Are You An Injured Passenger? Here’s What You Should Do After A Car Accident in New York
As an injured passenger after a car crash, you can feel helpless. After all, you weren’t driving either car that was involved in the crash, and your insurance doesn’t need to file a claim. You are not responsible for anything, but you are still a victim and have suffered injuries due to the accident. These costs can include medical expenses, lost wages and pain, and suffering. So what happens next?
Well, passengers who are injured in a car accident still have the right to gain compensation. Actually, the process can be very straightforward. The important thing is to take the correct steps to continue the process.
Motor vehicle traffic crashes are the leading cause of injury-related death for New York State residents. During a two-year period, there was an annual average of 1,098 deaths, 12,093 hospitalizations and 136,913 emergency department visits because of motor vehicle traffic injuries.
Here’s what to do in you are injured as a passenger in a car accident.
Get Contact Information
You may not have been a driver that was involved in the car accident, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the information about who was responsible. While your insurance won’t be responsible for your injuries, one of the drivers involved will be responsible.
The claims process will determine which driver was negligent in the accident. The injuries you receive and your medical expenses, costs, and lost wages are all the responsibility of the at-fault driver. So
make sure to get both drivers’ contact information, as the information that was on the police report. Whether the fault is obvious or not, it is important to gain information from everyone involved to make sure you are totally covered.
File An Injured Passenger Claim
Just like drivers filing car accident claims, you need to file an injured passenger claim. Insurance companies will fight it out to see who was at fault, but realize that your insurance company is almost never responsible for passenger-injury-related costs.
You can file a passenger injury claim with an insurance company if the fault is obvious. However, if determining fault isn’t that simple, you can file your passenger injury claim with all involved drivers’ insurance companies and then let them decide who is responsible.
Whether you choose to file on one or more insurance companies, it is always considered a third-party claim. This term means you are not claiming with your own insurance company. However, you can consider filing a claim with your own insurance policy.
Hire A Personal Injury Attorney in New York
If the insurance companies are fighting about who is at fault and neither company wants to claim responsibility for your medical costs, a lawsuit may be your next step.
Filing a lawsuit for damages may be the route you need to take to get the compensation you deserve. Hiring an attorney is always a smart move. Personal Injury attorneys will guide you through every step of the way. They’ll advise how you should proceed in your case.
Are You An Injured Passenger Seeking Compensation?
To get the compensation you deserve, seek legal advice immediately from Gattuso & Ciotoli Law Offices. We will fight for compensation to cover your medical expenses, such as medicines and treatment, and damages for loss of income resulting from the injury accident. At Gattuso & Ciotoli Law Offices our best interests are a top priority. Contact us today!