Can You Sue a Taxi Company After an Accident in Nevada?

You’re riding in a taxi in Nevada. The cab slams into another car or the taxi driver swerves and crashes.

Injured? Traumatized?

The first legal question you ask (after the pain passes): “Can I sue the taxi company?”

Good question. And the answer is: Yes, you often can. But recovering full compensation means untangling liability, insurance rules, and Nevada’s fault system. At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we walk clients through this complexity. Below is what you need to know.

Fault, Duty, and Liability in Taxi Accidents

Nevada (like most states) operates under a fault-based system. The party who is negligent (i.e. fails to exercise reasonable care) is responsible for damages.

For you to recover, you must establish:

1. Duty: The taxi driver (and, in certain contexts, the taxi company) owed you a legal duty of care (to operate safely, maintain the vehicle, ensure driver fitness, etc.).
2. Breach: The driver (or company) breached that duty (speeding, distraction, mechanical failure, negligent hiring, etc.).
3. Causation: The breach was a proximate cause of your injuries or other losses.
4. Damages: You suffered compensable harm (medical bills, lost wages, pain & suffering, property damage).

Because taxis are commercial vehicles, courts and statutes often hold higher expectations on how they are operated, maintained, and supervised.

When the Taxi Company, Not Just the Driver, Can Be Held Liable

It’s not enough to point at the driver in every case. The taxi company itself may share or bear liability under various legal theories:

• Vicarious liability / respondeat superior: If the cab driver is an employee or agent, the company can be held responsible for the driver’s negligent acts done in the course of driving the taxi.
• Negligent hiring, retention, or supervision: The company may be liable if it hired a driver with a bad record, failed to verify credentials, or ignored warnings about unsafe driving.
• Negligent maintenance or inspection: The company must keep the taxi in safe operating condition (brakes, tires, lights, steering, etc.). Failures or skipped maintenance may make the company accountable even if the driver wasn’t obviously negligent.
• Negligent entrustment: If the company loaned or assigned a taxi to someone they knew (or should have known) was unfit to drive, that theory may apply. (General tort doctrine.)

So yes, suing the taxi company is not just possible, it’s often necessary to capture all responsible parties and insurance coverage.

Insurance Requirements for Nevada Taxis

Knowing what insurance the taxi must carry is critical to assessing your claim’s viability.

Under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 706, taxi companies must maintain minimum insurance levels: $250,000 per person for bodily injury, $500,000 total for bodily injuries, and $50,000 property damage.

This coverage is meant to protect both passengers and third parties injured in accidents involving taxis.

If the taxi company lacks sufficient coverage, you may have to explore other sources (driver’s personal coverage, other liable parties).

Because taxis are regulated commercial vehicles, insurers and courts scrutinize claims strictly. You’ll need to make sure your legal strategy accounts for coverage limits, exclusions, and possible counterarguments.

Comparative Fault: Watch Out for Blame from the Defense

One risk in any car accident case is being blamed too. Nevada follows modified comparative negligence under NRS 41.141. You can recover so long as your share of fault is not greater than the defendants’.

If you are found 51% or more at fault, you are barred entirely from recovering damages.

If you are found, say, 20% responsible, your award gets reduced by that share.

So even if you have a solid claim, the defense will try to pin blame on you (e.g. “you distracted the driver,” “you failed to wear a seatbelt,” “you contributed to the crash sequence”). You need a Las Vegas taxi accident lawyer who can defend you against those attacks.

Involved in a Taxi Accident in Las Vegas? Let Us Help

At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we know better than anyone else that a taxi accident claim can get complicated fast: multiple parties, commercial insurance, liability theories, comparative fault.

The success of your claim depends on solid proof, smart strategy, and early legal action. If you’re hurt in a taxi crash, don’t guess. Contact Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers today. Schedule your free consultation by calling at 702-450-5000 and let’s discuss your legal options.

Source:

leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-706.html