passenger car accident

What Rights Do You Have if You’re a Passenger in a Motor Vehicle Accident?

Nobody wants to be in a car accident. The experience can be especially traumatic, though, if you’re the passenger rather than the driver. Not only do you have no control over the circumstances of the accident, but it’s challenging to know what to do after the accident happens.

Don’t worry, though; there are ways to protect yourself if you’ve suffered a personal injury as a passenger in a car accident.

Here’s what you need to know:

Insurance 101: What to Consider

In a perfect world, every car accident would be minimal (or nonexistent).  And the at-fault driver would have full-coverage insurance that would process all claims quickly and thoroughly. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world.

What if you get in an accident, and the at-fault driver doesn’t have any insurance? What can you do? There are several options for you to pursue. It’s especially important if you suffer an injury to take some type of action.

Regardless of who was at fault for the accident or what caused your injuries, you’re generally not suing that person directly. Instead, you’re taking action against their insurance company, putting pressure on the company to provide coverage for your injuries and damages. If the person responsible doesn’t have insurance, you may need to sue them personally, although that will only get you so far if the other party has few or no assets.

In these cases, it’s Your insurance that will typically step in to assist. Your auto insurance, for example, may cover your losses even though you were not driving or at fault for the accident. Additional plan coverages, like medical payments and liability, may also apply.

What Happens if the Accident is in Your Vehicle?

Even if you’re a passenger in the accident, your insurance will likely step in and cover the damages. What you’ll need to do in this situation is to contact your insurance and file an injury claim. When you as the passenger are injured, your insurance company will handle the claim much the same way they would other injury claims.

To file a claim, you’ll need to secure the name, contact information, insurance information, and details of the drivers involved at the scene of the accident. From there, communicate directly with your insurance company. They’ll advise you regarding next steps and what else to do.

Secure an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a car accident as a passenger, you can’t count on the driver to do everything for you. Instead, you’ve got to know your rights, when to seek medical care, and how to file an insurance claim. This is why it’s so essential to secure a personal injury attorney in Pensacola to help advise you.

To learn more about your rights or to start your claim today, contact Ward and Barnes. We specialize in car accidents and personal injury and will go the extra mile to help you get the representation that you need.