Taxi Accident Lawyers
Injured in a taxi incident as a passenger, road user, pedestrian or driver? We handle CTP claims, operator vicarious liability and driver-fatigue matters across Queensland on a genuine No Win No Fee* basis.
- No-obligation first consultation
- No win, no fee*
- We set out our costs in writing at the start.
Your time limits
Queensland law- CTP Notice of Claim Deadline 9 mths
- Operator In-Cab CCTV Retention 30 days
- Authority Notice (If Public Authority Involved) 1 mth
- Final Limitation Period 3 yrs
We Represent Taxi Accident Victims Across Queensland
From taxi passengers injured during a Brisbane CBD trip to pedestrians struck by a taxi at a rank, fatigued-driver collisions on overnight shifts to taxi drivers themselves hit by an at-fault motorist on the M1, Carter Capner Law has handled the full range of Queensland taxi accident claims.
Taxi Accident Claims We Handle
Carter Capner Law represents people injured in incidents involving licensed Queensland taxis, Black & White Cabs, Yellow Cabs and other operators. Each scenario has different legal pathways: CTP coverage applies to all motor vehicle injuries, but operator vicarious liability, driver fatigue regulations, and licensee duties open additional avenues for a claim.
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Taxi Passengers
Passengers injured during a taxi trip due to driver error, fatigue, sudden braking, or another vehicle’s fault. CTP applies, plus the operator may be vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence as a true employee or licensee under the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994.
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Pedestrians & Other Road Users
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists injured in a collision with a taxi, including being struck at a taxi rank, near a hotel queue or in a pickup zone. Standard CTP claim against the at-fault taxi driver, with operator-level claims available where rostering, fatigue management or vehicle maintenance failed.
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Taxi Drivers
Taxi drivers injured by an at-fault other road user, by a violent or fare-evading passenger, or because of a faulty cab supplied by the operator. CTP applies for road incidents; WorkCover Queensland may also apply where the driver is a true employee, with public liability or operator claims for vehicle defects and on-rank assaults.
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Families & Fatalities
Dependants of passengers, pedestrians, drivers or other road users killed in a taxi crash. Dependency claims under the Civil Proceedings Act 2011 (Qld) and CTP, with operator-level fatigue or maintenance evidence often pivotal to securing a full settlement.
Do You Qualify for a Taxi Accident Claim?
Taxi vehicles are motor vehicles for QLD CTP purposes, so the standard CTP scheme applies directly to passengers, drivers and other road users injured in a taxi crash. Operator vicarious liability under the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 (Qld) and common-law negligence often expand recoverable damages where rostering, fatigue management or vehicle maintenance failed.
Core Eligibility Requirements
- Driver, Operator or Third-Party Negligence. Fault by the taxi driver, the operator (rostering, fatigue, maintenance), or another motorist or pedestrian, careless driving, distraction, fatigue beyond regulated shift hours, or breach of the Australian Road Rules.
- Documented Injury. Medical records linking your injury directly to the taxi incident, emergency department, GP, physiotherapist or specialist reports.
- Identifiable Trip & Vehicle. A licensed Queensland taxi (cab number visible on roof/door, operator livery), driver authority details, fare receipt or eftpos slip, and ideally a witness or in-cab camera record connecting the driver to your trip.
- CTP Time Limits. A Notice of Accident Claim Form must be lodged within 9 months of the incident or first symptom (or within 1 month of seeing a lawyer, whichever is sooner) under the Motor Accident Insurance Act.
Quick eligibility check
- Were you injured in or near a licensed Queensland taxi?
- Was the taxi driver, the operator, another road user, or a pedestrian at fault?
- Has it been less than 9 months since the incident (CTP NOAC deadline)?
- Did you require medical attention or time off work?
- Seeking medical treatment
Special Circumstances: Operator Vicarious Liability & Driver Fatigue
Taxi operators (e.g. Black & White Cabs, Yellow Cabs) hold an Operator Accreditation under the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 (Qld) and owe non-delegable duties for vehicle roadworthiness, fatigue management and driver suitability. Where a taxi driver is a true employee rather than a bailee or independent contractor, the operator is vicariously liable for that driver’s negligence, opening avenues beyond CTP for things like assaults at ranks, defective brakes, or fatigue-induced collisions on long shifts.
Typical Taxi Accident & Injury Scenarios in Queensland
From rear-end collisions during a Brisbane CBD trip to pedestrians struck at airport ranks, fatigue-related crashes on overnight shifts to passenger assaults, we handle the full range of Queensland taxi accident claims, working closely with operators and CTP insurers to preserve in-cab CCTV, dispatch logs and GPS records.
