Getting into an accident can be a frightening experience, especially if you sustain injuries from the crash. Securing your legal rights can also cause much confusion. As a passenger, you can make a passenger injury claim against the driver that is at fault in the collision. It is important to gather all the information you can including the contacts and insurance information of the parties involved and a copy of the accident report.
You do not hold any liability in a collision as a passenger, however, you will still need to prove the fault of the driver or the external force that cause the accident. A personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the legal process to claim remittance for your injuries. It’s important to visit a doctor first and to keep any doctors’ records as well as to document the recovery process. You can file a claim with the driver’s insurance through a personal injury protection claim or medical payments claim. If it is the fault of the other driver you can file against their insurance under bodily injury liability and property damage liability. However, you need to clear with your attorney that your injuries meet the requirements to claim insurance. The more people injured in an accident the less likely you are to be fully compensated for your damages. The process to go through another driver’s insurance can be lengthy as there will be a need to figure out the liable party. The more cars and passengers involved, the longer it will take for the case to be sorted out.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
If it was a single-car accident, for example, your driver crashed against a tree, you can claim against their insurance. If a pothole, fault in the road, or broken traffic signals caused the accident, you can claim against the government for not preventing road accidents. If it was a relative or someone from the same household driving you when you received your injuries, there may be limitations to taking legal action against relatives. Of course, you may not want to take legal action against someone you know well but you can use their insurance to cover medical bills you may not be able to afford.
Filing A Claim Through Your Own Personal Insurance
If you are injured in your own car, you can file against your own personal insurance. You can use a personal injury protection claim or health insurance to cover the medical bills. Different insurance plans cover accident recovery differently, so it is important to check with your insurer on how to go about claiming your medical costs. However, if you do receive compensation from the other party, you may need to pay the insurance company back for the money used to cover the medical costs.
Different Losses You Can Claim
When making a personal injury claim, there are different losses that you can claim. These include disability or disfigurement caused by the crash, current and future medical bills, and a loss of income if any.
At the end of the day, getting into an accident is not something any of us want to experience. But with the help of a good team of lawyers, everything will be handled for you as you focus on recovering. Contact us today to find out more about personal injury claims.