Passenger Auto Accident Claim: Everything You Need to Know

July 9, 2020
/ FAQs
/ By Alice Brown

If you have a passenger auto accident claim, there are several things you need to keep in mind. This article will guide you through the different scenarios.

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Can you imagine never being able to walk again?
Amber and Henry were heading to the beach. However, their plans took a drastic turn when a large truck t-boned their vehicle.

While Henry was fine, Amber wasn't so lucky. Her leg was severely broken and doctors suspected she may never be able to walk again without the help of a walker.

Every year between 20 to 50 million car accident injuries happen and they often result in lifelong disabilities. Thankfully, learning how to file a passenger auto accident claim means being able to fight for your rights.

Were you hurt in a car accident as a passenger, and now you're ready to get the compensation you deserve? If yes, then you're going to love this article.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about being a passenger in a car crash.

Steps to Take If You Are a Passenger in an Accident

To have a successful personal injury claim, you’ll need to take the right steps as a passenger following the accident. First, you’ll want to immediately call 911.

When the police officers arrive on the scene be sure to give them a full statement of the entire accident. You’ll also need to get a copy of the police report when it’s finished.

Next, look around and see if you can find any witnesses. If you do locate anyone who saw the accident take place, get the witness’s name and phone number. The police officers, insurance companies, and possibly lawyers, may all request the witness’s contact information.

You'll also want to take photos of the entire accident scene. You can begin by taking photographs of the vehicle you were a passenger in. Next, photograph any vehicle damage you see.

Finally, no matter what you have going on that day, seek immediate medical attention. Having an ambulance take you directly to the hospital from the accident scene is the best option.

Tips for Talking to Insurance Companies

When you’re talking to an insurance company about the car accident, you’ll want to be very careful about what you say. Insurance companies aren’t evil, and they can ultimately help.

However, the reality is that insurance companies don’t have your best interest at heart. The goal of an insurance adjuster is to give you as little money as possible. Keeping that in mind, you’ll want to avoid saying anything that could damage your case.

For instance, did you know you don’t have to agree to give a recorded statement? While the phone lines are almost always recorded when you call an insurance company, a recorded statement is different.

When an insurance company requests you to complete a recorded statement, they’re talking about an official session. The recording from your session can be transcribed and used as an official document in court hearings.

It’s very easy to accidentally say something that you don’t mean, that winds up damaging your injury claim. Luckily, you don’t have to agree to give a recorded statement and instead can request the company to reach out to your lawyer if you have one.

Passenger Auto Accident Claims

Whose insurance should you file your passenger auto accident claim under? First, you’ll want to try to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance carrier. If you don’t want to file a claim, you can also decide to sue the other driver’s insurance provider.

In most states, drivers have to carry a certain amount of auto insurance to drive legally. There are 2 coverages that the other driver is likely to have and they are bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

Bodily injury liability is the portion of insurance that helps pay for injuries. It’s normal for bodily injury to show up on the auto policy with set limits for each person.

For example, let’s say the other driver carries bodily injury limits of $50,000/$100,000. The first number, $50,000, is the amount of bodily injury coverage any 1 person can claim. The second number, $100,000, is the total amount of bodily injury coverage payout any 1 accident can have.

If you’re the only one who gets hurt in the vehicle you’re in, the bodily injury coverage may pay for all of your injuries. However, if there are multiple people in your vehicle that have injuries, the coverage splits up.

Keep in mind that sometimes injuries take weeks to surface. Passengers in the car with you who appeared fine at the accident scene may wind up filing injury claims later on.

As a result, the more people there are in the car with you when the accident takes place, the less likely it is that you’ll get the full coverage you need. If the other driver carries low bodily injury limits, you might also not be able to get the full compensation you need for your injuries.

Build a Strong Case

If you’re afraid you won’t be able to get the full compensation you deserve, there are steps you can take. To begin with, it’s always a good idea to hire an experienced personal injury attorney.
If your accident took place in a rideshare situation, reach out to the Uber accident lawyer. After finding the right lawyer for your case, explore the types of damages you can seek restitution for.
Here’s a shortlist of damages you can claim or sue for:
• Current medical bills
• Future medical bills
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Permanent injury
• Permanent disability
The photographs, police reports, and witness statements you gathered earlier will help your lawyer build a strong case.

Fight for Yourself

Now you know the ins and outs of filing a passenger auto accident claim. We hope our article will inspire you to start taking the right steps to fight for yourself.

After all, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries, and any difficulties your injuries have caused. For more ways to protect yourself and your future, check out the rest of this site!

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