Cambria Heights is a quiet residential neighborhood, but Linden Boulevard, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Springfield Boulevard carry steady taxi and car-service traffic between Jamaica, Nassau County and the airports. When a taxi driver speeds, turns without looking or stops short, the results can be serious. A taxi accident lawyer in Cambria Heights can explain your rights and deal with the insurance companies for you.
Our office in Rosedale is just a few minutes south, and we meet clients at home, in the hospital or by video.
Common taxi accidents in Cambria Heights
- Turning crashes at Linden Boulevard and Francis Lewis Boulevard intersections.
- Pedestrian knockdowns near bus stops and the Linden Boulevard shopping strip.
- Rear-end collisions when taxis stop suddenly for fares.
- Car-door and curbside injuries during pickups and drop-offs on narrow residential streets.
Who pays after a taxi accident?
New York is a no-fault state. If you were hurt as a taxi passenger, no-fault insurance, generally through the taxi’s policy, pays your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages up to at least $50,000, no matter who caused the crash. If you were a pedestrian, cyclist or driver hit by a taxi, your own household auto policy or the taxi’s policy usually pays first. The no-fault application generally must be filed within 30 days. Our New York no-fault guide explains the process step by step.
To recover for pain and suffering and losses beyond no-fault, you generally need a “serious injury” under New York Insurance Law § 5102(d), such as a fracture, a significant limitation of a body part, or an injury that kept you from your normal activities for 90 of the first 180 days.
Taxi regulation and insurance
Yellow and green taxis are licensed and regulated by the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), which sets insurance, inspection and driver-licensing rules. TLC trip records, driver history and vehicle inspection reports can all become evidence in your case. Under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 388, a vehicle’s owner can be held responsible when someone driving with permission causes a crash, which often brings the taxi company or medallion owner into the case.
Who can be held responsible?
- The taxi driver, for speeding, sudden stops, distracted driving or unsafe pickups and drop-offs
- The taxi owner or fleet, for negligent hiring, poor maintenance or through owner liability
- Another driver who hit the taxi you were riding in
- A rideshare or car-service driver, if one was involved (see our Uber and Lyft accident page)
New York follows pure comparative negligence, so you can recover even if you were partly at fault; your award is reduced by your share.
What to do after a taxi accident in Cambria Heights
- Call 911 and make sure a police report is filed.
- Write down the taxi’s medallion or license number, the driver’s name and the company.
- Photograph the vehicles, the scene and your injuries, and keep your receipt or app trip record.
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses.
- See a doctor right away, even if you feel okay.
- If anyone was hurt, a DMV MV-104 accident report is generally due within 10 days.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the taxi’s insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
Deadlines
Most taxi accident injury lawsuits must be filed within three years under CPLR § 214. If a city or county vehicle was involved, a notice of claim is usually due within 90 days. Evidence like camera footage and trip data disappears quickly, so it pays to call early.
Learn more on our taxi accident practice page, our car accident page and our Cambria Heights car accident lawyer page.
Taxi accident help in nearby neighborhoods
We represent taxi accident victims throughout southeast Queens and western Nassau County:
- Taxi accident lawyer Rosedale
- Taxi accident lawyer Laurelton
- Taxi accident lawyer Springfield Gardens
- Taxi accident lawyer St. Albans
- Taxi accident lawyer Valley Stream
- Taxi accident lawyer Elmont
Directions from Cambria Heights to Yakov Mushiyev & Associates
Our office is at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422, right off the Cross Island Parkway. The map below shows the route from Cambria Heights. If you can’t travel after your crash, we’ll come to you at home, in the hospital or by video.
Talk to a Cambria Heights taxi accident lawyer today
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates has recovered over $80 million for injured New Yorkers across the five boroughs and Nassau County. Consultations are free, available in English, Russian and Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.
Call 718.775.3110 or contact us online for a free case review.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. Attorney Advertising.