Passenger Injuries in Wichita Falls Car Accidents
Passengers are innocent victims who has no control over the vehicle they are
riding in. Because of this lack of control, passengers usually cannot be held liable when a car they are in wrecks into another car. However, if the passenger acted in some type of negligent way that led to a car wreck, that could alter some of the rights they enjoy in Wichita Falls car accident cases.
Damages a Passenger Can Recover After Being in a Wichita Falls Car Accident
A passenger who is injured in a Wichita Falls car accident can claim all the same damages that any other person can. Like other accidents, the compensation they receive depends on the types of injuries they suffered and the financial losses they suffered.
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to estimate what a Wichita Falls car accident settlement will be, but they could include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotions and mental distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disabilities
- Impairments
Other expenses may also be included such as travel expenses for doctor’s appointments, any over-the-counter medication, and any services you need to hire because you cannot do household chores because of your injuries.
However, like most other damages, you need to have evidence to support your claim. A Wichita Falls car accident lawyer can help you with documenting your damages, so you can maximize your claim. To start, it’s important to keep all receipts, bills, and any other documentation that provides proof of your financial losses.
When it comes to pain and suffering and emotional and mental distress, you can keep a daily journal of how you are feeling and your pain levels. Also, seeing a doctor regularly and a mental health specialist may also help with documenting these issues.
Who Pays for the Passenger’s Injuries in a Wichita Falls Car Accident?
Who pays for the passenger’s injuries in a Wichita Falls car accident depends on how the accident happened. The driver who caused the accident is going to be the first person that is looked to, and that is going to be the person who is held responsible for paying for any injuries sustained by anyone as a result of that accident.
If the driver who caused the accident was the driver of the car that the passenger was in, then that driver would be responsible for paying for the passenger’s injuries. And if it was multiple drivers who caused the accident, then all of them would be responsible. Essentially, whoever caused or contributed to the accident is who is going to have to pay for the injuries of the people involved. Sometimes, a defective product leads to an accident and the manufacturer can be sued as well. Other times, ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft could be held responsible. Likewise, if there was a defect in the road, the city, county, or maintenance company could be held liable.
Identifying the cause of the accident and all the responsible parties can be complicated, but it is critical in maximizing your claim. To ensure you are identifying all possible sources of compensation, a thorough investigation into the cause of the wreck must be conducted. Sometimes, experts are required to adequately complete the investigations.
Does a Passenger Need to a Wichita Falls Car Accident Lawyer?
Like we’ve always said, anyone can try to settle their car accident claim on their own, but people often benefit from hiring a Wichita Falls car accident lawyer. And they get the most benefit when they do it as quickly as possible after their accident.
There are number of things that often complicate these types of cases from the parties denying liability to the insurance company claiming they won’t pay and complications with coverage. Having a Wichita Falls personal injury lawyer handle your claim from start to finish makes it easy and allows you to focus on recovering from your injuries. The lawyer will handle all aspects of the claim, deal with the insurance companies, and if needed, file a lawsuit.
What Should an Injured Passenger Do After a Wichita Falls Car Wreck?
Immediately following an accident, the most important thing to do is get to safety. Next, you should call 911 for the police to come to the accident scene not only to manage the traffic but also to make an accident report. And if needed, request an ambulance. It’s important to be straight forward with the police and tell them exactly what happened.
You should also take pictures and videos of the vehicles and the accident scene. Additionally, collect all the information of anyone that was involved as well as any witnesses. And finally, seek medical attention immediately. Often, people don’t initially feel their injuries because of the adrenaline. If you aren’t sure if you are injured or not, trust the professional opinions of the emergency medical services. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
CAUTION: Anything you say to the police and to EMS will likely be noted on the accident report. So, if you say you are not injured or if you refuse medical treatment, that will be noted and the insurance companies could use that against you. Therefore, you should only say what is necessary and don’t offer up more information than they ask for. Err on the side of caution. Another thing to be cautious about is speaking with the insurance adjusters. Anything you say to them could be used against you.
Contact Our Wichita Falls Car Accident Lawyer
Our Wichita Falls car accident lawyer has helped victims of car accidents for nearly 30 years. He’s been in the business, he knows the tricks of the insurance companies, and he knows how to successfully pursue these claims. If you were a passenger who was injured in a car wreck in Wichita Falls, let our experienced car accident lawyer get you the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 940-569-4000 or fill out our contact form to set up a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.