Chicago Bicycle
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Taxi Bike Collisions
Helping Victims of Bike Crashes Involving Taxi Vehicles
Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys can help you seek fair compensation if you’ve been injured in a crash involving a taxi. A Chicago taxi bicycle accident lawyer can help investigate the collision, identify the responsible parties, and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. Taxi-bike crashes can leave injured cyclists facing serious injuries, expensive medical bills, and lost wages.
With a strong history of securing compensation for injured cyclists in Chicago, our team has recovered millions in bicycle crash settlements, including:
- $2,250,000 for a commuter who suffered a head injury
- $1,000,000 for a 26-year-old woman injured in a dooring accident
- $510,000 for a cyclist who suffered facial injuries and a mild traumatic brain injury
Common Types of Injuries in Taxi-Bike Accidents
Collisions between taxis and bikes often cause serious injuries because bicyclists have less protection than motor vehicles. Common injuries include:
- Head injuries – Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can occur even with a helmet.
- Fractures – Broken bones in the arms, legs, ribs, or collarbone are common in bike crashes.
- Road rash – Severe skin abrasions from sliding on pavement can lead to infections and scarring.
- Spinal injuries – Damage to the neck or back may cause long-term pain or paralysis.
- Internal injuries – Blunt force trauma can lead to internal bleeding or organ damage.
Liability for Accidents Involving Taxi Vehicles and Bicycles
If a taxi hits a cyclist in Chicago, potential responsible parties may include the taxi driver, the medallion license holder, the taxicab affiliation, and, in some dooring crashes, the passenger who opened the door. Identifying the responsible parties helps determine which insurance coverage may apply.
Taxi drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely, but negligence often leads to bicycle accidents. Speeding, distracted driving, failing to yield, illegal U-turns, and dooring crashes, when a driver or passenger opens a car door into a cyclist’s path, are common causes of collisions.
Chicago taxis are regulated under Municipal Code Chapter 9-112 and by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). The licensing structure can involve separate medallion license holders, taxicab affiliations, and public chauffeurs, so the driver is not necessarily the only party whose insurance or legal responsibility must be investigated.
Under Chicago Municipal Code § 9-112-330, each taxicab must have commercial automobile liability insurance with at least $350,000 in combined single-limit coverage per occurrence. The current Chicago Municipal Code lists this minimum for each taxicab, but confirm the available coverage for a particular claim in the applicable insurance policy.
Taxi dooring accidents can involve additional liability questions. If a passenger opens a taxi door into a cyclist’s path, the passenger and driver may each have a role in the collision depending on the circumstances. This can create multiple potential sources of insurance coverage. For more information, see our dooring accident claims in Chicago page.
A Chicago taxi bicycle accident lawyer can also investigate whether roadway conditions contributed to the crash. Claims involving the City of Chicago can involve different legal requirements and deadlines from claims against a private taxi operator or other private party.
Common Types of Taxi-Bike Accidents
Several types of accidents can occur when taxis and bicycles share the road:
- Dooring accidents – A taxi driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into a bicyclist’s path, causing a collision.
- Right-hook and left-turn accidents – A taxi turns across a bike lane or cuts off a cyclist at an intersection.
- Sideswipe accidents – A taxi veers into a bicyclist while changing lanes or passing too closely.
- Rear-end collisions – A distracted or speeding taxi driver crashes into a bicycle from behind.
- Accidents at taxi stands and drop-off zones – Taxis that stop suddenly in bike lanes or swerve can seriously injure cyclists.
What to Do Immediately After a Bike Collision with a Taxi
Taking the right steps after a bicycle accident can protect your health and legal rights:
- Prioritize safety – Check for injuries and move to a safe location, if possible.
- Call 911 – Report the accident to the police and request medical assistance. A police report can help with your claim.
- Gather information – Get the taxi driver’s name, contact details, medallion number, license plate, and insurance information. The medallion number can help identify the licensed vehicle and medallion license holder, which may be a different party from the driver. If you cannot obtain it at the scene, the police report, trip information, witnesses, video footage, and taxi or affiliation records may help identify the vehicle later.
- Document the scene – Take photos of the accident site, your bike, the taxi, and any visible injuries.
- Seek medical attention – Even minor injuries can worsen over time.
- Do not admit fault – Avoid discussing fault with the driver or insurer until you speak with a bicycle accident lawyer.
Investigating Your Taxi-Bicycle Accident Claim
A thorough investigation helps establish liability for accidents involving taxis and bikes and strengthens your claim for compensation.
