Getting injured in a car accident is always a hard situation. Some of the very worst Yuma personal injury cases a person could face are those where the injured person was not even driving. It is as if the passenger is paying for someone else’s mistakes. Luckily, even passengers in car accidents do have some options when it comes to compensation.
If Your Own Driver is Responsible
When you are a passenger in a car, the driver is responsible for your safety, and should act accordingly. If their behavior leads to an injury, they are responsible for making it right. In these cases, their insurance will have to cover your medical expenses.
Your driver’s insurance should have a section completely dedicated to how they cover passengers. You may have to file a claim against that insurance. Your compensation is primarily intended to cover lost wages, expenses like medical bills, and for the pain and suffering that is caused by your injuries.
If you sustain injuries as a passenger and the driver’s insurance does not attempt to fairly cover the cost of your care, you may have to hire a Yuma personal injury attorney. The best attorneys have the experience and skill to get you the compensation you deserve.
If Someone Else is Responsible
If the driver of the other vehicle is completely at fault, you may be able to file a claim against their insurance. Even if both drivers are partially at fault for an accident, you can still submit a claim against passenger injury insurance.
To receive a settlement from the other driver’s insurance, you will have to prove their fault in the accident. This will require you to take good notes and photos after the accident so you have evidence. You can also reach out to bystanders to see if they are willing to act as witnesses.
Winning a case against the other driver’s insurance can be difficult, but the right lawyer can help you. Look for the best Yuma personal injury attorney you can find, and you will have a better chance to win your case.
Additional Charges
Even if the at fault driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover the full value of the claim, passengers may be able to sue one of the drivers for additional money. This process is not easy, but the right Yuma personal injury lawyers can make it worth it.
This process may be necessary if passengers suffer severe injury, need long term care, or are denied insurance. Legal action is always an option if other parties do not cooperate during Yuma personal injury cases.
Can a Passenger Be at Fault for an Accident?
Drivers are almost always held responsible for accidents. The only exceptions are when passengers do something abnormally reckless and force a driver to crash.
While the passenger is not at fault if their driver is intoxicated, it can negate their claim to insurance money or legal settlements. The law believes passengers should know better than to get in the car with an intoxicated driver.
This will typically only apply when passengers have a reasonable way to know that their driver is too intoxicated to properly operate a vehicle. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell when a driver is incapable of driving safely.
What to Do After an Accident
After a car accident, the first and most important thing is to take care of your health. If you need medical attention, seek it right away. If you feel well enough immediately after an accident, check on other passengers to make sure they are alright too.
The DMV has advice for passengers too. They advise car wreck victims to keep an eye on their immediate symptoms, and those that develop later. Taking detailed notes and photos will also help down the road.
Another important step is to contact Yuma personal injury attorneys. Medical professionals can help you with your physical recovery, and legal professionals can assist financially.
Yuma Personal Injury Attorneys
The most important thing to remember if you were the passenger in a car accident is that it was not your fault, and that you do have the right to compensation. You may be entitled to a settlement as a result of the incident. Give yourself the highest chance of winning your case by hiring the hardest working attorneys in Arizona.
The Yuma personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys are so confident in our ability to win that we offer free consultations. Our legal professionals are ready to answer your questions, so contact us at 928-222-2222. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, but we are available 24/7 to take your call. You can also contact us online via our online form or through our LiveChat feature.