Long Island City moves fast. Commuters pour out of Court Square and Queens Plaza, rideshares stack up along Center Boulevard, and yellow and green cabs cut between the Queensboro Bridge and the Queens Midtown Tunnel all day long. When one of those vehicles hits you, or you are hurt in the back seat of one, the claim that follows does not work like an ordinary fender-bender. Taxis and for-hire vehicles sit under a separate layer of Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) insurance rules, and New York changed several of its core car-accident rules in 2026. Yakov Mushiyev & Associates, P.C. represents people injured in taxi, Uber, Lyft and livery crashes across LIC and the rest of Queens, and we start with a free, no-pressure case review.
This page lays out who pays, which deadlines matter, what the 2026 changes mean for you, and where in Long Island City these crashes tend to happen. If you want a step-by-step guide for the hours and days right after a crash, read our companion article, Taxi Accident in Long Island City, Queens: Your First 72 Hours.
The Bottom Line, Up Front
- No-fault pays first. Your medical bills and lost earnings start with Personal Injury Protection (PIP), regardless of who caused the crash.
- TLC vehicles carry their own coverage. Yellow cabs, green cabs, Uber, Lyft and other for-hire vehicles must carry PIP of $100,000 per person, a figure that took effect on March 1, 2026.
- Pain and suffering requires a “serious injury.” To step outside no-fault and sue, you generally must meet one of eight statutory categories.
- Fault now matters more. In motor-vehicle lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, a claimant who is more at fault than the defendant recovers nothing.
- Clocks are running. The no-fault application is due within 30 days; most injury lawsuits must be filed within 3 years.
Who Pays When a Cab Crashes in LIC
New York is a no-fault state. Under Insurance Law § 5102(a), Personal Injury Protection pays for medical treatment, lost earnings and other basic economic loss no matter who caused the collision. That is the first source of money in nearly every taxi case, and it applies whether you were the passenger, a pedestrian on Jackson Avenue, a cyclist on Vernon Boulevard, or the driver of another car.
Which policy pays depends on where you were:
| Your role in the crash | Where no-fault (PIP) usually comes from | Who you may be able to sue for pain and suffering |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger in a taxi, Uber or Lyft | The vehicle you were riding in | The at-fault driver or drivers, which can include your own cab driver and the owner |
| Pedestrian hit by a cab | The vehicle that struck you | The taxi driver and the vehicle owner |
| Cyclist hit by a cab | The vehicle that struck you | The taxi driver and the vehicle owner |
| Driver of a car hit by a cab | Generally your own policy | The taxi driver and the vehicle owner |
TLC insurance minimums
The standard New York PIP minimum is $50,000 per person. TLC-licensed vehicles carry more. Under a TLC rule implementing Local Law 90 of 2025, the PIP requirement for yellow and green taxis, for-hire vehicles including Uber and Lyft, and limousines is $100,000 per person, effective March 1, 2026. For medallion taxis, the liability minimum is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Those are floors, not ceilings, and the right claim strategy depends on the actual policies in play. You can learn more about the regulator on the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission website and about auto coverage generally from the Department of Financial Services.
New York’s 2026 Rules, Explained Plainly
The 2026 state budget (Chapter 58, Part EE) reshaped car-accident lawsuits. These changes apply to lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, regardless of when the accident happened, according to DFS Circular Letter 2026-01. If you were hurt in Long Island City in 2025 and have not yet filed, the new rules will likely govern your case.
1. The serious injury list got shorter
To recover pain-and-suffering damages, an injured person must show a “serious injury” under Insurance Law § 5102(d). The 2026 budget removed the old category tied to days of missed usual activities. There are now eight categories:
- 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
2. More-at-fault claimants are barred
New CPLR 1411(b) applies to motor-vehicle personal injury actions under Insurance Law Article 51 commenced on or after May 26, 2026. If your share of fault is greater than the defendant’s (or the defendants’ combined share), you recover nothing. If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced in proportion. Claims that do not involve motor vehicles still follow the comparative rule in CPLR 1411(a).
