Taxi passengers, taxi drivers and other road users hurt in a crash involving a taxi, hackney or limousine can bring a personal injury claim. This page explains how responsibility and insurance work, and how to identify the vehicle.
A taxi accident claim is a personal injury claim by anyone hurt in a crash involving a taxi, hackney or limousine: a passenger, the taxi driver, or another road user.
A passenger is not driving either vehicle, so the question is usually which driver was at fault, or whether both were.
The National Transport Authority licenses taxis, hackneys and limousines, which are known as small public service vehicles (SPSVs).
The holder of each vehicle licence must provide and maintain appropriate SPSV insurance, so a passenger's claim against the taxi driver goes to that insurer. If another driver caused the crash, the claim goes to their insurer instead.
Every licensed taxi carries tamper-proof licence discs on the front and rear windows, showing the vehicle licence number, the registration and how many passengers it may carry. A photo of the disc is enough to trace the vehicle.
The NTA's Driver Check app confirms the vehicle is registered and the driver is licensed for it. If you booked through an app, the booking record shows the driver, the car and the route.
If the other vehicle had no insurance or drove off, the claim goes to the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI).
Keep your booking confirmation, receipt or card payment record. It proves you were in the taxi at that time.
These losses are claimed on top of the injury award, so keep receipts.
Contact us through our enquiry form, phone, or email. We’ll review your situation, answer your questions, and explain what to expect next. There’s no upfront fee to begin your claim.
Your case will be carefully reviewed by our legal team.
We assess the strength of your claim, advise on the documentation needed, and guide you through key steps such as attending an independent medical examination and preparing the information required for the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB).
Once you decide to move forward, we take care of everything. This includes gathering evidence, contacting the other party or their insurer, submitting your claim to the IRB, managing settlement discussions, and handling any court proceedings if needed.
Paul Kearney founded the practice and leads its personal injury work in Ireland. He is regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. Read Paul's profile.
We prepare your application to the Injuries Resolution Board, including the medical evidence, and advise you on any assessment before you decide whether to accept it.
You can meet us at any of our four offices, or deal with us by phone, email or video, wherever you live in Ireland.
There are no upfront fees. Before you go ahead, we set out in writing how legal costs work, as section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 requires. No Win No Fee explained.
Against whichever driver was at fault: the taxi driver, the driver of the other vehicle, or both. If the taxi driver caused the crash, the claim is dealt with by the taxi's SPSV insurer. We find out which before the letter of claim goes out.
A taxi driver hurt by another driver's negligence claims against that driver's insurer in the same way as any other motorist. Fares lost while you can't work can be part of the claim, so keep your booking and payment records.
Check the photo of the licence disc, your booking record or card payment, or search the registration in the NTA's Driver Check app.
The NTA keeps a record of which licensed driver is linked to each vehicle, and the Gardaí will have details if the crash was reported.
The other side may argue it made your injuries worse. If a court agrees, compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of the blame under section 34 of the Civil Liability Act 1961. It does not stop you bringing the claim.
The claim goes to the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland. A driver who was never traced must have been reported to the Gardaí. Read claims involving uninsured or untraced drivers.
2 years from the date of the accident, or from the date you knew about the injury if that is later, under the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991.
For a child, the 2 years start on their 18th birthday. The letter of claim must go to the driver at fault within one month of the accident.
Most do. You apply with the form, a report from the doctor who treated you and a fee of €45 online or €90 by post. The other side has 90 days to agree to an assessment or mediation. Read how the Injuries Resolution Board works.
Whiplash is common when a taxi is hit from behind, and the symptoms sometimes take a day or two to appear. See a doctor even if the pain seems minor. Read whiplash injury claims: what to expect.
We can't give a figure until we have the medical evidence. The amount for the injury itself is set by the Personal Injuries Guidelines, in force since 24 April 2021. Lost earnings, medical costs and travel are added on top.
No. There are no upfront fees. Before you go ahead, we give you clear written terms explaining how legal costs work, as section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 requires. Read No Win No Fee explained.
Regulated by the Law Society of Ireland
Kearney Law handles only personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
We act for clients across Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Letterkenny. See all the areas we cover.
Contact us to talk to a solicitor about your claim, or request a case review.
Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8am – 8pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
