What is a Taxi Accidents Claim?
Taxi accident claims cover injuries to passengers of taxis, hackneys, and ride-share vehicles. All Irish taxis are legally required to carry passenger insurance. Claims can be against the taxi driver, against another driver who caused the collision, or against both. The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) is a backstop where the taxi or responsible driver turns out to be uninsured.
Am I Entitled to Claim?
You can claim if your taxi driver was at fault in a collision, if another driver caused the collision, or if the taxi itself was unroadworthy. You can also claim for sudden braking, poor driving around junctions, or unsafe vehicle conditions. Passengers almost always have a clear route to compensation because one of the two drivers will be responsible.
Step-by-Step Process
Record the Taxi
Take a photo of the dashboard licence card and the registration. Save your booking receipt.
Gardai and Medical
Call Gardai if there are injuries or significant damage. Accept ambulance assessment.
Save the App Data
If Free Now or another app, save screenshots of your booking and the driver profile.
Report to Operator
Report to the taxi company and the operator. Get a reference number in writing.
Contact Keans
We identify the correct insurer (taxi or other driver) and prepare the claim.
Settlement
Taxi claims generally settle efficiently because the insurer is well identified.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Claim
The stronger the evidence, the more straightforward the claim. Where possible, gather the following:
- Taxi driver’s name and licence number (from the dashboard card)
- Taxi vehicle registration and the booking receipt
- App screenshots if booked through Free Now, Bolt, or similar
- The Garda Pulse reference number
- Other driver’s details if a third party was involved
- Witness details including other passengers
- Medical records from A&E and any follow-up care
Compensation Ranges
Based on the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines 2021. Awards may also include special damages for lost earnings, medical costs, and future care needs. Exact value depends on your specific injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on who was at fault. If the taxi driver was at fault, the claim goes to their taxi insurance. If another driver caused the collision, the claim goes to that driver’s insurance. If fault is unclear, we submit against both and the IRB or court apportions liability.
It may reduce your compensation on contributory negligence grounds if your injuries were worsened by not being belted, but it does not eliminate the claim. Wearing a seatbelt is a legal requirement for adult passengers, so where practicable it is always advisable.
Yes. The taxi’s own ride records, the dashboard camera if installed, CCTV along the route, and any witness evidence help establish that you were a fare-paying passenger. We track down this evidence.
The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) handles claims against uninsured drivers. Taxi drivers operating without proper licences or insurance are prosecuted separately by the National Transport Authority, but your injury claim can still proceed through MIBI.
Two years from the date of the accident or the date you first became aware of the injury. Certain exceptions apply for minors and cases involving delayed discovery, but the two-year limit is the default. Miss it and your claim is statute barred, so contact a solicitor early.
No. The initial consultation at Keans is free. For personal injury cases we discuss all fees in writing before work begins. In contentious business, Irish law prevents solicitors from calculating fees as a percentage of your award or settlement.