If You Have Been Injured as a Passenger in a Car Accident
If you have been injured in a car accident, you are facing a difficult path forward, but if you were injured in your capacity as a passenger, it could make the matter that much more bewildering. For example, filing through a friend or loved one’s coverage – if he or she is the at-fault driver whose car you were a passenger in can feel like a betrayal on your part. While the matter can quickly become convoluted, obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled and that you require to regain your health is too important not to move forward with purpose – in pursuit of just compensation.
Your Filing Options
The insurance company that you file with will hinge directly upon the circumstances of your case. It is important to get this right, however, because policy limits can preclude you from obtaining adequate compensation. In other words, it is crucial to explore your options with an experienced car accident attorney who understands the implications of each. Consider the following filing options:
Filing with the other driver’s coverage – if it is a two-car accident and he or she is either at fault or shares fault
Filing with your driver’s coverage – if it is a one-car accident or if he or she is at fault or shares fault in a two-car accident
Filing with both drivers’ coverage – if it is a two-car accident and both drivers share fault
If you file through your driver’s coverage and he or she is a friend or loved one, it is essential to understand that doing so is necessary for you to reach your fullest recovery and is in no way a personal matter. Taking this approach can help you weather this delicate situation.
Your Accident Claim
If you file an insurance claim with someone else’s insurance provider – as you likely will if you are injured as a passenger in a car accident – it is called a third-party claim that will address the losses you have suffered as a result of the car accident. Such damages can include:
Your medical expenses that can range from emergency care through to hospitalization, surgery, doctor care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, follow-up care, and more
The lost wages you experience during your recovery period
The emotional and physical pain and suffering you endure
Addressing each of these categories of loss in its entirety is critical to your ability to heal fully.