3. Fault gets decided first
Under Insurance Law § 5104, the jury or judge must now decide fault before deciding whether you have a serious injury. A new § 5104(d) also caps non-economic damages at $100,000 for an at-fault claimant who was driving uninsured (with a narrow exception for a lapse of under 30 days that was not the claimant’s responsibility), was convicted of impaired driving, or was convicted of a felony committed while driving. That cap does not limit economic damages, other people’s claims, or wrongful death claims.
In 2026, the fight over fault is the whole ballgame. Evidence gathered in the first few weeks — video, witnesses, trip data — is often what decides whether a claim survives.
Deadlines You Cannot Miss
- 30 days from the accident to submit your no-fault (PIP) application (11 NYCRR 65-1.1).
- 90 days to file a notice of claim if a New York City or MTA vehicle was involved, such as a city bus on Jackson Avenue (General Municipal Law § 50-e).
- 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (CPLR 214(5)).
- 2 years to file a wrongful death action (EPTL 5-4.1), which in New York remains limited to pecuniary damages.
Separately, if you were driving, the New York DMV has its own accident-reporting requirements (Form MV-104). We can help you sort out what applies to you.
LIC Road Hazards for Cabs and the People Around Them
Long Island City is a crossroads. Traffic from Midtown arrives over the Queensboro Bridge and through the Queens Midtown Tunnel, the Long Island Expressway begins at the tunnel, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is a short drive east. Layer on new residential towers, film studios, warehouses and a dense mix of subway entrances, and you get a district where taxis are constantly merging, stopping and turning.
Queens Plaza and the bridge approaches
Queens Plaza is where the Queensboro Bridge, Northern Boulevard, Queens Boulevard and Jackson Avenue meet under the elevated tracks. Cabs heading on and off the bridge change lanes abruptly, and pedestrians walking to and from Queens Plaza and Queensboro Plaza stations cross wide, busy intersections.
Court Square and Jackson Avenue
The blocks around Court Square serve several subway lines and a heavy office and residential population. Drivers pulling to the curb for a quick pickup, passengers opening doors into traffic, and turning vehicles crossing crowded crosswalks are common patterns in claims we review.
Hunters Point, Vernon Boulevard and the tunnel
Near the Queens Midtown Tunnel entrance, drivers jockey for position, and side streets around Vernon Boulevard and 21st Street carry cut-through traffic. Further south, the Pulaski Bridge to Greenpoint adds another stream of vehicles, cyclists and walkers.
Top Destinations: Gantry Plaza State Park, the Pepsi-Cola Sign and MoMA PS1
Gantry Plaza State Park stretches along the East River in Hunters Point. Its restored railroad gantries, piers and lawns face Midtown Manhattan, and the red Pepsi-Cola sign at the north end of the waterfront is one of the most photographed sights in Queens. People come for sunsets, skyline photos, picnics and evening walks, and the park sits beside a cluster of high-rise apartment buildings along Center Boulevard.
A short ride inland, MoMA PS1 occupies a former public school building on Jackson Avenue near Court Square. It is a contemporary art institution affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art, and it draws visitors from across the city, especially on weekends and for special events.
Both destinations generate steady taxi and app-based traffic. At the waterfront, cars drop riders on Center Boulevard and the side streets leading toward the river, often double-parking or stopping in travel lanes. Around PS1, drop-offs on Jackson Avenue compete with buses, delivery trucks and people heading to the Court Square subway entrances. Crash patterns we watch for at these spots include:
- Passengers stepping out on the street side into a passing car or bike
- Cabs making sudden U-turns after a drop-off
- Drivers watching an app instead of crosswalks crowded with visitors
- Rear-end impacts when a taxi stops short to grab a street hail
How Mushiyev Law Handles an LIC Taxi Case
- Free case review. In person, by phone, by video, or at your home or hospital bed. We consult in English, Russian and Spanish.
- No-fault setup. We help get the PIP application filed on time and with the correct carrier so treatment is not interrupted.
- Evidence preservation. We move quickly to request video from businesses and buildings, identify witnesses, and pursue TLC and trip records where available.
