What Should I Do If I Was a Passenger in a Car Accident?
Whether you’re a driver or a passenger, being involved in any car accident can be frightening and overwhelming, especially if you suffered injuries. You may not have been driving, but that does not mean you do not have a right to seek compensation. If you were a passenger in a car accident in Reading, you should determine who was responsible for the crash so you can pursue compensation for the accident-related losses you incurred.
However, dealing with the legal claims process is often confusing and time-consuming, particularly while recovering from your injuries. That’s why having a reputable Reading car accident lawyer uphold your legal right to compensation can be invaluable.
What Are My Options For Financial Recovery as an Injured Passenger in a Reading Car Accident?
Fortunately, you don’t need to prove fault for a car accident to pursue compensation because Pennsylvania is a no-fault auto insurance state. As an injured passenger, you just need to show you suffered injuries from the crash and that you deserve compensation. However, depending on the facts of your case, you may need to circumvent the state’s no-fault laws to ensure you receive the full extent of your damages. Here are common sources of compensation you can look into as an injured passenger:
Your Own Insurance Policies
If you have PIP (personal injury protection) or are covered under a family member’s policy, you may seek compensation from any of these policies. However, PIP will only cover medical expenses and lost income. It doesn’t cover emotional distress, suffering, pain, and other non-economic damages. To seek compensation for non-economic damages, you must meet the state’s criteria for serious bodily injury so you can sue the at-fault driver for all relevant damages.
The Other Driver’s Insurance Policy
Because Pennsylvania follows the no-fault auto insurance rules, you are prohibited from taking legal action against the other driver unless your injury meets the serious bodily injury threshold. Broadly speaking, a serious bodily injury is an injury that causes death, permanent serious disfigurement, or serious body or organ impairment.
Your Reading car accident attorney can prove that your injury meets the state’s threshold to get around the no-fault insurance rules and secure the compensation you deserve for all the damages you are eligible to receive under the law. You should also know that your driver and other injured parties may sue the at-fault driver if their injuries also fall under the serious bodily injury category.
Your Driver’s Insurance Coverage
Your driver’s PIP coverage covers medical expenses and lost income for injured passengers, regardless of who caused the accident. If your driver is a friend or relative and you’re hesitant to pursue compensation from their insurer, don’t worry. Your Reading car accident lawyer will handle all communications with their insurer directly.
Let Our Seasoned Reading Car Accident Attorney Protect Your Right to Compensation
With the various compensation sources you can pursue, dealing with the claims process on your own can be daunting. At Fanelli, Evans & Patel, P.C., our Reading car accident lawyer can review your legal options, negotiate with insurers, and represent you in and out of court to secure the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact us online or call 484-869-2113 to schedule your complimentary consultation with our Reading car accident attorney today.