All passengers in a car accident have the right to compensation from the driver who caused the accident. This is true no matter which vehicle they were in.
Most of the time when we think about a car accident, we imagine the two drivers involved and try to determine which driver was at fault. However, the drivers are often not the only ones who are injured in an accident—many injuries involve passengers, and passengers have the same rights as any other auto accident victim.
In Washington, if you are a passenger in a car that’s involved in an accident, you can recover all of your costs, including:
- Medical treatment
- Medication
- Rehabilitative therapy and ongoing care
- Missed wages
No matter which driver caused the accident, the law says you have rights. For example, imagine your friend was driving you home and he suddenly changes lanes with no signal, causing an accident. He may be your friend, but you do not share any of the fault in the accident. You can file an insurance claim for 100% of your costs.
Who pays for the passenger’s costs?
Normally neither driver will have to pay anything out of pocket. In Washington, all car owners are required to carry insurance, and your costs will be paid by the insurance policy of the driver who was at fault. This is why we encourage you to file a claim even if the driver was someone you know.
Have you been involved in an accident? Premier Law Group offers a free consultation with some of the most experienced and respected personal injury lawyers in Washington. Fill out the form to your right or call us at 206-285-1743 to get your FREE consultation today.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.