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Just because you are the passenger in a car that causes an auto accident doesn’t mean you can’t recover for your injuries. After all, you are merely a passenger, so the accident typically isn’t your fault. It also doesn’t mean you can only receive compensation if you sue the driver of the car in which you were traveling. Usually, the driver is a friend or family member, and most people don’t want to sue a friend.
There are 2 ways to recover for your injuries if you’re the passenger in a car accident:
- If you were riding in the car that caused the accident, even if it is a one-car accident, then you may file a claim to obtain a recovery under the liability coverage of the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy.
- If two cars were involved in the accident and it is determined that both drivers were at fault, then the passenger may want to file a claim seeking to recover under both the other driver’s liability policy as well as the policy for the driver of the vehicle in which you were a passenger.
These types of claims are known as third-party claims because you’ve been injured in an accident and are filing a claim under the driver’s auto insurance policy, not your own.
If you are a passenger filing a third-party claim, then you may be entitled to being fully compensated for your injuries. You may seek recovery for:
- Medical Bills (present & future)
- Lost Wages (present & future)
- Pain & Suffering
Because these general rules may have exceptions and limitations that apply in some cases, the best thing you can do after being injured as a passenger in an auto accident is to contact someone who specializes in personal injury law. A personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the legal process while you recover. It can be very difficult dealing with multiple insurance policies and insurance companies. They may try to blame the other and delay or deny your compensation. Our firm is used to dealing with the insurance companies when this blame game starts.
The sooner you contact someone the better, as there are certain deadlines that must be met in order to recover for your injuries. At Gautreaux Law we handle nothing but personal injury cases. We handle auto wreck cases all over the state of Georgia, including Macon, Warner Robins, Dublin and Atlanta, and we will meet with you anytime at no charge to determine if you have a case. We may be reached by filling out a contact form on our website or calling us directly at 478-238-9758.