- Medical documentation. We work with your providers so records clearly address the serious injury categories.
- Negotiation or suit. We pursue every available policy and file in court when the insurer will not be reasonable.
You pay no fee unless we win. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6, and phone intake runs 24/7. To see what other kinds of matters we handle, visit our car accident practice page, browse our settlements page, or read our general injury FAQ. For a wider look at injury representation in this part of Queens, see our Long Island City accident lawyer page. We also handle cab crashes in neighboring Astoria and Sunnyside.
Taxi Accident FAQs
I was a passenger. Do I claim against my cab’s insurance or the other car’s?
For no-fault benefits, passengers generally claim PIP from the vehicle they were riding in. A separate lawsuit for pain and suffering can be brought against whichever driver or drivers caused the crash, which may include both your cab and the other vehicle, if you meet the serious injury threshold.
How much PIP does a taxi or Uber carry now?
TLC-licensed vehicles must carry $100,000 per person in PIP, effective March 1, 2026. That requirement was reduced by a TLC rule implementing Local Law 90 of 2025. Ordinary private cars carry a state minimum of $50,000.
What if I was partly at fault, say crossing mid-block?
For motor-vehicle lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, you can still recover if your share of fault is 50% or less, though your award is reduced by that share. If your fault is greater than the defendant’s, you recover nothing. That is why careful evidence work matters.
Does a soft-tissue injury qualify as a serious injury?
It can, depending on the medical evidence. A soft-tissue injury may fit “permanent consequential limitation” or “significant limitation” if objective findings support it. The category based on days of missed activity no longer exists, so documentation is critical.
How long do I have to file?
Generally three years for a personal injury lawsuit and two years for wrongful death. The no-fault application is due within 30 days, and claims involving city or MTA vehicles require a notice of claim within 90 days.
My crash happened before May 26, 2026. Do the old rules apply?
Not necessarily. The new rules apply to lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, regardless of the accident date. If your suit was not filed before that date, expect the new framework to govern.
What does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency basis: no fee unless we win.
About Long Island City: Local FAQs
Which subway lines serve Long Island City?
LIC is one of the best-connected parts of Queens. The 7 stops at Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av, Hunters Point Av and Court Sq; the E and M stop at Court Sq–23 St and, with the R, at Queens Plaza; the G ends at Court Sq; the N and W stop at Queensboro Plaza and 39 Av; and the F stops at 21 St–Queensbridge. The LIRR also serves Hunters Point Avenue and Long Island City stations.
What ZIP codes cover the neighborhood?
Most of Long Island City falls in 11101, with the Hunters Point waterfront area largely in 11109.
Which police precinct covers LIC?
The NYPD’s 108th Precinct covers Long Island City, along with Sunnyside and Woodside. A police accident report from that precinct is often a key early document.
Where would a taxi injury case be filed?
Many cases arising in Queens are filed in Queens County Supreme Court, whose civil courthouse is on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica. The right venue depends on the parties involved. The New York State Unified Court System website has general court information.
What neighborhoods border Long Island City?
Astoria lies to the north, Sunnyside to the east, and Greenpoint, Brooklyn sits across Newtown Creek to the south, reached by the Pulaski Bridge. Manhattan is directly across the East River.
Any tips for driving or parking in LIC?
Expect bridge and tunnel backups at rush hour, heavy truck traffic on industrial blocks, and limited street parking near the waterfront and Court Square. If you take a cab to Gantry Plaza State Park, ask to be let out on the curb side, not in a travel lane.
Get a Free Case Review From a Long Island City Taxi Accident Lawyer
Whether you were thrown forward in a yellow cab on the Queensboro Bridge approach or struck by a rideshare near Court Square, the sooner we start, the more evidence we can preserve. Call 718.775.3110 any time, day or night, or send us a message online. We can meet at our office, at your home or hospital, or by video, in English, Russian or Spanish.
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates, P.C.
1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422
Phone: 718.775.3110
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. · Phone intake 24/7
Attorney Advertising. This is general information about New York law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change, and every case depends on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.