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Taxi Driver At Fault
Taxi driver causes a collision through inattention, fatigue, GPS distraction, or careless driving. Passenger and other-road-user claims proceed against the at-fault taxi CTP insurer, with operator vicarious liability available where the driver is a true employee.
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Other Driver Hits the Taxi
A non-taxi motorist rear-ends or sideswipes a cab. Passengers and the taxi driver claim against the at-fault driver’s CTP. WorkCover Queensland may also apply for the driver where they are a true employee of the operator.
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Pedestrian Struck at a Rank
Pedestrian hit at a CBD, hotel, airport or stadium taxi rank, including being clipped by a cab manoeuvring out of the rank or struck while crossing in front of queued cabs. CTP applies; council, airport corporation or venue may also be liable for defective rank infrastructure.
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Driver Fatigue / Long-Shift Crash
Taxi driver fatigue on overnight or back-to-back shifts causes loss of control. Operator rosters, dispatch logs and GPS data demonstrate breach of fatigue-management duties, opening operator-level negligence claims beyond CTP.
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Door-Strike Cyclist or E-Scooter Rider
Taxi passenger or driver opens a door into the path of a cyclist, e-scooter rider or pedestrian (“dooring”). Liability is allocated between the door-opener and the driver under Australian Road Rule 269; CTP responds for personal injury.
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Maxi-Taxi / Wheelchair Securement Failure
Wheelchair-accessible cab passenger injured by improper restraint of the wheelchair, mobility scooter or occupant during a sudden stop or collision. Operator and driver training records become central evidence.
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In-Cab Assault or Fare Dispute
Passenger assaulted by a driver or vice versa, including fare-evasion altercations. Mixed claims, criminal, civil and operator-liability where in-cab CCTV evidence shows operator failure to manage known-risk drivers or routes.
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Defective Cab / Maintenance Failure
Brake failure, steering defect or tyre blowout in an operator-supplied cab. The operator’s non-delegable duty for vehicle roadworthiness produces a direct negligence claim alongside CTP.
Immediate Steps
What to Do After a Taxi Incident
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1
1. Call 000 if anyone is injured
Get medical help and police attendance. The police QPRIME report is critical first-line evidence in any taxi CTP and operator-liability claim.
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2. Note the cab number, operator and driver authority
Photograph the cab number on the roof/door, the operator livery (e.g. Black & White, Yellow Cabs), and the driver’s authority card displayed on the dash. Keep the printed receipt or eftpos slip, it ties the trip to the operator and rostered driver.
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3. Photograph vehicles, scene & injuries
Photograph all vehicles, registration plates, the scene from multiple angles, road markings, taxi rank signage and your visible injuries. Note time-of-day for fatigue evidence.
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4. Get witness contact details
Other passengers, the taxi driver, drivers of other vehicles, pedestrians, rank marshals, names and phone numbers before everyone disperses.
Time is critical. Strict time limits apply to road accident claims, and some steps must be taken within a few months of the accident. Contact us early so we can check the time limits that apply to you.
Who you claim against
Road claims rarely have one answer. The at-fault driver’s CTP insurer is the usual starting point, but a hit-and-run goes to the Nominal Defendant, a road defect to the road authority (the council, or the Department of Transport and Main Roads for state-controlled roads), and a faulty vehicle or towbar to the manufacturer. We look at every avenue before we lodge anything.
- The other vehicle was registered Its CTP insurer Allianz, QBE or Suncorp. Notice within 9 months, or 1 month after you first see a lawyer.
- The driver drove off The Nominal Defendant Queensland’s default insurer for unidentified vehicles. Notice within 3 months, barred after 9.
- It was unregistered or uninsured The Nominal Defendant The claim runs much like a CTP claim, against the Nominal Defendant instead.
- Your injuries are catastrophic NIISQ as well Lifetime treatment, care and support through the National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland.
Compensation Available for Taxi Injuries
Under CTP, operator vicarious liability, public liability and (where the driver is a true employee) WorkCover Queensland, taxi injury claims can recover the full range of recognised heads of damage.
Medical & Rehabilitation Expenses
Past and future medical, surgical, hospital, physiotherapy, psychological and rehabilitation costs flowing from the taxi incident.
Lost Income & Loss of Earning Capacity
Past wages lost while recovering and future loss of earning capacity, critical for taxi drivers and operator employees whose income depends on driving fitness.
