An elderly woman in her 80s was left injured and alone after falling outside her home as she exited a taxi, raising concerns over the treatment of vulnerable passengers by cab drivers and companies.
According to the Courier Mail, the incident occurred in North Brisbane, where the 83-year-old was returning home in a taxi operated by Black & White Cabs. Her daughter, who discovered her minutes after the fall, claims the driver closed the door, drove off, and left the injured woman unaided on the driveway kerb.
“I saw the taxi at the end of my driveway on my security camera, but I couldn’t see Mum because she was on the ground,” the daughter recounted. “Mum was conscious, but I couldn’t lift her on my own, so I stepped onto the street to signal for help. The driver was stopped 100 metres away, but instead of returning, they drove off.”
The elderly woman sustained grazes on her legs, a sore wrist, and a facial mark from hitting the ground. According to her daughter, the fall was entirely preventable, as the driver had been in a position to notice the mishap.
“Mum said the driver closed the door after she exited, saw her fall, and simply drove away. It’s heartbreaking,” the daughter added. “What’s worse is the company’s lack of response. I made repeated attempts to contact them and was ignored for five days.”
The daughter’s social media post about the incident has garnered significant attention, with over 150 comments from people expressing support and outrage. Many echoed her concerns about the lack of accountability for the taxi company’s response.
In a statement, Black & White Cabs defended its approach to customer service. “The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority, and all complaints are investigated in an equitable and unbiased manner,” a spokesperson said. The company declined to comment further, citing confidentiality.
The incident has sparked broader conversations about the duty of care owed to elderly and disabled passengers. Advocates are calling for stronger protections, including mandatory training for drivers in assisting vulnerable passengers and the establishment of stricter accountability mechanisms within taxi companies.
For the woman and her family, the event has left emotional scars. “It wasn’t just the fall,” the daughter concluded. “It was the feeling of abandonment—not just by the driver, but by a company that should prioritise the safety and dignity of its passengers.”
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