If you’ve been injured as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for the resulting medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses you incur. If another motorist, the driver you’re riding with, or another entity caused the crash and your injuries, you have the right to demand fair compensation under Georgia law. With the help of an experienced Duluth car accident attorney, you could recover money to cover your injuries, lost income, and more.
What Are the Laws Related to Passengers Injured in Car Accidents?
In Georgia, all drivers are responsible for exercising reasonable care to not endanger anyone on the road, including those riding as passengers. If a driver is somehow negligent and causes a car accident in which anyone is injured, they can be held liable for their actions.
All drivers in Georgia are required to hold at least the minimum amount of liability insurance, which covers $25,000 per person for bodily injury (or $50,000 per accident) and $25,000 for property damage. Many drivers actually have higher amounts of coverage than this.
As a passenger involved in a car accident in Georgia, you might be owed compensation for your injuries and financial losses from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This applies whether the at-fault driver was in the same vehicle as you or in the other. To successfully pursue compensation against a driver’s insurance, you need to be able to prove they were at fault for the accident. An experienced Georgia personal injury attorney can help identify and prove who was at fault in your accident.
What If the At-Fault Driver Is a Friend or Relative?
If the at-fault driver was in the other car, you probably won’t think twice about pursuing compensation from them. However, if you were riding with a friend or relative who caused the accident, you may not feel comfortable making a compensation claim against them. This is where liability insurance comes into play. Accidents happen due to human error every day, and that’s why liability insurance exists. When you seek payment as a passenger, you are not directly asking the driver for money, instead, you are asking their insurance company.
Can I Claim Compensation Through My Own Insurance?
If you are a driver, you may have uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage through your insurance policy. You can use this coverage if your medical bills exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits or if you were involved in a hit-and-run accident where the at-fault driver cannot be identified. Additionally, if you have health insurance, this may be used to cover your medical expenses. It is possible, however, that the health insurance company will sue the at-fault driver’s insurance company at a later date to be repaid for those expenses.
What You Need to Do After a Car Accident
If you have been injured as a passenger in a car accident, it’s important that you take the right measures to protect your rights.
Here’s what you should do after a car accident if you’ve been injured:
Get medical attention – Your well-being comes first. No matter how minor your injuries are, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. This will create a record of your injuries that can be used as evidence for your claim.
Collect evidence at the accident scene – If you are able to, collect any evidence you can at the accident scene, which may include:
- Photos and videos of the accident scene and injuries
- Witness statements
- Police reports
Collect evidence to prove your losses – It’s likely that you will be dealing with the ramifications of the accident for days, weeks, or even months after it happens. Any documentation that provides information on how your life has been affected by the accident can be used as evidence of your losses.
This evidence for your car accident claim may include:
- Medical bills and records
- Records and tax statements indicating time taken off work and lost income
- Invoices and receipts for any other accident-related expenses you incurred
- Notes that provide details of the pain and suffering you are facing and how the accident has impacted your daily life
Be cautious when talking to insurance adjusters – Remember, it’s the insurance adjuster’s job to find ways to minimize the amount of money the insurance company has to pay out to you. When an insurance adjuster contacts you, do not provide a recorded statement or any information about your injuries.
Contact a personal injury attorney – A skilled Georgia car accident attorney can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They will guide you through the complex claims process, so your rights are protected, and your chances of successfully claiming compensation are maximized.
Compensation Available for Passengers Injured in a Car Accident
Passengers injured in car accidents in Georgia may be entitled to claim compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Other accident-related expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Insurance companies are in business to maximize their profits, and one way they do this is by minimizing the amount of compensation they have to pay out to car accident victims. That’s why you need a dedicated Duluth personal injury attorney to guide you through every step of the insurance claims process and give you the best possible chance of securing full compensation for your losses.
At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, we are committed to providing you with the support you need to recover from your injuries, as well as the legal guidance you require to pursue compensation for your losses. We have an extensive list of client testimonials and public case results that prove our ability to provide the highest standard of service to our clients while also successfully securing compensation for them. With the Brauns legal team on your side, you can feel confident that your case is being handled with care and skill.
Contact a Duluth Car Accident Lawyer Today
At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, we understand how overwhelming and stressful the aftermath of a car accident can be, and we are here to help. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you will not pay anything to us until we recover compensation for you. Call or contact us online today for a free consultation.
