Car Accidents With Taxicabs

Car Accidents with Taxicabs

Brien Roche

Taxicabs are generally thought of as being common carriers. Va. Code § 46.2-2061 states that nothing in the article regulating taxicabs is to be construed to make them a common carrier.

That doesn’t mean they’re not a common carrier. However the definition in Va. Code § 46.2-2000 states that a taxicab is a motor vehicle with the seating capacity of not more than six (6) excluding the driver which does not operate on a regular route and which is not a common carrier as defined in this chapter. The definition in the chapter of a common carrier is any person who undertakes to transport passengers for the general public by motor vehicle for compensation over the highways of Virginia.

The definitions seem to be conflicting however the definition of taxicab is fairly straightforward. As such a taxicab probably is not a common carrier.

Car Accidents with Taxicabs-Insurance

The Virginia Code chapter dealing with the regulation of passenger carriers says that chapter does not apply to taxicabs while operating in a jurisdiction which has an ordinance regulating and controlling taxicabs and not operating on a regular route or between fixed locations. Va. Code § 46.2-2000.1 The coverage required of taxicabs is found in Va. Code § 46.2-2057. The UM/UIM limits are $25,000/$50,000. The property damage limits are $20,000.

The amount of bodily injury or property damage liability coverage available from any source is credited against and reduces the amount available against an underinsured motorist. The UM/UIM coverage from the taxicab is secondary to other such available coverage.