Yellow cabs, green cabs and black cars
A licensed New York City taxi is a commercial vehicle carrying commercial insurance, and the medallion owner is usually a separate business from the person driving. That means the claim is often against a fleet and its carrier rather than an individual, and fleets defend claims as a matter of routine.
These cases are unusually well documented once you know where to look. Taxi and Limousine Commission records tie the vehicle to its owner and its insurer, most cabs carry cameras, and the trip record establishes where the vehicle was and when. The medallion number on the roof or the door is worth more than a license plate — write it down or photograph it before you leave.
Passengers hurt in a cab have the strongest position of anyone in these cases: you were sitting in the back seat and you cannot have contributed to the crash. Whether the cab driver or the other vehicle was to blame changes which insurer pays, not whether you recover.
The cases we handle most
Passengers
No fault attaches to you. The only question is which carrier pays, and both are put on notice.
Struck by a cab
Pedestrians and cyclists hit by a for-hire vehicle reach commercial coverage plus no-fault benefits.
Doors and drop-offs
Injuries getting in or out — a door into a cyclist, a drop-off into traffic — are the driver’s responsibility.
Sudden stops and starts
Common carriers owe passengers a high duty of care, and it does not end because traffic was heavy.
What we do once you call
We record the medallion and plate, file your no-fault application, and notify the fleet, its insurer and the other driver’s carrier.
We identify the medallion owner through TLC records, request in-vehicle camera footage before the loop is overwritten, and pull the police report.
We document your injuries with the specialists who will treat you and handle every call from the fleet’s adjuster.
We demand against the commercial policy and file suit where the offer does not reflect the injury.
Common questions
I didn’t get the medallion number. Is the case gone?
No. The police report, your card or app receipt, the pickup location and the time are usually enough to identify the vehicle through TLC records. It is harder without the medallion number, not impossible.
Does no-fault cover me in a taxi?
Yes. Passengers in a licensed cab are covered for the first $50,000 of medical bills and lost earnings regardless of who caused the crash. The application is generally due within 30 days of the accident.
Is an Uber the same as a taxi for this?
Not quite. Both are for-hire and both carry commercial coverage, but rideshare coverage depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash, while a medallion cab’s policy is in force whenever it is in service.