When you ride in a car that suffers a crash, you may wonder, “What are my rights as a passenger in a car accident?” Under state law, you may have various legal avenues to seek financial recovery for the expenses or losses arising from the injuries you sustained in a car crash. An experienced car accident lawyer can review the facts of your case to help you determine what rights you may have to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim If I Was Injured as a Passenger in a Car Accident?
As a passenger in a car that crashes in Alabama, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim against various parties, depending on the circumstances of the accident. For example, when another negligent or reckless driver hits the car you are traveling in, you may have a personal injury claim against that driver and, if the driver causes an accident while driving for work, the driver’s employer.
Suppose the car accident occurred due to a design or manufacturing defect in your vehicle or another vehicle that caused the crash. In that case, you can also pursue a personal injury claim against the vehicle or auto part manufacturer.
You might also wonder about your ability to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver of the vehicle you are traveling in. Under Alabama’s guest passenger law, you cannot bring a personal injury claim against the driver of that vehicle except under specific circumstances.
How Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Injured as a Passenger?
In passenger accident claims, you may recover compensation for various financial and personal losses arising from the injuries you suffered as a passenger in the crash, such as:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, mobility equipment, and physical therapy
- Long-term disability care expenses, such as home health care or home renovations to install disability accommodations, if your car accident injuries result in prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Lost wages/income from the time you miss from work while recovering from your injuries
- Lost future earning capacity if you become disabled from your job or other work
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
You can recover compensation from another driver who caused the car accident. However, your ability to recover from the driver of your vehicle will depend on meeting specific requirements, including:
- You paid the driver for the ride, such as when hiring a livery car or hailing a taxi or rideshare vehicle, or
- The accident occurred due to the driver’s willful or wanton misconduct, which may involve reckless driving or choosing to drive while intoxicated.
Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
After getting injured in a car accident as a passenger, you may have the right to seek financial compensation for your medical bills, long-term disability care, and lost wages/earning capacity. Contact Parker Trial Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our car accident attorneys to learn how Alabama car accident laws may affect your financial recovery after a motor vehicle crash.
