National Taxi Workers' Alliance and Claims for Worker’s Compensation Unfortunately, workplace accidents are a fact of life, however hard workers try to avoid one happening. If you are a taxi driver there is a good chance at some time that you are likely to encounter an accident that will cause a serious injury. Even though taxi drivers who are members of the National Taxi Worker’s Alliance aren’t entitled to the same benefits as some of the larger unions they may file a claim for worker’s compensation if they are injured while driving a taxi. This is a right and should be taken advantage of in order to avoid the chance of financial hardship when unable to return to work. The National Taxi Workers’ Alliance The National Taxi Workers’ Alliance (NTWA) was first established in 1998 in New York City as the New York Taxi Workers’ Alliance. The NTWA is the 1st non-traditional workforce comprised of independent contractors who do not work on the basis of an hourly wage but are members of the AFL-CIO, which is the oldest labor federation in the country. The union membership is 200,000 strong, making up taxi workers operating more than 100,000 vehicles serving 1 billion passengers annually. New York has the largest branch of the National Taxi Workers’ Alliance and it attracts a $100 per membership annum fee. This entitles the member to subsidize legal fees if required, help in negotiating insurance as well as assistance with submitting a worker’s compensation claim. Common Taxi Worker Injuries The sorts of injuries that take place while driving a taxi depend solely on how an accident takes place. If the taxi is involved in a head on collision and the driver’s body is thrust forward rapidly, a serious head injury could be sustained when hitting the head on the windscreen. Whiplash is more common in rear ended accidents, as the neck is thrown backwards and forwards in a violent, uncontrolled motion leaving the neck limp. Whiplash can be very painful and may take months until full recovery has taken place. If the taxi is hit on the side by another vehicle and it’s where the driver is sitting, there could be serious injury to the driver’s torso as the door caves in on impact. This could lead to life changing internal organ damage. What You Should Do If Injured Driving a Taxi There are several actions you should take which include: Seek medical treatment immediately. Take down contact details of any witnesses and take photos if possible. Inform your supervisor about the accident as soon as possible and make sure you file an accident report within the cut off time period. Call your union representative who will have the details at hand regarding filing a worker’s comp. claim. Contact a worker’s comp. attorney to help you file for the workers’ comp. you deserve. Taxi Workers Alliance Take Note of Your Legal Rights All injuries that take place at work are covered by worker’s comp. and it doesn’t matter what caused the injuries. Employers are legally required to cover medical expenses and lost pay for on-the-job injuries. You are not advised to discuss the claim with the insurer, who may try to make out your injuries did not happen at work, but elsewhere. A workers’ compensation attorney is the best person for you to choose to assist you to win a compensation claim that truly represents your financial hardship. Disclaimer The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
