What Happens When You Are a Passenger in a Automoble Accident?
While drivers are the ones operating the vehicles during an automobile accident, they are not the only ones that can get injured. Passengers are just as likely, if not more likely to get injured in an automobile accident. Also, as they are not a driver in the accident, they generally are not responsible for the accident and injuries, making the case more streamlined. If you are a passenger in an accident, you may wonder how to seek compensation for medical bills and other damages. There are certain steps you should take to increase your chances at a successful claim.
Steps To Take After an Accident
The first step in all accident cases is to confirm the safety of those in the accident, and to seek medical treatment regarding any and all symptoms related to the accident. After the health of all involved has been accessed, the following steps can be followed to improve your chances at a successful claim:
Report the accident to police
Give a verbal or written statement regarding what happened at the accident
Collect contact information from all drivers involved, and from any witnesses that may have seen the accident
Collect insurance information from all drivers involved in the accident
Take pictures of the scene of the accident, including the road, the vehicles involved, and the damages on each vehicle.
Continue Medical treatment, including chiropractic care, Physical therapy, doctor visits, and medical scans such as X-rays and MRIs
Get a copy of the police report when it is obtainable
Contact a personal injury lawyer for additional advice and steps
Do not make statements to anyone except the police until you have had a chance to consult with your lawyer. When talking to the police, do not make guesses or assumptions as to who was at fault. Explain the facts that caused the accidents clearly and precisely. Only comment on your health where it applies to injuries sustained during the accident. Statements about feeling fine or ok may be detrimental if after time has passed, symptoms arise from the accident. Your previous statements can and will be used to try and disprove the severity of your injuries.
Filing an Insurance Claim as a Passenger
Filing a claim as a passenger is different than as a driver. While a passenger is usually not at fault for the accident, all of the drivers involved can be liable for the injuries sustained. For this reason, a third-party injury claim is filed. A third-party claim is filed against someone else’s auto insurance, as opposed to your own. The two main choices for filing a claim when you have been injured in a two-vehicle accident as a passenger are to file with the insurance of the driver whose car you were riding in or file with the other driver’s insurance. However, you may choose to do both, depending on the circumstances of the crash.
Calling a Personal Attorney For Your Case
To be successful in your third-party claim, it must be proven that someone was at fault for the accident, and that the injuries occurred due to their negligent behavior. Being the passenger of a vehicle means you are not at fault for the accident, as you did not do anything that caused the accident. The remaining factor is proving what injuries were caused by the accident. Who pays out however, can be complicated, as it must be determined who was at fault. If multiple parties were at fault, it must also be determined how much at fault each party was. In order to cover are possible options, a passenger usually files against all driver’s insurances to cover for all medical bills. If you need help with an automobile accident, please call a personal injury lawyer. They will have the knowledge and tools needed to make sure that all procedures are followed properly, so the only thing you have to worry about is recovering. Call today for a free consultation: 908-280-4717
