What Happens If You’re Injured as a Passenger in a Car Accident?

Passengers Injured in New York Do Have Legal Options and Can Pursue Damages Through a Civil Claim

Millions of people are injured every year in motor vehicle accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “In 2022, almost 44,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. That is more than 120 people killed in crashes every day. There were over 2.6 million emergency department visits for injuries from motor vehicle crashes in 2022.” Car accidents can be particularly difficult and confusing for passengers. Motor vehicle passengers should take several steps if they’ve been injured in a car accident.

Contact the Police and Seek Medical Support

Passengers should call 911 early on to report the crash. The police will begin investigating the collision and give an initial assessment of liability. There are several steps to take after the police arrive.

• Victims should document the scene as best they can. Photos of the accident site can help paint a clear picture of what happened.
• Victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation. Many of the injuries associated with car accidents will not be immediately obvious.
• Victims should gather the information of people who may have witnessed the collision.

It’s best to be proactive after any crash. Don’t assume that other people will handle everything just because you are a passenger in the vehicle.

Who’s Responsible for Your Injuries?

Passengers are almost never held responsible for the accidents that they are involved in. When you’re in a passenger vehicle involved in an accident, there could be several liable parties.

• The driver of the vehicle that you were in may bear some responsibility for what happened. This is particularly true if they were speeding or committing some other traffic infraction.
• The driver of another vehicle involved in the crash could be held at fault. Obviously, the circumstance is leading up to the collision matter. The other driver may have made a dangerous left turn in front of the vehicle that you were in.
• New York is one of many states that operates on the basis of comparative fault. It is very possible that two or more parties could be held at fault for a collision.

Determining liability for any collision can be difficult. To make matters more complicated, insurance companies will typically try to get accident victims to settle injury claims quickly for as little money as possible.

Legal Assistance After Any Car Accident

In most situations, passengers of motor vehicles involved in collisions will be able to seek compensation for their injuries. There are many different reasons that vehicle passengers should seek the guidance of a skilled New York car accident lawyer.

• Free Case Evaluation: An attorney can evaluate the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
• Evidence Collection: An attorney can help gather all of the crucial pieces of evidence that demonstrate one or more parties was at fault for the collision.
• Maximize Compensation: An attorney can take steps to maximize the compensation that you receive. They can do this by negotiating with insurance providers and identifying all liable parties.

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages to hiring a personal injury attorney is that they work entirely on a contingency fee basis. You don’t owe them any payment up front. They get paid entirely from the opposing party if they are able to successfully resolve your case.

Getting Legal Help After a New York Car Accident

We at GLK Law understand how hard it can be to get help after a motor vehicle accident. Accident victims can be left with serious injuries that impair their ability to work. Insurance providers will pretend to be on your side only to do everything in their power to undermine your claim.

If you’ve been injured in a New York car accident, do yourself a favor and speak with an attorney. Our team of New York City car accident attorneys have spent decades fighting on behalf of accident victims. In fact, we have recovered over $1 billion for our deserving clients. There is no case too large or complex for us to handle. Whether you’re looking to hire an attorney or simply explore your legal options, there is a good chance we can help. You are always welcome to contact us anytime at (516) 908-9792.