Injured in a Car Accident as a Passenger? Here’s What to Do

A passenger who has been injured in a car accident may make a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance and recover compensation for their medical bills and other losses. A passenger who was riding with the driver who caused the crash might be reluctant to file a claim against a friend’s insurance. But auto liability insurance is required in Kentucky so that money will be available to pay the medical bills of people injured through no fault of their own.

You need to speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to have a clear understanding of your rights. The Kentucky auto accident attorneys of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help you seek compensation if you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident that was not your fault. Our personal injury attorneys have recovered more than $300 million for people in Kentucky who were injured when other people’s negligence caused preventable harm.

Call Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer at (877) 809-5352 or reach out online as soon as possible after a car accident to set up a free legal consultation. Find out how the legal team known for its Kentucky Courage can help you move forward.

Protect Your Rights as a Passenger Injured in a Car Accident

Immediately after a car accident, there are important steps to take, if you are able, to protect your right to compensation. Among the first steps should be to seek medical attention and speak with a knowledgeable injury lawyer to understand your rights as an injured passenger. As a passenger injured in a car accident, you should get a copy of the accident report and the information exchanged by the motorists involved.

• Contact an attorney. A knowledgeable attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help you understand your rights as a passenger injured in a car accident. We can determine which insurance policies provide coverage for your injuries and other losses.
• Contact police. This is required by Kentucky law if a car accident has caused injury, death, or $500 or more in damage to vehicles and/or other property.
• Get a copy of the accident report. A state trooper or local law enforcement officer should investigate the accident and file a report. Once it has been filed, obtain a copy of the police report. Police will request the names and addresses of the drivers and vehicles’ owners, vehicles’ registration numbers, insurance information, and names and contact information for passengers in each car. You should get this information.
• See a doctor. If you do not go to the hospital by ambulance from the accident scene, you should see a doctor within 24 hours for a medical evaluation. There are serious traumatic injuries that don’t always cause symptoms right away, including potentially deadly head injuries. Records of your medical care will document the fact that you were injured in the car accident and not by something else later.
• File an insurance claim. File for your medical expenses and other benefits you are due under health insurance or, if you are a car owner, under basic reparations coverage, which auto liability policies sold in Kentucky must include. Basic reparations coverage, sometimes called personal injury protection, is no-fault insurance that pays the policyholder for their medical expenses, a portion of their lost income, and more. The personal injury protection policy of the owner of the car in which you were a passenger also may provide coverage of your medical bills.

Our attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can review the specific details of your car accident and determine the insurance coverages that apply to you as an injured passenger.

Car Accident Involving Uber or Lyft? Here’s What to Know

If you were injured while in a rideshare vehicle (Uber, Lyft, etc.), then you may need to make a claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance coverage before involving Lyft or Uber in the claims process.

If the at-fault driver works for Lyft or Uber, you must first make a claim with their auto insurance carrier. If their coverage does not pay for all of your compensable losses, you can then file a claim with Uber or Lyft directly.

If the driver at fault for an accident was in a separate vehicle, you must file a claim against their insurance.

Our attorneys can review the specific details of your accident and identify the insurance policies that apply to you as an injured passenger in a rideshare vehicle.

Can Auto Insurers Claim the Passenger in a Car Accident Was At Fault?

It sounds implausible, but an insurance company might argue a passenger was at fault for an accident and their own injuries if the passenger:

• Took control of the vehicle, such as by grabbing the steering wheel
• Rode with a driver who the passenger knew or should have known was impaired by alcohol, drugs
• Distracted the driver
• Physically obstructed the driver, such as by grabbing their arm, covering their eyes, or injuring the driver.

Schedule a Free Case Review with Our Experienced Car Accident Attorneys

Call a Kentucky car accident lawyer at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer as soon as you are able if you have been injured while riding in someone else’s car. During the initial consultation, we’ll tell you how we see your car accident claim and how we can help you pursue full compensation for your losses as a passenger in a car accident. If we can move forward, we will handle your claim on a contingency basis. We won’t charge a fee unless we recover money for you.

We have offices in Lexington, Somerset, Hazard, London, Manchester, Princeton, Paintsville, and Paducah and take cases from across Kentucky. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we’ll provide the Kentucky Courage you need to stand up to insurers and get through this tough time.

Contact a Kentucky car accident lawyer ready to help you now at (877) 809-6889 or online.

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