What to Do if You’re Injured in a Car Accident as a Passenger

Life can be quite unpredictable! One minute, you're enjoying your ride in a car, and the next, your world is turned upside down. A devastating car accident can be stressful and dangerous. Besides the painful physical and mental experiences, there's often a confusing and complex aftermath that you need to deal with.

If you're a passenger in a car crash, you'll be left wondering what to do next, who's responsible, and how you can recover. Once you've received medical attention, you might also wonder whether you should seek an accident lawyer or not.

Today, we will answer all your questions and take you through the essential steps that you can take after being in a car accident. It's time to dive in!

Injured in a car accident as a passenger? Get expert legal advice now!

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Handle a Car Accident as a Passenger!

If you've been in a motor vehicle crash as a passenger, you can still file an insurance claim. This way, you can take care of your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. To get an idea about how you can claim your insurance from the party at fault, you can follow the steps listed below!

1. Seek Medical Attention and Call the Police

Seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel that your injuries are minor, don't neglect them. Call 911 and then get the treatment you need. Later on, your medical bills might be covered by your insurance claim. But don't forget to keep your medical bills secured so you can claim insurance later by using those records.

Also, ensure to call the police, who can make a detailed report of the accident. Later, you can use this report to file a claim against the party at fault.

2. Hire a Lawyer

Dealing with a complex world of legal procedures can be a difficult task. So, hire an accident attorney if you live near there and let them handle the situation. 

Your attorney will help you figure out who is at fault, negotiate with the driver's insurance company, and get you the compensation you deserve. 

3. Who is at Fault?

Your next step would be to determine who is liable for your car accident. Then, you can proceed with filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party at fault. Here's a list of people who can be at fault.

• Your Car Driver: You can file a claim against your own car's driver if you think they caused the accident while you were in the passenger seat. This type of insurance is known as a third-party insurance claim. But if you were with your family or friend who was driving the car and caused the accident, then you can also opt not to claim any insurance at all.
• Other Vehicle's Driver: You can take the help of this type of third-party insurance claim if you think the driver of another vehicle involved in the accident is responsible for your accident.
• Both Drivers: If you think both your driver and the other vehicle's driver were responsible for the accident, there is a solution! You can file an insurance claim against both of them. Often, the insurance companies of both drivers will split the liability between the two drivers. So, you can file your claim against both drivers and wait until the insurance companies decide which party is at fault.
• Vehicle Owners: If you face an accident in a car owned by someone else or get hit by a car that the driver does not own, then you can file your insurance claim against the owners of the vehicles.
• Alternative Option: Often, you might not have the time to determine the party at fault or claim insurance against multiple insurance companies. Your health can be your major priority at that time. 

In those cases, you can use your own insurance policies, like uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection coverage, to help you pay your medical bills. This means you don't have to wait around for someone to take liability for the accident! 

However, if you want to claim your insurance from the party at fault, your accident attorney will guide you throughout the entire process. 

4. Gather Insurance Information From the Parties Involved in the Accident 

Regardless of who you want to claim insurance against, make sure that you have information about the insurance of all the drivers involved in the accident. Even if the person is a bicyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian, try to gather their insurance information as well. This will help you seek financial support quickly and smoothly.

5. Gather Evidence and File Your Claim

Once you have all the information, sit down with your lawyer and provide all the information to the lawyer. This includes medical records, eyewitness statements, videos and photos of the accident (if any), police reports, etc. Your accident attorney will use all the information to file an insurance claim and make up a solid case to get you your compensation.

6. Negotiations and Settlements

Often, your attorney will negotiate with the insurer to get you fair compensation without having to go to trial. However, if you're not happy with your insurer's offer after negotiation, your attorney will take the case to trial to get a better settlement. 

In those cases, your lawyer will gather additional information about the case, including several pieces of evidence to win the case in court.

Apart from following these steps, you also have to ensure that you don't make any mistakes. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid After an Accident!

Try to avoid the common mistakes listed below while dealing with the aftermath of your accident:

• Don't apologize or admit fault. Even though you think you had a part to play in the accident, don't admit fault. Your opponent party can use this against you, ultimately impacting your right to compensation.
• Don't be involved in a conversation with the insurance company without your lawyer. Consult with your lawyer before talking with the insurance company. Otherwise, it can also affect your compensation amount.
• Don't accept the insurance company's low settlement offer. Consult with your lawyer before taking the offer. Your lawyer will help you get the full compensation that you deserve. 
• Don't try to handle the case yourself. It can be complex, time-consuming, and might not get you the desired results. Hire an experienced accident lawyer who can take care of your case.

How Much Should You Ask for Compensation When You Were in an Accident as a Passenger?

Having to go through the physical and mental trauma of an accident is devastating. So, don't let your insurer decide what your compensation should be! Instead, take control of the situation and take note of the following criteria for determining your claim amount.

• The extent of the seriousness of your injury. 
• Your medical bills.
• Impact of the accident on your day-to-day life and activities.
• Involvement and liabilities of the party at fault in contributing to the accident.

Contact our top accident lawyers today for a free consultation!

Takeaway

Handling the aftermath of your accident is not a simple task. You can seek an accident lawyer in Sacramento to simplify the process and get the compensation you deserve. They can help you with the entire process and ensure that you do not have to worry about your compensation after the accident. This way, you can focus on your recovery process.

Consult Our Lawyers At Doyle & O'Donnell and Get the Legal Help You Desire!

At Doyle & O'Donnell, we have over three decades of experience in assisting our clients who have suffered a personal injury, car accident, motorcycle accident, or trucking accident. We go by the motto, "No fees unless we win the case." 

You can take the help of our auto accident lawyer in Sacramento, who will provide you with expert legal advice, transparent communication, and solid attorney-client relationships. We will help you get maximum compensation after you have suffered an injury. 

We have 4.8 stars on Google reviews given by 40 users! If you suffered an accident while being in a passenger seat, you can call us immediately, and we will help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us at 916-915-0426 to get a free consultation today!