What to consider when claiming for a taxi accident
- Taxi companies have a duty of care to ensure the safety of passengers and other road users, by ensuring drivers are suitably trained, take regular breaks and that taxis are regularly maintained.
- You can claim if your injuries were caused by another road user's negligence, whether you were a passenger, taxi driver, pedestrian or other road user.
- You can still make a claim, even if the other driver was uninsured or you couldn't get their details.
- You can claim compensation even if you think you may be partly to blame (e.g. you weren't wearing a seatbelt).
- You must start your claim within 3 years of the accident - however, the longer you wait to claim, the harder it can be to collect the evidence you need.
- You can claim on a no win, no fee basis.
- Your compensation is based on how serious your injury is, along with your financial losses and expenses. Check our compensation calculator to see how much you could claim.
Injured in a taxi accident? You could be entitled to compensation
Taxi accidents can happen suddenly, whether due to driver error, another vehicle on the road, or unsafe road conditions. Being involved in a taxi accident can be distressing, potentially causing physical injuries and trauma. Whether you're a passenger, driver, or a third party, we can help you claim compensation.
You can make a No Win, No Fee taxi accident claim with the assistance of a personal injury solicitor, so you can focus on your recovery.
With nearly 75,000 car occupant injuries every year, you are not alone
Although most taxi and mini-cab drivers are safe and experienced, their vehicles are constantly in use, driven at all hours, and often under tight deadlines in various weather conditions.
As a result, accidents are relatively common. According to Transport for London (TFL), taxis accounted for 5% of road casualties in 2022.
In 2023, there were 749 car occupant fatalities and 72,155 casualties (gov.uk).
If you decide to make a taxi accident claim, your road accident solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
How much compensation can I claim for a taxi accident?
The amount of compensation you can claim for an injury involving a taxi depends on:
- the degree of your injury,
- the impact of your injury on your daily life and ability to work,
- any direct financial losses or expenses resulting from the accident.
Taxi accident injury
compensation calculator
Find out how much compensation you could claim in just a few minutes.
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Updated October 2024
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General damages
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Special damages
Special damages is compensation awarded to cover any financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your road injury or negligent medical treatment. These damages aim to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had your injury not occurred.
Special damages will also cover your medical treatment expenses, that might include pain medication and psychological support.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
Average taxi accident general damages compensation table
The following taxi accident payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Back injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A back sprain, disc prolapse, soft tissue injury or minor fracture that fully recovers without surgery | £2,720 to £13,870 |
| Moderate | A disc lesion, prolapse, fracture or soft tissue injury leading to chronic conditions, including pain, mobility issues, impaired sexual function, psychological effects, a risk of arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and nerve root irritation | £13,870 to £30,800 |
| Severe | Severe spinal cord damage, nerve root damage, disc lesions, fractures and soft tissues leading to serious chronic conditions | £43,020 to £178,590 |
Facial injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple fractures | Multiple fractures of facial bones, with some facial deformity | £16,530 to £26,560 |
| Skeletal injuries | Le Fort fractures of frontal facial bones | £26,420 to £40,760 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Simple fracture with full recovery | Up to £13,140 |
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
Neck injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Soft tissue injury | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Moderate | Fracture or dislocation injuries, or worsening of existing conditions, including wrenching, disc lesions and cervical spondylosis | £27,730 to £42,700 |
| Serious | Severe fractures, dislocation, soft tissue damage, ruptured tendons, and/or chronic disability | £50,450 to £62,120 |
| Severe | Serious fractures or damage to discs, with disability and substantial loss of neck movement, including loss of function in one or more limbs | £72,950 to £145,250 |
| Very Severe | Incomplete paraplegia, spastic quadriparesis, and/or very restricted neck movement | Around £164,560 |
Whiplash
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery in under 3 months | Up to £220 | |
| Recovery in 3 to 12 months | £220 to £1,200 | |
| Recovery in 1 to 2 years | £1,200 to £3,830 |
The psychological impact of a road accident
Road accidents can be shocking, traumatic events, often leaving a psychological impact alongside physical injuries.
Our 2024 Road Injury Claimant Survey highlights how common psychiatric injuries are, with 32.47% of road accident claims involving psychological harm. 78.53% of these were also associated with a physical injury.
Being injured in a taxi can lead to amaxophobia (fear of driving), a distrust of others' driving, or PTSD.
You can claim compensation for recognised psychological harm that arises from a road accident, including PTSD. Your solicitor will help ensure you can access help and mental health support that may not be available on the NHS in your area.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
Do I have a taxi injury claim?
You can start a compensation claim for a taxi accident, if:
- you were injured within the last 3 years, and;
- another party was to blame, and;
- that party owed you a duty of care.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
Claiming when you're partially at fault
Personal injury claims often involve circumstances where there is some degree of blame on each side.
We found that, in our 2024 Road Injury Claimant Survey, 5.24% of injured road users were unsure as to which party was legally liable for their injuries.
Even if your actions or negligence played a role in the accident, you could still be eligible for compensation. Cases with shared fault (contributory negligence) frequently settle through a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a taxi accident do I have to start a claim?
In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.
If you were injured when you were under 18, a parent, guardian or adult 'litigation friend' can make a claim on your behalf. Once you turn 18, you have until your 21st birthday to start an injury claim.
What if?
The taxi collided with another vehicle
If the accident was caused by another driver, both the taxi driver and passengers can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer.
The taxi driver can claim for injuries, financial losses, vehicle damage, and lost income. If self-employed, the driver may need to provide evidence of earnings. It may also be possible to claim for the cost of renting a replacement taxi, allowing the driver to continue working while the damaged vehicle is being repaired or replaced.
The collision was the taxi driver's fault
If the accident was caused by the taxi driver, passengers in the taxi can claim compensation from the driver's insurance. The other vehicle's driver and passengers can also claim from the taxi driver's insurer.
The taxi driver who caused the accident cannot claim for their own injuries but may have separate insurance to cover vehicle repair or replacement.
I wasn't wearing a seat belt
Compensation may be reduced if an injured passenger was not wearing a seat belt during the accident. This is considered contributory negligence.
Read more:
Can I still make an injury claim if I wasn't wearing a seatbelt?
I was a pedestrian who was hit by taxi
A pedestrian who has been injured in a collision with a taxi can make a claim against the taxi driver's insurer.
The taxi was involved in a hit and run incident
Both the driver and passengers can make a personal injury claim from the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) if a vehicle collides with the taxi and drives off untraced. A claim would also be made of the MIB if the driver is uninsured.
Read more:
Claiming compensation through the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB)
The driver was uninsured
If the driver responsible for the injury is either uninsured or untraceable, a claim can be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).
The MIB is an independent that pays road accident compensation to the victims of uninsured or untraced (unidentified) drivers.
Do I need to know who is liable before starting a claim?
No, you don't need to know who is at fault before starting a claim. Your personal injury solicitor will help identify the liable party and gather the evidence needed to support your claim.
The claims process for pothole injuries: where and how it happened matters
The steps for claiming a compensation for a taxi injury will depend on where and how it happened. Click the icons below to find out more.
Can I make a no win, no fee taxi accident injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim taxi accident injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to a road accident specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
We are open until 9pm this evening.
or arrange a callbackSources
Welcome to MIB (reviewed: 31/07/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.