Car accidents do not always affect a driver. In many cases passengers can also be injured in a car accident. So what about passengers in a car accident? When a negligent driver causes an accident the driver and their passengers have no control over their unfortunate involvement in an accident. Passengers may be injured as badly—or worse—than the driver. Fortunately, passengers can also receive financial compensation.
Who’s The Driver?
The claim depends on your relationship with your passenger in how you as the driver can potentially provide assistance to the passenger through your insurance and through the other party’s insurance driver of the car which caused the accident.
• For example if your passenger is a family member, the passenger is likely to be covered under your own car insurance policy. Therefore, they cannot file a liability claim against you. They can, however, file a claim on their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage for accident expenses, or potentially make a claim against the other driver who caused the accident and the injuries they incurred as a result.
• For someone who is a non-relative, your passenger can file their own claim with your insurance company on their own or they can work with a personal injury attorney regarding the car accident attorney who can negotiate directly with the insurance companies (yours and the other driver’s) to obtain compensation for medical bills and other damages. The friend doesn’t have to sue you directly for compensation.
If the driver of the other vehicle is at fault, passengers should pursue a claim against their policy. But when dealing with insurance companies, they do not always offer you the most comprehensive settlement. That is why you or your passengers might want to have a personal injury lawyer- a car accident lawyer if you will – deal with getting the needed and fair compensation.
Also just like other accident victims, passengers are also subject to the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases in West Virginia. You need to file within 2 years of the accident.
The Insurance Companies
Because insurance companies work hard to avoid paying claims, they may make things increasingly difficult for both you and your passenger. They may offer one or both of you a “quick check,” but it probably won’t cover enough. You and/or your passengers will be stuck with whatever isn’t covered. You may not even know to ask for certain things like lost wages, or future medical bills such as physical therapy for a back or neck injury. Often a back or neck injury can be permanent and will forever affect your future.
Having a West Virginia car accident attorney like Attorney Chad Love means you won’t be at the mercy of an insurance company. as your attorney, he will speak on your behalf, negotiate to get you—and your passenger—the compensation you need, and if necessary bring a lawsuit.
Contact Charleston, WV Car Accident Attorney Chad Love Today
Passengers have legal rights after an accident, too. At the Love Law Firm, we care about passengers in car accidents too! If you’ve been involved in a Charleston, WV car accident, we strongly recommend you talk with Attorney Chad Love about your accident.
We’ve been helping West Virginians for over 25 years with car accidents and all types of personal injury cases: Nursing Home Cases, Slip & Fall Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Mining Accidents, Commercial Truck Wrecks, Bicycle Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents and Premises Liability.
If you have a possible personal injury case, call us at 304-2344-5683, or send us a message using our online form. Your consultation is free, and we work on contigency meaning we get paid if we win your case.
