Are Passengers Entitled to Compensation?
Getting injured in any car accident can be traumatic. It can be even more devastating if you are injured as a passenger because you had no control over the situation and did nothing to cause the crash—you were simply a victim of negligence. However, understanding your legal rights to compensation can provide you with peace of mind, should you ever be in this situation.
Applicable Car Insurance for Injured Passengers
As an injured passenger, you have just as much right as the drivers to file a claim to be compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other related damages. In Florida, injured passengers will generally have three different avenues that they can pursue when filing an injury claim.
Your car accident attorney can review the specifics of your specific case to determine whether one or multiple of the options below is the best:
- Your Auto Insurance Company. You may be able to file a claim for your medical bills under your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Additionally, if you are injured by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage, you may be able to file a claim under your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if applicable.
- Your Driver’s Auto Insurance Company. Bodily Injury (BI) liability insurance of the driver whose car you were in may cover your injury-related damages if PIP doesn’t cover your damages and if your driver caused the crash.
- The Other Driver’s Auto insurance Company. You may be able to file with the other driver’s insurance if they caused the accident, and your injuries qualify under the “serious injury” threshold in Florida; such injuries include, but are not limited to, bones fractures, significant disfigurement, or permanent limitation of a bodily organ.
Additionally, if the total value of your damages exceeds the amount of compensation you can receive from filing a claim, you may also be entitled to file a civil lawsuit against the negligent driver or drivers. Ultimately, how you proceed with a claim, multiple claims, or a potential lawsuit will depend on your injuries, the extent of insurance coverage, and your attorney’s recommendation upon a free case review.
Do Not Delay the Claims Process in Florida
Filing a claim as an injured passenger can be a complex process in Florida, especially because insurance companies make money by either denying or devaluing even valid claims that come their way. Remember that you don’t have to fight this battle alone. At Shapiro Law Firm, P.A., we are here to advocate on your behalf and protect your rights to maximum compensation.
We have been helping those injured in our local communities for over 25 years and pride ourselves in providing each client with the compassionate and tenacious legal advocacy they need to recover.
Contact our Tallahassee car accident attorneys at (850) 629-7226 to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation today!