When you slid into that yellow cab, you trusted the driver to thread Midtown’s frenetic traffic. But like any vehicle on the road, taxi accidents can still happen.
One minute you’re planning your stop; the next, the windshield is spider-webbed, and bystanders are shouting. Taxi crashes may be rarer than garden-variety New York car crashes, but when they happen, the confusion is uniquely disorienting. This guide hands you a first-24-hours playbook that safeguards your health, locks down evidence, and shows you how to prove who’s legally responsible.
Injured in a taxi accident in NYC? We can help. At HKD, our personal injury attorneys recently won a $1.15 million taxi-crash settlement. Call 212-490-5700 for a free consultation.
You pay nothing unless we win.
NYC Taxi Crashes: Where They Happen & Why
Whether you’re in the back seat of a cab in Manhattan, easing past in your own car, or simply crossing the street, TLC-licensed vehicles collide with something in New York City roughly every 53 minutes. The Taxi & Limousine Commission’s Vision Zero crash dashboard tallied 9,800 taxi- and for-hire-vehicle crashes in 2024.
NYC Taxi Accident Hotspots
- Midtown East (3rd Ave at 44-45 St) – tight hotel drop-offs and constant lane changes put passengers and pedestrians at risk.
- Herald Square (W 34th & 6th Ave) – Macy’s crowds + tour-bus stops = sudden curb jumps.
- Flatbush Ave, Downtown Brooklyn – narrow lanes funnel taxis past double-parked delivery trucks, leading to sideswipes.
- Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights – 24/7 airport runs spawn risky U-turns and hurried pickups.
New York Taxi Accidents Cause Real Injuries
- June 2 2025 – Midtown East: A yellow cab pinballed off another car and smashed into a Duane Reade façade at 711 Third Ave., injuring two shoppers.
- Dec 25 2024 – Herald Square: A driver suffering a medical episode jumped the curb near Macy’s, sending six pedestrians, including a 9-year-old—to the hospital.
- In 2021, at least one person was hospitalized after a cab was pushed onto the sidewalk, through a glass bus stop, and into an Upper East Side Japanese restaurant. Witnesses say the taxi stopped to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of it, then was rear-ended by an SUV. A restaurant employee was hospitalized after the accident.
- Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa was struck by a cab, four days before an election, near Rockefeller Center. He was running across the street when he was hit by the taxi, suffering a broken arm and a minor concussion.
- Two people were taken to the hospital, the cab driver and the passenger, after the taxi flipped over on its roof in Midtown Manhattan in 2017. Police report it was traveling down Fifth Avenue, side-swiped another cab, hit a guardrail, then overturned.
The Top Causes of NYC Taxi Collisions
Even the most seasoned New York cabbies can’t escape the hazards baked into New York’s round-the-clock traffic. Understanding why crashes happen helps passengers, motorists, and pedestrians recognize risk factors early and gives your legal team what they need to prove negligence.
The biggest reasons why NYC taxi accidents happen include:
- Congested Grid & Sudden Stops – Midtown’s bumper-to-bumper flow forces taxis to weave, brake hard for curb pick-ups, and dodge double-parked trucks, leading to rear-end collisions and “dooring” incidents with cyclists.
- App Distractions & Shift-Work Fatigue – Juggling GPS, ride-hail pings, and marathon shifts stretches a driver’s focus thin; delayed reaction times and missed signals are common crash triggers in NYC taxi accidents.
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance by Fleet Owners – High-mileage yellow cabs with worn brakes, bald tires, or overdue inspections can turn routine fares into runaway hazards, shifting liability to medallion or fleet owners.
- Third-Party Negligence & Mechanical Failure – Chain-reaction pile-ups, reckless speeding by other drivers, construction-zone hazards, or defective parts (brakes, steering, airbags) can all set a taxi crash in motion, often creating multiple layers of legal responsibility.
What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a NYC Taxi-Cab Accident
Whether you were a passenger in the cab, a driver in the next lane, or a pedestrian, these moves help protect your health and build a case for compensation later.
- Call 911 & Stay Put – Dial emergency services and remain at the scene so NYPD can file the collision report every insurer and court will demand. Leaving risks, hit-and-run penalties, and hurting your potential claim.
- Move to Safety – If possible, guide passengers to the sidewalk, flip on hazard lights, and ask the cabbie to set warning triangles to prevent a secondary crash while showing you acted responsibly.
- Document the Scene – Snap the taxi’s medallion, all license plates, vehicle positions, skid marks, weather, and your visible injuries. Time-stamped photos freeze evidence before cars move and memories fade.
