Risky Rides: Checking Out the New Orleans Taxicabs.

In most cases, New Orleans taxicab drivers are friendly, professional and careful. "In most cases," because we have all experienced a few cab rides with some fearless character behind the wheel wanting to show off his skills by swerving through the traffic at breathtaking speed as if in a giant slalom.

You don't get to choose the driver when you hail a taxi. Risks of being injured in a car ride are always present but could easily be two to ten times higher if the cab driver:

• Is speeding;
• Changes lanes, tailgates and makes sudden turns;
• Is distracted, talks on the phone or the radio, or unwraps food;
• Overtakes slower vehicles without proper vision;
• Doesn't keep a safe distance with other vehicles.

On top of this, many taxis are old and worn out, are driven in shifts by different people and get only the most basic maintenance, which means improper suspension, brakes and tires.

This is to say that next time you take a taxi in New Orleans, you should buckle up.

A detailed study has been made on seatbelt use in taxis, showing interesting results:

• 11.5 percent of rear-seat passengers involved in crashes sustained fractures, concussions, internal injuries, bleeding and abrasions, which is three times higher than the rate for passengers in other vehicles;
• 17 percent of rear-seat passengers involved in crashes were wearing seatbelts. This is a much lower proportion than passenger seatbelt use in other vehicles than taxis;
• Unrestrained passengers are nearly twice as likely to sustain severe injuries as those using a seatbelt.

The study further mentions a well-known fact: rear-seat passengers in medallion taxicabs are likely to sustain more serious injuries in a crash due to the very hard glass partition separating them from the front seats.

If you have been hurt in a New Orleans taxicab crash contact the attorneys of the Young Firm immediately for a FREE consultation on your case at (504) 680-4100 (local) or (866) 660-7220 (toll free) or by sending us an e-mail.