Medical Expenses Add Up Following Car Accident Injury

Unfortunately, traffic accidents are a frequent occurrence given the number of inexperienced, impaired or distracted drivers on the roads today. A passenger in a car involved in an accident can be seriously injured, even more so than the driver depending on where they are seated and whether they are wearing a seat belt. In some cases, costly medical treatment is necessary following an accident and injured passengers may want to explore ways in which he or she can get help.

The most obvious place to start is with the at-fault driver’s insurance company in order to get compensation for your injuries. Drivers are required to carry at least a minimum level of insurance by law and most insurance policies provide coverage not only for drivers, but also for passengers. However, not every driver is properly insured or may not have insurance at all. If a passenger is in an accident as a result of negligence by an uninsured or underinsured driver, the passenger still has additional avenues for compensation:

• A passenger may be able to receive compensation from the insurance company of the driver he or she was traveling with depending on the insurance coverage the driver carries. Although a passenger may be reluctant to seek compensation if the driver of the vehicle was a friend or family member, most drivers obtain insurance with the understanding that passengers will be covered to some extent.
• Another option to explore is if the passenger is listed as an insured driver on another automobile insurance policy. This policy may cover a passenger for injuries sustained even though he or she was traveling in another person’s vehicle. Compensation under policies other than that of the at-fault driver depend on the coverage options of the policyholders.
• An injured passenger may also decide to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver who caused the accident, and even include the driver of the car the passenger was traveling in as a defendant depending on the circumstances of the accident. If either driver was driving a company car in the course of business, the passenger may also receive compensation from the company.