Innocent bystanders are often seriously hurt in car accidents caused by drunk drivers. Passengers shouldn’t have to worry about being held liable for an accident because they hardly seldom cause them. However, that doesn’t imply getting paid what they’re owed will be a breeze.
If you were a passenger in a car that was involved in a drunk driving accident, read on to learn about your legal options and how to get in touch with Freeburg Law, LLC, if you believe you are entitled to compensation.
Can People Who Were in Cars with Drunk Drivers File Suits for Injuries?
In the event of an accident, passengers have the legal right to seek compensation for their monetary losses, such as medical bills and lost pay due to inability to work, and their non-monetary losses, such as their mental anguish and physical agony. Even if they were passengers in the vehicle, the drunk driver still poses a threat.
Passengers who knew or should have known that their driver was inebriated may find their insurance claim minimized or denied. An experienced lawyer can counter this argument and fight for the maximum compensation to which the passenger is entitled.
Choices for Insurance Coverage When a Passenger is Injured Due to Drunk Driving
As a passenger wounded in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may have the following insurance claim filing options available to you:
- If another driver was intoxicated and caused the accident, you can submit a claim against their liability insurance.
- If the intoxicated driver caused an accident, you may seek compensation from their Medical Payments (MedPay) policy. If they don’t, you might have to file a claim with your own health insurance company or auto insurance company if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
You can launch a claim against both drivers if they were equally at fault. If your losses exceed the limits of coverage provided by any other policy, you may be eligible to file a claim under the uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist provisions of one of the drivers’ policies. The benefits of your own UM/UIM policy may also be available to you.
