- May 5, 2020
It can be very difficult to deal with the immediate aftermath of a car accident, especially if your injuries are serious. If you were a passenger when the crash occurred, you may be particularly confused. Passengers are rarely responsible for car crashes. This means someone else should have to compensate them for their medical bills and other expenses and losses.
But who should that person be? It can be difficult to know whose insurance company should be held responsible. To ensure you identify the correct at-fault party and get the compensation you deserve, you should contact a South Carolina auto accident attorney. In the meantime, let’s look at some of the most likely possibilities.
How You Can Get Compensation for Your Losses
If the person responsible is the driver of the car you were in, you’ll likely have to file a claim with their insurance company. The driver is likely to be a friend, co-worker, or family member so you may feel uncomfortable about filing a claim. However, this may be the only way you can get compensation. In any case, you won’t be seeking compensation from the individual, but their insurer.
A personal injury claim is different from a lawsuit, so you won’t have to sue your friend. Insurance policies exist for situations just like this. You should be able to recover damages relating to medical bills, lost income, property damage, and other losses. Even if you were involved in a single-vehicle crash, you may still be able to get compensation.
If the driver of another vehicle is responsible for the crash, you should file a claim with their insurer. You may also have the option of seeking compensation from two insurance companies if both drivers shared liability. In any case, you will need help from a Greenville car accident lawyer.
Insurance companies are notorious for denying claims or offering really low amounts. If you’re unrepresented, you may not know what is considered fair compensation. You also may not be aware of all the losses you can claim. When you have a car accident attorney on your side, you’ll have a better chance of recovering all your damages.
There is another way in which your lawyer may suggest that you pursue compensation. If you have auto insurance, you may be able to file a claim even though you were in someone else’s vehicle. However, you would only get limited compensation since you would draw on the medical payments aspect of your policy. You wouldn’t be able to claim for lost income or other losses that are unrelated to your medical expenses. Meanwhile, if the vehicle you were in was uninsured or underinsured, you may have the option of drawing on your UM or UIM coverage.
What to Do If You Get Involved in an Accident
Regardless of who caused the car crash, there are certain steps you need to take. These will enable you to prove that you suffered injuries in the crash. They will also help you to support your claim for compensation. Some of the things that you need to do include:
- Going to the doctor as soon as possible and describing your symptoms
- Writing down everything you remember about the accident before your memory fades
- Taking photos of your bruises, cuts or other injuries
- Getting contact details and insurance information from all drivers
- Requesting a copy of the police report.
- Keeping copies of bills or receipts for doctors’ visits, medicine, assistive devices, and other supplies.
- Not posting about the crash on social media
- Consulting a lawyer before talking to an insurance adjuster, providing a statement, or accepting a settlement.
Contact Hernandez & Cabra for Help Today
If you were a passenger in a motor vehicle accident and you suffered injuries, you should seek help from an experienced attorney. The Greenville car accident attorneys at Hernandez & Cabra can help you to get fair compensation for your losses. We’ll identify the at-fault party, quantify your damages and negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. If negotiations fail, we’ll take the matter to court on your behalf.
You shouldn’t have to deal with pain, high medical bills, and mental anguish all on your own. The accident was not your fault so you shouldn’t have to foot the bills. Call us as soon as possible to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what we can do for you. We work on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay us any fees until we recover compensation on your behalf.
