As a passenger, can you seek compensation after an accident?

On Behalf of | Mar 4, 2020 | Car Accidents |

When traveling on the roads, you likely know that hazards are all around you. You hope that your friends and loved ones are safe drivers, and you may not question their abilities when a passenger in a vehicle. Of course, even if you are not driving, you still face risks of serious injury in the event that a car accident takes place.

Unfortunately, as a passenger, you have little to no control over how the driver of your vehicle acts, and you cannot control other drivers on the road. As a result, if you see a danger ahead, you may not have the ability to do much to help avoid a crash. If an accident does occur in which you suffer injuries, you may wonder what options you have for seeking compensation.

Even passengers have rights and options

After suffering serious injuries in a car accident, you may face a number of hardships. Some of those difficulties may include recovering from the injuries themselves, dealing with emotional turmoil following the incident, missing work as you recover, and handling resulting medical bills and other financial setbacks stemming from the crash.

You may quickly find yourself struggling to handle all of these difficulties, and finding some financial relief may be on your mind. Fortunately, the following options may help you:

  • Filing a claim through the driver’s insurance of the car you were in
  • Filing a claim through the insurance of the driver of the other vehicle
  • Filing a claim through your own insurance

That last option may seem strange since you were not driving at the time of the incident, but your insurance coverage may still apply. However, filing a claim through your insurance may mean that your rates increase. As a result, it may be more worthwhile to consider your options for seeking compensation from the other parties.

Having help and support

If you feel uncertain about how to go about filing an insurance claim as an injured passenger, you may want to remember that you do not have to handle these tasks on your own. You can enlist the help of a personal injury attorney in Florida who could contact the appropriate insurance companies on your behalf and help you understand your available options for taking other legal action. Filing a personal injury claim against the driver considered at fault may be a path worth considering.

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attorneys Brad Culpepper and Brett J. Kurland