Taxi driving can be stressful, exhausting, and potentially hazardous. Like many other occupations, it has its own specific dangers, and injuries are always possible. Fortunately, if you are a taxi driver and work for an employer, you are likely to be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. You won’t get paid automatically if you are injured. You have to file a claim and show evidence that the injury or illness was work-related. In turn, you are then not allowed to file a private claim or lawsuit against your employer. Successful claims pay for medical treatment and can also pay the bills if you cannot return to work. Lost Wages as Part of a Taxi Driver’s Workers' Compensation Claim Taxi drivers’ earnings vary wildly. The figures for income from official tables do not reveal the wide disparities between different locations and the fact that taxi drivers may work for many hours or just on weekends or Friday evenings. Whatever the income level, a taxi driver may still become injured as a result of an incident while on the streets or at the depot. An injured taxi driver may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim if working for an insured employer. Wage compensation is usually based on what the taxi driver would have earned in the period he or she might have worked if not for the accident or illness. The percentage varies according to the state but on average, the proportion tends to be around two thirds of the average wage expected to be earned. Taxi drivers earn anything between $9 and $15 an hour and may earn more than $25,000 for a year’s work. These figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, and the figures are from May 2016. Taxi Driver Injuries and Potential Disability Compensation Most taxi driver injuries arise due to the driving conditions where the taxi driver operates. Roads, especially in cities, can be congested and taxi drivers may be under pressure to do their job quickly. Taxis can be struck by other vehicles. Drivers themselves can be hit by other vehicles as they enter or exit the taxi. There are also more specific variables and instances that may lead to injury. Drivers may also be affected by overexertion or strain from lifting passengers’ heavy baggage in and out of the taxi. Hernias, heart attacks, strain, sprains, and fatigue are common injuries and conditions for taxi drivers that may lead to a workers’ comp claim. The categories of disability that may be awarded are as follows: Temporary partial disability, which is not particularly relevant to taxi drivers, may be offered if the injury does not prevent a return to work but may affect what kind of work can be done. An example of this would be losing the use of a hand because of a broken bone. Temporary total disability may be offered when a worker cannot return to any type of work for a particular time period. For example, when a taxi driver has damaged their spine and must recover at home for a fortnight, that’d be an example of temporary total disability. The driver does eventually return to work though. Permanent partial disability, which is also likely to have less relevance to taxi drivers, may be awarded if the injured driver can eventually return to work in a reduced capacity. The loss of a leg, for instance, can be compensated by the use of a wheelchair in an office type job but could be impractical for a taxi driver. Permanent total disability may be offered when a taxi driver’s injuries are so bad that he or she cannot return to work at all. This could potentially happen after a serious crash. Evidence Can Clinch a Workers’ Comp Claim Making a workers’ compensation claim may depend on a suitable amount of evidence. In fact, evidence can clinch a claim. The injury itself may have been witnessed by other people, such as passengers or other people on the road. Their witness statements may prove invaluable when making the claim. Other documentation includes any medical records or physician’s statements describing the nature of the injury or illness, prescriptions, x-rays, bills, and invoices. An attorney can advise their client on what sort of documents may be useful when presenting a workers’ compensation claim. An Attorney’s Legal Help Can Speed up a Workers’ Comp Claim Making a workers’ comp claim may not be straightforward. Just when you need to get treated for an injury and you may be feeling uncomfortable or in pain, the claim process can seem difficult to deal with. Claims are sometimes denied for various reasons or you may find that your employer is uninsured. These are the circumstances in which you may decide to approach an experienced workers’ comp attorney who can help speed up your claim or negotiate on your behalf.
