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Spanish Determining passenger rights in auto accidents can be confusing. However, passengers injured in auto accidents have the same rights as a driver who was injured. Below, our auto accident attorneys detail your right to hold any and all liable parties responsible for your injuries and other losses.
You Can Sue Anyone Who Caused Your Accident
Passengers are often confused about whether they are able to take legal action after injuries in a car accident, but they can hold anyone who caused or contributed to the accident liable.
Parties you can sue for your auto accident passenger injuries include:
- The driver of the vehicle you were a passenger in
- The driver of another vehicle
- A manufacturer if a vehicle defect caused your accident
- A maintenance company if its failure to maintain the vehicle caused your injuries
In some cases, you can sue several parties. This can be confusing, but an injury lawyer can help you determine who is liable. Remember that under CCP § 335.1, you have a 2-year window to resolve your personal injury claim or file a lawsuit. If the deadline passes, you may not be able to collect compensation from a settlement agreement or court award.
Do Not Worry If You Know the Driver You Are Suing
Many people are nervous about filing passenger injury claims against the driver of the vehicle they were in because they know the driver. This can lead to a few wrinkles in your case:
- You may be uncomfortable filing an insurance claim if your friend was the driver. However, it’s important to note that the driver won’t be paying for your injuries out of pocket unless they are uninsured.
- This relationship can lead to handshake agreements between you and the driver (e.g., the driver pays for your medical bills if you don’t file a claim). However, it’s important to note that you should not agree to this type of agreement. You could be suffering from injuries that have not manifested yet.
- The insurance company may attempt to leverage your relationship with the driver against you, attempting to persuade you to accept a low ball settlement so this doesn’t hurt your friendship.
You don’t need to handle this alone. Our attorneys will handle all communications with the insurer and the driver.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger in a Rideshare?
If you were a passenger in a rideshare when the accident occurred, your options may change slightly. If another driver caused the accident, you could hold the at-fault driver liable. If the rideshare driver caused your accident, you can recover compensation from Uber or Lyft.
Holding Uber and Lyft liable can be difficult, but our team is ready to help.
What Happens if Multiple Passengers Were Injured?
If an accident caused injuries to multiple passengers, recovering the fair compensation you need can be more difficult since the auto insurance policy’s coverage will be divided among all the injured parties.
Our team can help you determine all your legal options to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost income.
Compensation for Injured Passengers in a Car Accident
You can recover compensation for any losses you suffered as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident. We can fight for all the following:
- Medical bills, such as emergency transport, prescription medications, co-pays, surgeries, rehabilitation, or any future care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries require you to take a lower-paying job or retire
- Miscellaneous expenses, such as the costs of traveling to and from appointments, renovating your home or vehicle to accommodate your injuries, or hiring someone to handle things you once handled around the house before the accident
- Pain and suffering
How to Protect Your Legal Rights as an Injured Passenger
You have rights as a passenger in an accident, but you need to protect them. Here’s what you can do to promote your case:
- You or someone else at the scene should call 911.
- Get medical care at the scene or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
- Do not agree to give any insurance company a recorded statement.
- Do not tell anyone you are “okay,” as this can imply you are not injured.
- Keep copies of all your receipts.
- Do not post about the accident on social media.
Our Team Has Recovered Millions for Injured Passengers and Drivers
Our team has dedicated our careers to getting justice and financial compensation for our clients. Some of our results include:
- $16 million for a family injured in a car accident
- $2.8 million for a client rear-ended by a trash truck
- $740,000 for a client who was rear-ended
Our Car Accident Lawyers Will Fight for the Compensation You Deserve
You deserve compensation, and we want to help you get it. Our personal injury lawyers will fight for every dollar you need.
Let our personal injury attorneys protect your rights as an injured passenger in an auto accident. Call KJT Law Group today: (818) 507-8525. The first consultation is free, and you owe us nothing until we recover compensation for your accident injuries.
