What To Do When You Are A Passenger Injured In A Car Accident? – A car accident is often a scary and stressful thing to have happen. When you are a passenger in the car it can be even worse since you are not in control of the situation. If the driver of the car you were in is at fault, or the other driver is inconsequential. You’re injured and need to recover physically as well as financially.
What do you do when you are not the one driving when you’re injured in a car accident? One positive thing is that as a passenger you don’t have to prove liability. There is nothing you could have done to cause or avoid the accident. It seems pretty straightforward but there are some things to know.
In this article, we will go over what you should know when you have been injured in a car accident as a passenger.
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Who was at fault?
One of the first things to do is figure out who was at fault. This isn’t because you need to clear your name but because you need to know whose insurance company to direct your attorney to talk to.
The way it basically works is that when two cars are in an accident, one of them or even both can be found liable for the accident. One of the few ways that a passenger can be denied a claim, however, is if they knowingly got into a car with an intoxicated driver who was the one to cause the accident. Otherwise, the passenger has to figure out who was at fault and go from there.
At this point, you will need to file a claim and begin negotiations with the party at fault. This is usually going to be done by your attorney.
File a claim
If you were injured in the accident then you will start with making a claim with your own insurance company. Assuming you are a driver and have insurance, they will pay your medical bills up to the limit of your policy and then recuperate it from the driver who is found to be at fault.
If the injuries are extensive, then the limit of the coverage is likely to be exceeded. If this is the case, then you’ll need to follow up on a claim against the driver’s insurance to pay your medical bills and even any lost wages if you are not able to work.
As long as the driver has insurance then this shouldn’t be too complex a procedure. You’ll likely have to give a deposition over the phone to your insurance company or lawyer whoever is going to be filing the claim against the other insurance company.
Get a witness
Although you are a third-party witness whose testimony will weigh more in a claim, having others to substantiate the story will go a long way toward resolving the situation much more smoothly.
As the people who witnessed the accident give their contact information to you as well as a police officer if one came to the scene.