- Collect Witness Details – Politely grab names and numbers from bystanders, store clerks, or other drivers; neutral eyewitnesses become crucial when driver stories conflict.
- Get Medical Care within 24 hours. – Go by ambulance or head to the ER/urgent care and mention every ache, however small. Prompt records tie injuries to the crash and preserve your right to compensation.
- File DMV Form MV-104 within 10 days – Submit the accident report online or by mail and keep a copy; failing to file can trigger license suspension and weakens your legal standing.
- Notify Insurer within 30 days. – Send written notice to your auto carrier or the cab’s if you don’t have one so you don’t forfeit no-fault benefits.
- Save Evidence/ Keep Records – Keep the ride receipt, torn clothing, broken phone, and app screenshots; tangible items prove impact force, out-of-pocket costs, and pain-and-suffering claims.
- Speak to an NYC taxi-accident lawyer before any recorded statement – Working with a contingency-fee based personal injury attorney shields you from insurer traps, uncovers every liable party, and taps multiple insurance layers with no upfront cost to you.
Injured in a NYC taxi crash? HKD’s attorneys are here to help. Call 212-490-5700 to request a free, no-risk case evaluation.
Who’s Liable After a NYC Taxi-Cab Accident?
The process of getting compensation injuries sustained in a taxi-involved collision is mostly the same as if you were injured by any other car. However, unlike a typical fender-bender, taxi accidents often involve multiple parties because the driver may not own the vehicle, and deeper pockets may exist beyond the wheel.
Who’s Responsible in a NYC Taxi Crash?
Depending on the facts of your case, multiple people or entities may share liability:
- The Taxi Driver – If the cabbie was speeding, texting, ignoring traffic signals, or otherwise careless, they can be personally liable. Their commercial insurance may be the first layer of recovery.
- The Fleet or Medallion Owner – Many drivers lease their cabs. If the company failed to screen drivers or neglected maintenance (worn brakes, bald tires), it could be held responsible.
- A Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer – If a mechanical defect (like failed brakes or steering) caused the crash, the manufacturer or distributor may be partially liable under product liability laws.
- A Third-Party Driver or Entity – Chain-reaction crashes, road debris, or negligent drivers in other vehicles can also contribute and become targets for liability.
How New York Defines Negligence in Taxi Accidents
To win a personal injury claim in New York, your lawyer must prove that someone acted negligently and that their negligence directly caused your injuries. Here’s how it works:
- Legal Duty – The driver (or fleet) owed you a duty to operate the taxi safely and maintain it properly.
- Breach of Duty – That duty was broken, often due to speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, or poor maintenance.
- Causation – That breach directly caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages – You suffered actual harm, like medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Meet all four, and the at-fault party (or their insurer) may be legally required to pay.
Taxi Insurance Coverage in NYC: What Compensation is Available After a Crash?
Insurance coverage determines how much money is on the table when it comes to recovering damages. Here’s what you need to know:
- Licensed NYC Taxis (Yellow Medallions) must carry at least $100,000 in liability coverage per person, and $300,000 per accident, plus $10,000 in property damage.
- No-Fault (PIP) Coverage is also required, covering up to $200,000 in medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash.
- Unlicensed or “Gypsy” Cabs may carry the state minimum—as low as $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash—or potentially none at all.
- Umbrella Policies or Additional Coverage may apply in high-value claims, especially for large fleets or when multiple parties are injured.
If your injuries exceed the no-fault threshold, your lawyer can pursue compensation from the at-fault party’s liability policy. In some cases, multiple layers of insurance, driver, owner, manufacturer, and even your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, can stack together to cover your losses.
Getting Legal Help after a NY Taxi Accident
The legal process after a taxi accident in New York City is rarely straightforward. Early legal intervention can make all the difference, whether your injuries came from a yellow cab, green cab, or even a rideshare like Uber or Lyft. An experienced NYC personal injury attorney will gather and preserve key evidence, handle communications with the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), identify all potentially liable parties, and negotiate aggressively with insurance carriers who may try to undervalue your injuries.
A lawyer can also ensure critical deadlines are met and help you pursue full compensation. From securing crash reports and surveillance footage to subpoenaing vehicle maintenance logs and commercial insurance policies, your legal team will build your claim while you focus on healing.
Hurt by a NYC Taxi? Contact HKD Today
At Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., our team has decades of experience standing up to commercial carriers, fleet owners, and insurance companies on behalf of injured New Yorkers – recovering over $825 Million. Call 212-490-5700 or contact us online to schedule a free case review with our trusted NYC taxi accident attorneys. You pay nothing unless we win.