If you were a passenger during a vehicle accident and want the ability to recover any damages caused by the accident, it is crucial to know what you should do and not do to protect your legal rights. Being in a car crash can be terrifying and painful. You should not also be stuck with a stack of costly medical bills while possibly losing income from missed work.
An experienced car accident attorney in Oklahoma can help with the challenges of being a passenger in a vehicle crash. They can find out who will be responsible for your damages, determining whose car insurance needs to pay.
If you were a passenger in a car accident and suffered injuries, you should know your rights. Reaching out to an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer can advise you on the next steps you need to take and your options for seeking compensation from responsible car insurance companies.
The Next Steps for Passengers in an Auto Accident
Data from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), a statistical agency for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that more than two million passengers are injured in vehicle accidents yearly.
Even though the typical passenger in a car accident was not at fault or responsible for a collision, they still have an important set of tasks to complete in order to recover the compensation to recover fully. These include:
- Seeking medical attention to evaluate your health and safety and supplies a car accident victim with a record of their injuries
- Gathering the car insurance details from the driver of the vehicle they were in, and any other drivers involved
- Collecting the contact information of all the eyewitnesses
- Retrieving a copy of the police’s accident report
- Contacting a knowledgeable car accident attorney in Oklahoma
This information can be pivotal if compensation needs to be sought through legal action, which may be needed to recover damages for injuries and medical expenses.
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SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYPassengers Filing Claims in Vehicle Crashes Whose Driver Is Not At-Fault
Some or all of a passenger’s damages could be compensated by the vehicle insurance held by the driver of the car you were riding in. It also depends on the driver not being at-fault for the accident and the passenger having no culpability for the crash.
A passenger should pursue every option that could potentially lead to recovering compensation for all the damages resulting from the crash. This is especially true if the passenger suffered injuries or other losses in the collision.
This may mean the passenger files a claim with their driver’s insurance company under their auto policy. Because Oklahoma is an at-fault state, working under a comparative negligence system, the most obvious route to compensation for damages is by dealing with the auto insurance of the at-fault driver. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Oklahoma can help simplify this.
Passengers Filing Claims in Vehicle Crashes Whose Driver Is At-Fault
In Oklahoma’s fault-based insurance system, a passenger can recover compensation from the insurance of the at-fault driver or the driver of the vehicle in which they were riding. Most insurance policies for at-fault drivers cover the bodily injury of passengers.
Liability insurance coverage may vary. There are circumstances when the limits of liability coverage are too low in the case of passengers who suffer catastrophic injuries.
Passengers Filing Claims in Single-Vehicle Accidents
Injuries suffered in single-vehicle accidents can be complicated when pursuing compensation. Potentially, a passenger can file a claim under the driver’s liability insurance. But if their losses are too high, the policy may not offer adequate compensation.
Depending on what or who was responsible for the accident, a passenger may try to recover a comprehensive settlement. This can be the case in road or design defects that caused an accident, which would leave a government entity responsible.
Again, a passenger may also file a claim with their auto insurance company.
When a Passenger Is at Fault
Typically, passengers are not responsible for a crash because they have no control of the vehicle. But there are situations when a passenger acts maliciously or recklessly and causes a crash. If a passenger grabs the steering wheel or interferes with the operation of the vehicle, they can be partially or fully at fault.
Auto Insurance’s Minimum Liability
The Oklahoma Insurance Department reports that drivers are required to have the minimum liability insurance to protect themselves and their passengers. The minimum standard for Oklahoma auto insurance includes:
- $25,000 for property damage in an accident
- $25,000 for the injury or death of one person, including a passenger
- $50,000 for the injury or death of two or more people in an accident, including passengers
If the minimum is not enough to cover the passenger’s expenses accrued because of the crash, they can file an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim under their own policy.
Passengers Filing UM/UIM Claims in Car Accidents
Sometimes, it is necessary to file an underinsured (UIM) and uninsured motorist coverage (UM) claim after the at-fault driver in an accident is found to be uninsured or is not insured enough. A passenger can again file a UM or UIM claim with their own insurance if the driver of a single-vehicle accident lacks adequate coverage.
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma Car Accident Attorney Today
After a car crash or during any emergency situation, seeking medical attention is the first priority. The second priority is reaching out to a skilled and experienced car accident lawyer in Oklahoma to explain your rights as a passenger in a vehicle accident.
With the representation of BDIW Law, you get an Oklahoma car accident attorney with a wealth of experience managing car accident claims and negotiating with insurance companies. We understand the complexities of these types of cases and know the right approach to take in order to recover the maximum compensation available.
We seek every source of compensation, whether it’s a negligent driver, the car manufacturer that made a defective automobile, the maker of the defective parts on the vehicle, or any other factors that may have contributed. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