Pain & Suffering (General Damages)
Compensation for pain, suffering, loss of amenity and psychological impact, assessed under the QLD Civil Liability Regulation ISV scale.
Care & Domestic Assistance
Past and future paid and gratuitous care, domestic assistance, home modifications and aids for catastrophic taxi-incident injuries.
Personal Property Damage
Phones, glasses, clothing, bicycles, e-scooters and other personal items damaged in the incident, recoverable alongside personal injury.
Dependency & Bereavement (Fatal Cases)
Where a loved one has died in a taxi incident, dependants may claim under the Civil Proceedings Act for loss of dependency and reasonable funeral expenses.
What's Covered for Taxi Injuries
- Medical Treatment. Hospital, consultants, rehabilitation, medications, and future care costs
- Lost Income. Past and future loss of earnings and reduced earning capacity
- Pain & Suffering. General damages for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of life's amenities
- Care & Assistance. Paid professional care and unpaid family assistance (gratuitous care)
How CTP works
- CTP covers you, not your car. Personal injury only: treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and care.
- Your car is a separate claim. Repairs go through the at-fault driver’s property insurer, or your own.
- Both can run at once. You can run the injury claim and the property claim at the same time.
Queensland’s CTP insurers are Allianz, QBE and Suncorp. The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) regulates CTP insurance in Queensland.
Claim Valuation
How taxi Claims Are Valued
Valuations turn on injury severity (ISV scale), economic loss (past and future) and care needs. Catastrophic spinal or brain injuries from high-speed taxi crashes typically attract the highest awards. We engage independent medico-legal experts, occupational therapists and economists so each part of your claim is assessed within the CTP and Civil Liability Regulation limits.
Typical Injuries from Taxi Incidents
Taxi incidents produce a distinctive injury profile shaped by urban traffic collisions, rank pedestrian strikes, fatigue-related loss of control, dooring of cyclists and e-scooter riders, and the unique seating dynamics of cabs (front-facing rear bench, lap-belt only middle seat in older fleet vehicles).
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Head & Brain Injuries
- Concussion from rear-end taxi collision
- TBI from intersection T-bone with at-fault driver
- Skull fracture from rank or pickup-zone pedestrian strike
- Post-concussion syndrome, fatigue-related crash
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Spinal & Neck Injuries
- Whiplash from taxi rear-end
- Cervical strain from sudden braking on Brisbane CBD trip
- Thoracic disc injury, lap-belt only middle-seat passenger
- Permanent spinal cord injury from high-speed crash
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Fractures & Crush Injuries
- Wrist & hip fractures from pedestrian strikes
- Lower-leg fractures, scooter crashes
- Rib fractures from seatbelt impact
- Hand & arm fractures from door-strike incidents
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Soft Tissue & Joint Damage
- Shoulder & rotator-cuff tears
- Knee ligament injury from foot impact
- Lower-back disc injury from sudden braking
- Wrist & ankle injury from delivery-rider falls
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Psychological & Trauma Injury
- PTSD from in-vehicle assault or near-miss
- Anxiety after distracted-driver collision
- Depression from chronic pain & lost income
- Adjustment disorder from life-altering injury
Why In-Cab Evidence Documentation Matters
Queensland taxi operators retain in-cab CCTV vision and audio, dispatch and GPS trip logs, meter and eftpos records, and driver roster data for limited periods, often as little as 28–60 days. Carter Capner Law issues preservation requests within days of being instructed, securing the operator evidence that underpins taxi CTP and operator-liability claims.
- Current InjuriesFull extent of damage
- Treatment NeedsOngoing care required
- PrognosisLong-term outlook
- Work CapacityImpact on employment
Strict Deadlines for Taxi Claims
Taxi claims have multiple overlapping deadlines under the Motor Accident Insurance Act, the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act (for operator-level negligence), the Limitation of Actions Act, and operator-specific in-cab CCTV retention windows. Missing any one can be fatal to recovery, early instructions are essential.
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9 mths
CTP Notice of Claim Deadline
You must serve a CTP Notice of Claim on the at-fault vehicle's CTP insurer within 9 months of the incident, or 1 month of first consulting a lawyer.
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30 days
Operator In-Cab CCTV Retention
Queensland taxi operators typically retain in-cab CCTV footage for limited periods (commonly 28–60 days). Carter Capner Law issues preservation requests within days of being instructed to secure both vision and audio.
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1 mth
Authority Notice (If Public Authority Involved)
Where a public authority (council, airport corporation, venue) is implicated, e.g. defective rank infrastructure or marshal failure, additional notice deadlines may apply under the relevant statute.
