If you’ve recently been injured in a car accident as a passenger, you’re probably wondering about your legal options. In many cases, passengers can pursue claims under Louisiana’s personal injury laws against at-fault drivers to compensate them for expenses incurred to treat their injuries.
Here’s what you need to know about filing a car accident passenger claim and how a Lafayette car accident lawyer can help you assert your rights.
Who Is Responsible for a Passenger’s Injuries in a Car Accident?
When a passenger gets hurt in a car accident, the driver or drivers at fault for the accident may be liable for the passenger’s injuries and related losses. In addition, if the driver of the passenger’s vehicle has Med Pay coverage in their auto insurance policy, the insurer becomes responsible for contributing to the passenger’s medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident.
Does Car Insurance Cover Passenger Injuries?
Car insurance can help cover the costs of passenger injuries in various circumstances. For example, when the driver of the passenger’s vehicle has optional Med Pay coverage in their policy, that coverage can help cover some of the passenger’s medical expenses to treat injuries they sustained in the crash if they file a passenger injury claim. The passenger may also turn to their auto insurance to file a passenger accident claim if they’ve purchased Med Pay coverage. Furthermore, the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage can pay for an injured passenger’s medical expenses, lost wages or earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
However, if the at-fault driver does not have insurance coverage or has insufficient coverage to compensate the passenger for all their losses, the passenger might turn to their driver’s insurance if they have optional uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
What to Do After a Car Accident as an Injured Passenger
Here are some practical steps you can take after getting hurt as a passenger in a car accident:
- Get the information of the other driver(s) involved in the accident.
- Obtain a copy of the police report if law enforcement responded to the crash scene.
- Seek prompt medical attention and follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and recovery instructions.
- Request copies of your medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts for your recovery expenses.
- Gather your pay stubs or income statements if you need to miss time from work due to your accident injuries.
Finally, contact a car accident attorney in Lafayette as soon as possible to discuss your options for seeking financial relief through a passenger in an accident insurance claim.
How Attorney Omar Thibeaux Can Help Injured Passengers Seek Compensation
If you were injured in a car accident as a passenger, Attorney Omar Thibeaux can help you seek compensation for what you’ve suffered. He can thoroughly investigate the accident to recover all available evidence, review the facts to identify liable parties, evaluate your options for financial recovery, and vigorously pursue the compensation you deserve through a settlement. If the insurance company won’t make a fair settlement offer, he won’t hesitate to take your claim to court to demand accountability for your injuries.
Don’t wait another moment to assert your rights to fair compensation and justice. Contact The Thibeaux Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Lafayette.
