What do you do if you are a passenger in a car accident? Should you file a personal injury lawsuit or settle the claim? Hello everyone, I am Priashna Singh, president of Singh Barristers, Personal Injury Lawyers and here is my guide for a successful car accident settlement.

Being a passenger in a car accident can be stressful and confusing. But the injured party has the right to be fully compensated for any loss, including the medical bills, lost earnings, or any other accident-related expenses.

INJURED PARTY RIGHTS FOLLOWING A CAR ACCIDENT

The first and foremost thing you should do is stay calm, take care of yourself, and seek medical treatment. As you have the right to claim, collect as much information and evidence to support it.

Here are a few things that you should keep in mind if you are the injured party.

• SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT- As I already said, taking care of yourself is most important if you are in a car accident. Meet a doctor on the same day and follow up in case of any pain or symptoms. Make sure you also check upon the injuries of all the parties involved.
• MAKE A RECORD- Try to note the accident’s details by writing it down or by recording it. They will become evidence for your claim.
• MOVE THE VEHICLE- Move the vehicle out of the active traffic lanes if it is safe.
• GET THE POLICE REPORT- Contact the police to obtain a copy of the accident’s police report. It can act in your favor and help identify who was at fault.
• AVOID DISCUSSING THE DETAILS WITH OTHER PARTY- Whatever you say could be used against you. Other than exchanging names and contact information, try to avoid discussing any other details regarding the accident.
• CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY- Inform your insurance company about the accident and provide them with the necessary information. The faster you do so, the faster the process will begin to file your claim.

In my personal experience, the passenger involved in car accidents has very limited information and asks too many questions. The following are some of the most-asked questions.

WHO PAYS THE INSURANCE IF I AM INJURED?

The injured party can seek compensation after confirming certain facts. In a general case, the other driver is responsible for paying your medical bills. However, do not directly get involved with the other party’s insurance company. Let your insurance company take charge. If you have Med-Pay under your policy, you can use it to reimburse all your medical bills.

CAN I BE AT FAULT?

In most cases, no, but if the accident was caused due to the intoxication of the driver and you still chose to ride with them, you may not receive any compensation. You will also not be allowed reimbursement if you were not wearing your seatbelt during the accident. The court has often denied recovery to the injured party if they willingly rode with an impaired driver. So, never ride with someone who is intoxicated because the law is not on your side.

WHAT IF THE DRIVER IS MY FAMILY OR FRIEND?

Although it can be uncomfortable for you, even if the driver is your immediate family or friend, you can still claim compensation.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T RESUME MY WORK DUE TO MY INJURIES?

If the injuries sustained from the accident disable you to resume your work, you can claim compensation for lost wages or future earnings. You can also claim this compensation if you can return to your job, but no longer able to do the work you could do before the accident, and your wages are cut.

A passenger in a car accident can claim many benefits. Here are some of the benefits the injured party can claim.

• INCOME REPLACEMENT BENEFIT- The injured party can claim income replacement benefits after a car accident if they have lost their job due to the injuries or cannot continue with it for the time-being. The passenger is compensated with a portion of their original wage.
• NON-EARNER BENEFIT- Someone who doesn’t qualify for the income replacement benefit can claim a non-earner benefit. It can be availed by anyone above 16, who is a full-time student or a fresh graduate without a job.
• CAREGIVER BENEFIT- If, after the accident, you acquire a disability or an injury that requires you to hire a caregiver, then you can ask the one at fault to provide you with resources for the same.
• ATTENDANT CARE BENEFIT- The attendant care benefit is more specific than a caregiver benefit. The injured party qualifies for it if they need a caretaker for their daily life activities such as bathing, cooking, cleaning, etc.
• MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION BENEFIT- As I already discussed earlier, the injured party has the right to claim medical compensation if they are injured in a car accident. Categorizing the injury correctly plays a crucial role here. It can help the injured party gain the most benefit.

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL LAWYER

Injuries caused by accidents come under personal injury cases. These types of cases can be quite complex at times. My best advice is to hire our team of personal injury lawyers. Our lawyers will negotiate on your behalf and help you claim the most benefits. Here are some of the advantages of hiring my team of professional lawyers for your car accident settlement case.

• KNOWLEDGE OF LAW- There are various laws related to your car accident case. Without any professional help, your case can become weak, and you can even lose the chance of receiving any compensation. If the case goes totally out of your control, you may end up giving compensation to the party at fault.
• NEGOTIATE FAIR COMPENSATION- In cases like these, even your insurance company may give up on you. To attain fair compensation, you need someone who will fight for you. To negotiate against insurance companies with a team of professional and experienced lawyers, you also need the same. Otherwise, manipulations can occur easily.

Hiring professional help will only increase your chances to attain the most out of it. We will help strengthen your case and make sure that you do not fall into anyone’s trap. We will guide you at every step. You will feel at ease while fighting for your rights.