- Obtaining the police report – The police report provides key details about the collision, including statements from those involved.
- Identifying and interviewing witnesses – Witnesses can provide unbiased accounts of how the accident occurred.
- Securing video footage – Many taxis have dashcams, and nearby businesses may have surveillance footage capturing the bike crash.
- Examining the taxi and the bicycle – Damage to the bike and vehicle can help prove how the collision happened.
Dealing with Insurance Companies and the Taxi Company
Handling insurance companies after a bicycle accident with a taxi driver can be challenging.
- Reporting the accident to your insurance company – Even if the taxi driver is at fault, notifying your insurer can help with medical coverage or uninsured motor vehicle claims.
- Dealing with the taxi company’s insurance adjuster – The insurance company may try to minimize your compensation. Avoid giving recorded statements without legal advice.
- Protecting your rights and avoiding common mistakes – Do not admit fault or accept a quick settlement without understanding your full damages.
- Potential for bad faith claims – If an insurer unfairly denies, delays, or undervalues a valid claim, it may be acting in bad faith, which could result in additional legal action to recover full compensation.
Compensation Awarded for Taxi-Bike Crashes
Injured bicyclists may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages after a bicycle accident involving a taxi.
- Economic damages – Cover financial losses such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, future lost earnings, and bicycle repairs or replacements.
- Non-economic damages – Compensation may be available for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability or disfigurement.
Deadlines for Filing a Taxi-Bicycle Accident Claim
In Illinois, a personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. A licensed taxi is generally a private vehicle, so Chicago’s licensing and regulation of the taxi does not, by itself, make the taxi a local government defendant.
Different rules can apply if you also have a claim against the City of Chicago or another local public entity, such as a claim based on a roadway condition. Under 745 ILCS 10/8-101, actions against a local entity or its employees generally have a one-year limitation period, subject to applicable exceptions. This is a limitations period, not a separate one-year notice requirement.
If your crash involved both a taxi and a potential roadway defect or other government-related claim, the applicable deadlines should be reviewed promptly because different defendants can be subject to different limitations rules. For more information, see our deadline to file a bicycle accident lawsuit page.
Why You Need a Chicago Taxi-Bike Crash Lawyer
Hiring a bicycle accident lawyer after a crash can significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation. Taxi companies and their insurers often have legal teams focused on minimizing liability, making it difficult for injured cyclists to handle claims on their own. A Chicago taxi bicycle accident lawyer can investigate the driver, medallion license holder, taxicab affiliation, applicable insurance coverage, and other evidence needed to establish liability.
A lawyer will thoroughly investigate the accident, gathering crucial evidence such as the police report, witness statements, surveillance footage, and vehicle damage analysis. This evidence strengthens your claim and helps establish liability. Insurance companies often try to undervalue claims or pressure victims into low settlements.
An experienced attorney negotiates aggressively with insurers and the taxi company to ensure you receive fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Having legal representation can help you understand the available insurance coverage, evaluate potential sources of liability, and pursue compensation for your losses.
Consult a Chicago Taxi Bicycle Accident Attorney Near You!
If you’ve been injured in a bike crash with a taxi vehicle, you don’t have to face the legal process alone. Our Illinois bicycle crash law firm is dedicated to helping injured cyclists recover the compensation they deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is liable if a taxi passenger opens a door into my path?
Both the passenger and the taxi driver may bear responsibility depending on the circumstances. A dooring crash may involve more than one potentially responsible party, which means you may need to investigate more than one insurance policy or source of compensation.
How much insurance does a Chicago taxi carry?
Under current Chicago Municipal Code § 9-112-330, each taxicab must carry at least $350,000 in combined single-limit commercial automobile liability coverage per occurrence. The actual coverage available in a particular accident should be confirmed from the applicable policy and claim facts.
What if I did not get the medallion number?
You may still be able to identify the taxi. A police report, license plate information, crash location and time, witness statements, nearby business camera footage, trip records, and taxi affiliation or dispatch records may help establish which vehicle and licensed parties were involved.
Is a taxi claim different from an Uber or Lyft claim?
Yes. Chicago taxis operate under Municipal Code Chapter 9-112 and have specific licensing and insurance requirements. Rideshare claims can involve different coverage rules depending on the driver’s status and whether the rideshare application was active. Learn more about rideshare and bicycle collisions.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld The material on this page has been legally reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. Mr. Rosenfeld and his team have experience representing injured cyclists in bicycle accident cases in Chicago. With a focus on personal injury law, they help bicycle accident victims understand their legal options and pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from their injuries.
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