Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
It can be extremely stressful to be a passenger in an automobile accident. It is critical to understand what to do in the aftermath to make sure you get the care you need, safeguard your legal rights, and get justly compensated for your injuries.
Get Medical Care Right Away
The first and most important action after suffering injuries in an automobile accident as a passenger is to seek emergency medical care. It is vital to have your condition assessed by a medical professional, even if you think your injuries are insignificant. Certain injuries may not present themselves right away, but once the adrenaline has worn off from your accident, your condition may worsen.
By obtaining medical attention, you not only prioritize your health and well-being, but also create a written record of your injuries. This documentation will be essential for any further insurance claims or any legal proceedings that follow. Remember to maintain copies of all medical records, bills, and receipts associated with your treatment.
Document Everything
To preserve your rights as an injured passenger, you should gather as much evidence as possible concerning the incident. Start by taking pictures of the accident scene, making sure to capture any visible damage to the involved vehicles as well as any potential contributing road conditions, like potholes, missing road signs, poor lighting, confusing detours, broken guardrails, etc.
You want to make sure to get the names, phone numbers, and insurance information of every person who may be involved. If there were any witnesses to the accident, request their contact information as well. Their statements may be critical for assessing culpability and proving your claim.
While the incident is still fresh in your mind, record your memories of what happened in detail. Provide information on the location, date, time, and weather, as well as any other relevant circumstances that may have played a role in the accident. When you report the accident to your insurance company, these records will come in handy.
What Types of Insurance Claims Can You Make as an Injured Passenger?
One such policy that can help protect you and pay for your injuries is bodily injury (BI) coverage. Generally, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance includes BI coverage. In the event of an automobile accident, the at-fault driver’s BI coverage will be used to compensate the wounded parties, including passengers.
What happens if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover your injuries as a passenger? You can also make an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) claim.
If you are in an accident with a driver whose insurance is either insufficient or nonexistent, UM coverage comes into play for covering all related damages from the incident. UM coverage serves as a safety net, shielding you from the financial strain of an accident brought on by a driver who lacks insurance or has inadequate insurance. Your own UM coverage may kick in to make up the difference if the at-fault driver’s BI coverage is insufficient to cover all your injuries.
Ultimately, there are many different parties that could be held at-fault for your passenger injuries. When this is the case, the insurance parties involved will have to work together to determine the necessary payouts.
Let Us Help You
Filing BI and UM claims can be tricky, which is why you need our Florida Car Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton to help you.
We can guide you through the insurance claims process, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and advocate for your best interests. We will help gather all necessary evidence, assess the full value of your claim, and work through any other issues that may arise throughout the duration of your claim.
You can focus on getting better and healing from your injuries while knowing that your legal matters are being handled by professionals who have your best interests at heart.
Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.