Fortunately, if you are a passenger involved in a car accident, it is usually fairly easy to prove liability for your injuries. In most car accidents, there will be a question of comparative fault – which driver was more responsible for the accident? As a passenger, you don’t have to worry about that, because you will almost never be at fault for a car accident (barring extraordinary circumstances).
But determining which driver (or drivers) will be liable for your injuries can be a complicated issue. If it is a one-car accident, then the person driving the car you are inside will likely be responsible. In a two-car accident or more, you would file a claim against both drivers unless it is clear that one party did not commit negligence. An example of that might be the vehicle you are inside being struck from behind at a stoplight.
However, a potential problem with passenger injury cases can arise when a crash involves multiple passengers. For example, let’s say three passengers suffer injury in an accident, and all three file claims against a negligent driver. Will all three be able to collect damages? If the three claims, added together, result in a total higher than the driver’s insurance policy covers, then the injured parties may not receive the amount of damages they need to cover things like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. If there is any disagreement about how much money each injured victim should get, the insurance company could flat out refuse to settle with any of the parties. In that situation, a lawsuit would be required to force the insurance company’s hand.
If you are injured in a car accident as a passenger, our law firm can help you get the compensation you deserve.
John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”