When a car accident occurs, multiple parties could be involved. There may be more than two cars involved, or perhaps a pedestrian was injured. On top of this, passengers can also be involved in car accidents. If you were a passenger in a car accident, you might be wondering how much money you could receive when filing a personal injury lawsuit. Working with a legal team like the law offices of Brown & Gessell is the best way to ensure you are compensated appropriately.
Because every car accident case is different and injuries sustained will vary for each party involved, it is difficult to estimate your compensation for a potential claim for damages.
Passenger Rights
As a passenger, it is easy to feel helpless after an accident – you may be left wondering if you can even file for compensation if you were not driving. Luckily, when it comes to car accidents, passengers have the same rights as drivers.
This means that passengers can file a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim to recover compensation for their losses. After assessing your injuries and seeking medical attention, contact an attorney to discuss your case.
While there is no set amount of money that a passenger can anticipate for the injuries they sustained in a car accident, there are a variety of factors that come into play that can help you estimate your compensation.
In general, the average settlement amount varies depending on the severity of your injuries and the insurance of the at-fault driver.
Factors Involved in Compensation
There are two primary factors that influence how much compensation you can expect to receive as a passenger in a car accident.
Medical Expenses
If you are injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for all of your medical expenses. If you need to spend time in the hospital or undergo any procedures as a result of the car accident, you can expect this money back.
Examples of medical expenses you may be able to gain compensation for include:
- Ambulance fees
- Overnight hospital visits
- Surgeries and procedures
- Medications and prescriptions
Wage Losses
Any financial losses you suffer from due to the car accident can be compensated, including wages lost due to missing work as you recovered.
Medical evidence is typically required to establish a wage-loss claim.
Minor Injury Accidents vs. Major Injury Accidents
A car accident where you sustain minimal injuries is of course the best-case scenario, but as a claimant, you will likely only receive compensation within the range of a few thousand dollars.
If the injuries you sustain in a car accident as a passenger are major, however, the amount of money you receive can go up. In fact, when injuries are on the more severe side, you could be looking at compensation upwards of millions of dollars for your medical bills and pain and suffering.
