If you were injured in a car accident as a passenger, you may be wondering if you are eligible to be compensated for your injuries and, if so, how to seek a financial recovery.
Someone who was injured as a passenger in a car accident has the same right to compensation as anyone else who was involved in the car accident. The driver who caused the car accident is ultimately liable for all damages.
As with most car accident injury claims, you will pursue a claim against the insurance company of the person who caused the car crash. In many cases, that is the person driving the other vehicle. But in some cases, it is the person who was driving the vehicle you were riding in.
A Passenger Injured in a Car Accident Has a Right to Compensation
As a passenger who was injured in a car accident, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person driving the vehicle you were riding in, the driver of the other vehicle, or both. Robenalt Law, our personal injury lawyers handle car accident injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you won’t pay a fee unless we recover money for you. We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help.
As a passenger who was injured in a car accident, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person driving the vehicle you were riding in, the driver of the other vehicle, or both. It is important to note that even if you are related to the driver of the vehicle you were riding in, or if that person was a friend, you are still entitled to pursue compensation.
Many people are reluctant to pursue a personal injury claim against a friend or family member. But remember, your friend or family member has car insurance to pay for the damages of anyone they injure. So while your claim will nominally be against your friend or family member, in practice, it will be their insurance company who is ultimately responsible for paying the damages.
As a passenger who was injured in a car accident, it is unlikely that you will be responsible for causing the crash unless you distracted the driver or did something else to cause the accident. If you were injured while riding in a car, it is important that you seek qualified legal representation to help you understand the claims process and recover full compensation for your injuries.
Seek Compensation from the Driver Who Caused the Accident
Before you file a claim, it will be important to identify the driver who caused the accident. After a serious car crash, police should have been called to the scene, and an accident report should have been completed.
Your lawyer will request a copy of the accident report to determine the identity of the person who caused the accident and to obtain their contact information.
Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you may have been unable to return to work. Your injuries may also have taken a significant toll on you and your family.
Regardless of who caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
What About an Accident in an Uber or Lyft?
If you were injured as a passenger in an Uber, Lyft, or another ridesharing vehicle, the process will be similar. However, in addition to pursuing a claim against the driver, you might also be able to seek compensation from the insurance company for the rideshare company.
Seeking Compensation After a Car Accident
When you work with Robenalt Law, we will investigate the accident and notify the drivers that you are represented by an attorney. Then we will gather evidence and submit it to the insurance company with a demand for compensation. Our demand package typically includes the police report, witness statements, and photographs of the scene of the accident, the vehicles, and your injuries.
We will also gather information to prove how the accident affected your life, including:
- Hospital records
- Medical bills
- X-rays and scans
- Photographs of your injuries
- Expert reports that prove the extent of your injuries and that they were caused by the crash
The insurance company will review your demand package and make a settlement offer. The first settlement offer is usually low, and we will negotiate to try and arrive at an amount of money that will fairly compensate you. We will communicate these settlement negotiations with you and will never settle your case without your approval.
If a settlement cannot be reached, we will file a lawsuit to protect your rights and seek compensation through trial. Once your case has been filed, we will continue to try to resolve your case through negotiation or other processes. More than 90% of cases are settled. But if the insurance company does not make a settlement offer that fairly compensates you for your injuries, we will take your case to trial.
Act Quickly to Seek Compensation After a Car Accident
Most personal injury claims in Ohio are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. If you do not file a lawsuit within two years after the accident occurred, your claim is barred, and you will not be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
However, there are numerous exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations. Nonetheless, if you were injured and you think someone else was at fault, you should contact the experienced car accident injury attorneys at Robenalt Law as quickly as possible. We will analyze your situation, identify the at-fault drivers, and fight to hold them responsible for the harm they caused.
Robenalt Law Fights for Car Accident Injury Victims
If you were injured in a car accident as a passenger, you are entitled to compensation. Robenalt Law can help.
We invite you to contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your situation. From our offices in Westlake, Ohio, we represent people in greater Cleveland and throughout Ohio and the Midwest.
Call us at 216-223-7573, email [email protected], or complete our online form.
Tom Robenalt started his litigation career at a large firm in Cleveland, where he defended insurance companies and policy-holders against claims of negligence. For the past 25 years, he has used that experience to help people who were hurt in car accidents and their families obtain the compensation they deserve.