There’s so much discussion around the dangers of driving, but the dangers are equally real for passengers. Whether in the front or the back, you have legal options for recovering financially when you are a passenger in a car accident. Fortunately, in most cases, you would likely be able to recover damages for your injuries as a passenger. However, passenger injury claims stemming from car accidents can get more complicated. Whether a driver or a passenger, insurance companies will always try to avoid paying at all and then seek to pay as little as possible which is one of the many reasons why working with an experienced car accident lawyer is essential no matter what seat in the car you were riding in! What Do You Need to Prove the Cause of the Accident? To start, who caused the accident? The answer to this question is not always just one person but can be many, which can be helpful because it means there are potentially more available insurance funds. Ultimately the how and why of the accident needs to be proved to establish the negligence of various parties. California is a comparative negligence state which means that while you can still file a winning lawsuit if you played a role in your accident, your compensation will be reduced accordingly. For instance, if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt at the time of the crash, the other party will argue that you contributed to making your injuries worse and seek to reduce your payout accordingly. Possible Negligent Parties This could be any party that has a hand in causing the crash:
- The driver of the car you were riding in
- Another driver
- Third-party driver when it is a multi-vehicle accident
- A city or state or other government entity