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3 yrs
Final Limitation Period
Court proceedings must be commenced within 3 years of the incident under the Limitation of Actions Act, with extensions only in narrow circumstances.
Queensland taxi operators retain in-cab CCTV footage, dispatch/GPS trip logs and meter records for as little as 28–60 days. Engaging Carter Capner Law early means we issue preservation requests before critical evidence is destroyed. Call 1300 529 529 today.
How We Build Your Taxi Injury Claim
Our 7-step process is engineered around the unique evidence-preservation requirements of Queensland taxi CTP claims and operator-level negligence (vicarious liability, fatigue management, in-cab CCTV).
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EXIT 1
1. Initial Consultation
Confidential phone or in-person meeting. We assess liability, applicable framework (CTP, operator vicarious liability, public liability), urgency of operator preservation requests, and likely heads of damage. No fee.
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EXIT 2
2. Operator CCTV & Roster Preservation
Within days of being engaged we serve preservation requests on Black & White Cabs, Yellow Cabs or the relevant operator, securing in-cab CCTV (vision and audio), dispatch logs, driver rosters and fatigue records before retention windows expire.
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EXIT 3
3. CTP Notice of Claim
We prepare and serve a complete Notice of Claim under the Motor Accident Insurance Act on the at-fault vehicle’s CTP insurer within the 9-month deadline, with all required schedules, medical authorities and supporting material.
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EXIT 4
4. Evidence Assembly & Reconstruction
We obtain operator trip data, dashcam footage, QPRIME police reports, witness statements and (where required) engage independent reconstruction engineers and human-factors experts.
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EXIT 5
5. Medical Evidence & Quantum
We commission independent medico-legal examinations across orthopaedic, neurological, psychiatric and occupational therapy disciplines to fully document injury severity and future needs.
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EXIT 6
6. Compulsory Conference & Negotiation
CTP mandates a compulsory conference. We negotiate hard against insurers and operator legal teams, most matters resolve here. We never recommend an inadequate offer.
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EXIT 7
7. Court Proceedings (If Required)
If insurers refuse fair settlement, we issue District or Supreme Court proceedings within the 3-year limitation period. If your claim doesn’t settle, we can take it to court.
From First Call to Settlement
From the moment you engage Carter Capner Law for a taxi injury claim, we move fast, operator preservation notices within days, CTP notice within months, full evidence file built progressively, all while keeping you informed in plain English. Most matters resolve at compulsory conference; we are trial-ready when they do not.
How We Build Confidence in Your Case
Six pillars of evidence form the spine of every Carter Capner Law taxi injury claim. We address each systematically, not as a checklist, but as a technical evidence-preservation strategy aimed at securing both CTP and operator-level recovery.
Operator & Cab Records5 things
- Cab number, dispatch trip ID and GPS logs
- Driver authority card and roster records
- Eftpos receipt or printed fare slip
- In-cab CCTV vision and audio
- Operator preservation notices within 7 days
Dashcam & CCTV5 things
- Cab dashcam footage (if fitted)
- In-cab CCTV (mandatory in licensed QLD taxis)
- Rank, hotel, airport or surrounding business CCTV
- Council street camera networks
- Other vehicle dashcam footage
Police & Operator Reports5 things
- QPRIME police incident report
- Driver and passenger statements
- Operator internal incident records (Black & White, Yellow Cabs)
- Insurer surveyor reports
- Council, airport or venue rank-incident reports
Medical & Specialist Evidence5 things
- Emergency department records
- GP & specialist treatment notes
- Independent medico-legal opinions
- Occupational therapy assessments
- Future-care reports
Witness Statements5 things
- Other passengers in the taxi
- Drivers and passengers of other vehicles
- Pedestrians and bystanders
- Pickup-zone staff & venue witnesses
- Emergency responders
Economic-Loss Evidence5 things
- Pre-incident wage records
- Forensic accountant reports for drivers
- Vocational assessment
- Future earning-capacity modelling
- Care & assistance costings
We Don't Settle for Insurer Denials
If a CTP insurer or the taxi operator denies the claim, we can engage independent reconstruction engineers, forensic experts and medical experts to test its case.
What it costs you
No win, no fee*
If your claim doesn’t succeed, you pay no professional fees for our work. You may still have to pay outlays, such as report and court fees, if your costs agreement says so. If a court case is lost or withdrawn, or you don’t do better than an offer the other side made, you may have to pay the other side’s legal costs. We explain this in writing before you sign.
