Can an Injured Passenger Sue the Driver?

Originally published by Miguel Adame.

While many drivers know what to do when in a car accident, being a passenger is a completely different experience. In a recent car accident, a Texas driver crashed into a concrete freeway sign, ran away from the crash site, and left their critically injured passenger alone and stuck in the car. Emergency crews had to cut the passenger out of the car and airlift them to the hospital. Passengers in car accidents are often overlooked as victims while they have just as many rights as any other victim of a car accident.

As a passenger in a car accident, there are steps you can take to make sure you are able to get appropriate compensation for damages caused by the car accident. First and foremost, if you or anyone involved in the accident are injured, seek medical attention immediately. This can include calling the police or emergency services to report that an accident occurred and that there are people injured. Take pictures of the scene and try record any information related to the accident that you can remember. Remain at the site of the car accident and wait for the police to arrive. The police will want statements from all involved in the car accident. Make sure to get the police report information for future insurance claims.

Car accident passengers are not at fault and therefore have the same legal rights as a driver not at fault to file an insurance claim against the at-fault party. Begin the process by filing a claim with the insurance company of the offending driver. This may mean filing a claim against the driver of the vehicle you were traveling in when the crash happened.

Some insurance companies can make it difficult to collect car accident damages – whether you are the driver or a passenger. You may have to prove the person you are filing a claim against for damages was at fault and that the damages being claimed are real. Hiring an attorney to help guide you through the process may be a necessary step to ensure all damages are fully compensated. An attorney can help prove the driver at fault is liable by using evidence – including police reports, photographs, videos, witness statements, and medical records.

Passengers can be seriously injured in a car accident and should be compensated accordingly. Whether the injuries were minor or major, as a non-liable party, the passenger should be able to recover 100% of the damages that occurred. Damages can include property lost or damaged, medical bills paid to treat injuries received in the accident, lost income, disability expenses, pain and suffering, and legal fees.

Houston Car Accident Attorneys

Drivers in Houston should not have to fear for their lives because of others’ reckless driving decisions. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. There is limited time after a car accident to claim damages. Contact the Houston car accident attorneys at Adame Garza today to discuss your case at no cost.

 

 

 

The post Can an Injured Passenger Sue the Driver? appeared first on Adame Garza LLP.

Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.

from Texas Bar Today https://ift.tt/32SB9FT
via Abogado Aly Website