Baltimore Accident Lawyers: Fatal Pedestrian Accident
September 15, 2015A fatal pedestrian accident in Philadelphia involving a taxi cab claimed the lives of a young man and woman visiting the city in celebration of Labor Day. The accident happened early Monday morning at a major intersection in Center City, Philadelphia. The victims were crossing the street when the taxi struck them, sending them both flying nearly 100 feet before they landed on the pavement. The woman, a 25 year-old from Phoenixville, PA, was pronounced dead at the scene. The male victim, a 25 year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, was rushed after the crash to a hospital one block away where doctors were unable to revive him.
An investigation has been launched into what caused the deadly crash. Witnesses report that traffic was very light at the time the two were struck. Reportedly, the driver of the cab had the green light but appeared to be travelling around 50 mph, double the posted speed limit for the area. The windshield of the taxi sustained heavy damage and the driver, who stopped at the scene, was taken to the hospital complaining of chest pains. He volunteered to give a blood sample for police to test for the presence of drugs or alcohol. Investigators say the results of the test could take up to two weeks.
Initial reports indicate the driver had no prior driving issues. However, the company he drove for has been cited in other infractions. State records show that the company has been investigated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission more than 20 times in the past five years, incurring thousands of dollars in fines for safety violations and other infractions.
In 2012, the company paid $3,850 for violations that included failing to obtain criminal background checks for 15 of its drivers, along with not completing driver log sheets in the cabs. One year earlier, the company paid $1,300 for ignoring a complaint regarding a driver operating a taxi without a valid driver’s license. There are currently eight open cases against the company for violations that include having unsafe tires and faulty equipment on vehicles. Allegations have been made that drivers are operating taxis without working lights, odometers and turn signals, all of which are vital to the safe operation of the vehicle.
Many people are inclined to believe that because taxis are a form of public transportation, their drivers are held to more rigid standards of safety. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Because they carry fewer than 16 passengers, taxi cabs are not regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Commission, and are not held to the safety rules that buses and shuttles must adhere to, such as hours of service regulations and equipment standards. In fact, in Maryland, taxi drivers need only a regular Class A Maryland driver’s license and to adhere to the same safe driving laws as any Maryland driver. Some Maryland cities; however, require drivers to have a clean criminal and driving record, and be medically certified. Any special training or additional requirements for taxi drivers are left to the discretion of the taxi cab company.
Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Fight for Victims of Taxi Driver Negligence
If you have been seriously injured, or suffered the wrongful death of a loved one at the hands of a careless or reckless taxi cab or limo driver, we can help. Throughout our more than 30 years of service, Maryland accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton have successfully obtained more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements for victims of all types of accidents. Call our offices today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) to schedule your free consultation. Someone on our team of legal professionals is available to take your call 24 hours a day or you can contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie and Towson, allowing us to represent accident victims and their families throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood and Elkridge.