50% Fee cap
Our professional fees are capped at 50% of the amount you recover, after refunds and outlays (Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) s 347).
What’s included in our service
- Initial consultation, no obligation
- Operator preservation notices within days (Black & White Cabs, Yellow Cabs, regional networks), securing in-cab CCTV, roster, fatigue and dispatch records before retention windows expire
- CTP Notice of Claim preparation & service
- Trip data, dashcam and CCTV retrieval
- Independent medico-legal arrangements & funding
- Compulsory conference advocacy
- Court proceedings if insurers refuse fair offer
- Income-protection and gig-economy claim coordination
- Plain-English progress updates throughout
How we run your taxi injury claim
We work out which CTP insurer is responsible, give the required notices and ask the taxi operator to preserve its records early.
Every claim pathway assessed
Taxi injuries can involve CTP, WorkCover for drivers and the operator's insurance. We assess each one.
Trip and app data preserved
We ask the taxi operator to preserve in-cab CCTV, dispatch logs and rosters early, before they are overwritten.
CTP notices and the right insurer
We give the CTP notice within the time limits and work out which insurer is responsible for each stage of the trip.
No win, no fee*
If the claim does not succeed, you pay no professional fees for our work. Whether outlays such as medical reports, expert evidence and court fees are payable depends on your costs agreement.
Offices and appointments
Offices at Brisbane CBD, Woolloongabba and Browns Plains, with phone, video and home or hospital appointments across Queensland.
Court if needed
Most claims resolve before trial. If yours does not, we take it to court, briefing barristers who also work on no win, no fee* terms.
Taxi Accident Lawyers Brisbane & QLD: FAQs
Common questions we hear from Queensland taxi accident clients, passengers, pedestrians, other road users and taxi drivers.
The taxi’s CTP insurer is the primary respondent under the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994. Where the driver is a true employee of the operator (e.g. Black & White Cabs, Yellow Cabs), the operator is also vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence, a separate claim under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (Qld) often expanding the available damages.
The at-fault other driver’s CTP insurer is the primary respondent. As a taxi passenger, you have full rights against that driver. The taxi operator may also be involved if seatbelt warnings, vehicle condition or fatigue were contributing factors. Carter Capner Law preserves in-cab CCTV from the operator within days to verify the sequence.
Yes, if another driver was at fault, you claim against their CTP insurer just like any other motorist. If you are a true employee of the operator (rather than an independent bailee), WorkCover Queensland may also apply for weekly benefits and lump sums under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. The legal characterisation is often contested and is one of the most important early decisions in your claim.
Potentially yes. If the operator failed to manage a known-risk driver, route or rank, or if in-cab CCTV was non-functional contrary to licensing conditions, a public-liability claim against the operator may succeed. Criminal-injuries compensation under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009 (Qld) is also available alongside any civil claim.
Yes. Licensed Queensland taxis must be fitted with operating in-cab security cameras (vision and audio) under operator-accreditation conditions. All passenger seats must have functional seatbelts. Failures here are central to negligence claims against the operator and, in fatal cases, to coronial findings.
A CTP Notice of Accident Claim must be served within 9 months of the incident or first symptom (or within 1 month of first consulting a lawyer). A Part 1 Notice under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act for operator vicarious liability has similar deadlines. Final court proceedings must commence within 3 years.
Taxi & CTP Resources
Additional articles to help Queensland taxi passengers, pedestrians and drivers understand their rights and navigate the CTP and operator-liability claim process.
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CTP explained
No-Fault vs. Fault Claims in Queensland: What’s Covered?
What Queensland’s CTP scheme provides without anyone proving fault, what needs negligence proven, and how sharing the blame reduces compensation.
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Evidence
Dash Cam Evidence in QLD Car Accident Claims: Legal Validity
When dash cam footage is admissible in a Queensland claim, how to keep it unaltered, and when it can count against you.
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Gig workers
Gig Economy Injuries: Are Uber Drivers and Delivery Workers Covered?
Why most rideshare and delivery workers fall outside WorkCover, the other insurance that may respond, and how employment status can change that.
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Checklist
8 things you must do after a car accident in Queensland
The steps after a crash, from checking for injuries and swapping details to seeing a doctor within 24 to 48 hours, even if you feel fine.
Need Legal Advice?
Call us today on 1300 529 529 for a confidential, no-obligation first consultation with our taxi accident lawyers. No win, no fee*: you pay our fees only if your claim succeeds, and your costs agreement sets out whether outlays are payable. We move fast to preserve in-cab CCTV and operator records before retention windows close.