boulevard, Grand Avenue and Junction Boulevard all run through or along it, the Long Island Expressway borders it to the south, and LaGuardia Airport is a short drive north. That mix of wide arterials, dense side streets and constant for-hire traffic creates some familiar risks:
- Multi-lane turns on Queens Boulevard. Cabs cutting from the service road to the main lanes, or turning across several lanes, can catch pedestrians and cyclists in crosswalks.
- Sudden stops for street hails. On Broadway and Grand Avenue, a driver who spots a fare may brake or swerve to the curb without warning.
- Double-parked pickups. App-based drivers waiting for riders often stop in travel lanes, pushing other traffic around them.
- Door-opening crashes. A passenger stepping out on the traffic side can strike a cyclist or a passing car.
- Airport and expressway runs. Drivers heading to or from LaGuardia or the LIE may be rushing, tired or unfamiliar with local streets.
If you live just north in Jackson Heights, we handle taxi cases there too.
Queens Center, the Broadway–Queens Blvd Corridor and Elmhurst Hospital
Ask anyone in western Queens where the traffic gathers in Elmhurst, and you will likely hear three answers: Queens Center, the Broadway and Queens Boulevard corridor, and Elmhurst Hospital.
Queens Center is one of the borough’s largest shopping malls, sitting on Queens Boulevard near Woodhaven Boulevard. Shoppers come from across Queens and beyond, especially on weekends and through the holiday season. Many arrive by subway at the Woodhaven Boulevard or Grand Avenue–Newtown stations on the M and R lines, but a steady share arrive and leave by yellow cab, green cab or rideshare. Drop-offs along the curbs and service roads, cars waiting for riders carrying bags, and drivers looping back toward Woodhaven Boulevard all add pressure to an already busy stretch.
The Broadway and Queens Boulevard corridor ties Elmhurst together. Broadway angles through the heart of the neighborhood with shops, restaurants and bus stops, while Queens Boulevard carries heavy through traffic between Long Island City and Forest Hills and beyond. Where the two meet, pedestrians, buses, delivery vehicles and for-hire cars all compete for the same space.
Elmhurst Hospital, on Broadway, is a public hospital operated by NYC Health + Hospitals. Patients, visitors and staff arrive around the clock, and taxis and app cars make frequent pickups and drop-offs near the entrances, while ambulances need clear access. Patients leaving after treatment, sometimes on crutches or with limited mobility, are especially vulnerable to drivers in a hurry.
A crash in any of these places often has more witnesses and more cameras than people realize: store security systems, bus cameras and dashboard cameras in other cars. Footage can be overwritten, so call early.
How We Build an Elmhurst Taxi Case
- We listen in your language. Your first conversation can be in English, Russian or Spanish, at home, in the hospital or by video.
- We protect the deadlines. No-fault forms within 30 days, notices of claim within 90 days when a public vehicle is involved, and the lawsuit well before the statute runs.
- We identify every policy. The cab’s TLC coverage, any other driver’s insurance, and your own policy where it applies.
- We gather the evidence. The police report, an MV-104 report with the DMV where required, photographs, witnesses and video.
- We document your injuries. We coordinate with your doctors so your records reflect the full picture against the eight serious injury categories.
- We negotiate, and file suit when needed. Cases from Elmhurst are filed in Queens County courts; the court process is explained to you at every step.
For a deeper look at what to do in the hours and days after a crash, read our guide, After a Taxi Accident in Elmhurst: Your First Week. For car crashes that do not involve a taxi, see our car accident practice page, and for the wider borough, visit our Elmhurst accident lawyer page.
Taxi Accident FAQs
I was a passenger. Can I make a claim against my own cab driver?
Yes, if your driver was at fault. Passengers generally get no-fault benefits from the vehicle they were riding in, and they can bring a liability claim against whichever driver or drivers caused the crash, including their own, once the serious injury threshold is met.
Is an Uber or Lyft crash treated like a yellow cab crash?
Both are TLC-licensed vehicles in New York City, so both are subject to TLC insurance requirements, including the $100,000-per-person PIP requirement in effect since March 1, 2026. The specific policies involved can differ, and we review them case by case.
What happens if the insurance company says I was partly to blame?
For motor-vehicle lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, a claimant who is more at fault than the defendants recovers nothing, and a claimant who is 50% or less at fault has the award reduced by that share. That is why we push back early and with evidence when an insurer starts assigning blame.
How long do I have to file?
Generally three years for a personal injury lawsuit, but the no-fault application is due within 30 days, and a notice of claim against the city or MTA is due within 90 days. Wrongful death claims have a two-year deadline.
Does my injury have to be “serious” to get compensation?
No-fault benefits do not require a serious injury. A claim for pain and suffering beyond no-fault does require meeting one of the eight categories in Insurance Law § 5102(d), such as a fracture or a significant limitation of use of a body function or system.
Can we talk in Spanish or Russian?
Yes. Our consultations are available in English, Russian and Spanish, and we can meet at your home, at the hospital or by video.
What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we win. You can read more on our general FAQ page and see examples of our work on our settlements page.
About Elmhurst: Local FAQs
Which subway lines serve Elmhurst?
The M and R trains stop at Grand Avenue–Newtown, Elmhurst Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard along Queens Boulevard. The 7 train runs above Roosevelt Avenue on the neighborhood’s northern side, and the 74 Street–Broadway / Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue complex nearby connects to the E, F, M, R and 7.
What ZIP code is Elmhurst?
Elmhurst’s main ZIP code is 11373. Some addresses near the edges of the neighborhood fall under neighboring ZIP codes.
Which police precinct covers Elmhurst?
The NYPD’s 110th Precinct covers Elmhurst along with neighboring Corona. If police responded to your crash, the report is generally available through that precinct.
Where is the nearest hospital?
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, on Broadway, is the neighborhood’s own hospital and a common destination for ambulances responding to crashes in this part of Queens.
Which neighborhoods border Elmhurst?
Elmhurst borders Jackson Heights, Corona, Rego Park, Woodside, Maspeth and Middle Village.
Where would an Elmhurst taxi lawsuit be filed?
Elmhurst is in Queens County, so a personal injury lawsuit is typically filed in Queens County Supreme Court, which sits in Jamaica.
Any tips for getting a cab near Queens Center safely?
Meet your driver at a legal curb rather than in a travel lane, exit on the sidewalk side, and look for cyclists before opening the door. If a driver stops in the middle of the road, wait for them to pull over before you step out.
Talk to Someone Who Will Listen: Free Case Review
After a taxi crash, the hardest part can be feeling unheard by insurers who speak quickly and in terms that are hard to follow. We slow things down. Tell us what happened in English, Russian or Spanish, and we will explain your options plainly and honestly, including whether you need a lawyer at all.
- Call 718.775.3110 (phone intake 24/7; office hours Monday to Friday, 9 to 6)
- Send us a message through our contact page
- Visit us at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422, or ask us to come to you
Attorney Advertising. This is general information about New York law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.