Yes. Passengers injured in a Missouri car accident may be able to pursue compensation from the person or parties who caused the crash. Passengers are usually in the strongest liability position of anyone involved, because they were not responsible for how either vehicle was driven; a passenger rarely shares fault for the collision itself. A claim may be made against the driver of the vehicle you were in, another driver involved in the crash, or multiple drivers if more than one person was at fault.
Contact a car accident attorney in St. Louis today to pursue compensation for injuries after a collision.
Call our firm at (314) 300-6260 or reach out online today.
Who Can Be Liable for a Passenger’s Injuries?
Liability is based on who caused the accident and what the reason was. Potentially responsible parties include:
- The driver of your vehicle, if their negligence caused or contributed to the crash
- The driver of another vehicle, if that driver was at fault
- An employer, if an at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash
- The vehicle owner, in some circumstances, such as negligently entrusting a car to an unsafe driver
- A manufacturer, if a defective vehicle or part contributed to the crash or worsened the injuries
- A government entity, if a dangerous road condition played a role
Identifying every responsible party matters, because each one may bring additional insurance coverage into the claim.
What If Both Drivers Were at Fault?
More than one driver may share responsibility for a crash, and Missouri’s comparative fault principles allow liability to be divided between them based on each driver’s contribution. For a passenger, this typically means pursuing claims against multiple responsible parties at the same time. The complication is that insurers often argue over how fault should be split, with each company trying to push a larger share of liability onto the other one.
What If The At-Fault Driver Was Your Friend or Family Member?
You may still be able to make a claim, and doing so is more routine than most people expect. The claim is generally made against the driver’s available insurance coverage, not against the individual themselves. Many people are hesitant to file a claim in this position because they feel like they are taking money directly from a friend or family member, but that’s really not usually the case.
What Compensation Can an Injured Passenger Recover?
Depending on the injuries and their impact, a passenger may recover:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care (check-ups, surgeries, etc…)
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Other accident-related losses
If a passenger is killed, the family may be able to bring a wrongful death claim as well.
What Evidence Should a Passenger Preserve?
Useful evidence includes the police report, photos of the crash scene and vehicles, witness contact information, medical records and bills, wage records, and insurance information for all involved drivers. Passengers should document their injuries thoroughly even when fault between the drivers seems obvious.
Injured as a Passenger? Let Us Handle Your Claim
Passenger claims can be uncomfortable, especially if you’re failing a claim with the insurance company of someone you know. Our Missouri car accident attorneys deal with the insurers so you don’t have to, and we can tell you exactly which coverage applies to your situation. It costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Reach out at (314) 300-6260 to schedule your free consultation.