Can You Recover Damages As A Passenger?

Posted on: 16 December 2020

When you are injured in a car accident as a passenger, you may feel as if you have very little power. After all, you may not know if you need to contact an insurance company or if you have any recourse in the matter at all. You are not alone, and you do not have to cover the costs of the injury on your own.

There is a lot you need to do after you are injured: deal with lost income, pay medical bills, and recover while also trying to deal with insurance companies. If you were injured as a passenger, this is what you need to know.

You Are Not Liable

You are not liable for your injuries when you are an unrelated passenger in a car. There is very little chance a passenger can be deemed the cause of a vehicle accident, and as a result, you are likely not responsible for paying the bills.

You Need to Protect Yourself

Simply because you are not liable does not mean you do not need to take steps to protect yourself. This means getting healthcare for your injuries and taking photos of the scene if possible. You should also file a police report and gather any other documentation possible.

Additionally, you should collect insurance information from all parties involved. This means you should get details not only from the other party but also from the driver you were riding with.

This Is Where Things Get Tricky

Filing a claim with insurance can become tricky. It is important that you file a claim against the at-fault party. This means you could be filing against the person you were riding with, which can be quite complex. You may also find yourself in the middle of a dispute between two drivers who each claim the other party was at fault.

Things get even trickier if one or more of the drivers involved does not have auto insurance. You may have to file a claim with your own auto insurance company, which could deny your uninsured motorist claim.

You Should Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Attorneys can help you file your claim as a passenger, determine the value of your case, and bring your case to court if necessary. They help you file the claims when things get tricky, ensuring that you have all the resources you need to recover compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact a car accident lawyer for more information. 

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