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(314) 500-HURTDo you know what to do when you’re injured in an auto accident as a passenger? Cases will differ depending on the
circumstance and relationships, but injured passengers have rights. You deserve compensation from the negligent
driver or drivers to allow you to move past your injuries. To obtain the compensation you deserve as a passenger
injured in a car accident, you will likely need a skilled car accident lawyer such as Gary Burger and the Burger Law team.
Burger Law has recovered millions of dollars for car accident victims. We work relentlessly until the negligent party
is held to account and the insurance company provides the settlement our client needs and deserves. Speak to us
about your case today for free at 314-542-2222.
Things can seem confusing for the passenger in a car accident. It is very unlikely that, as the passenger, you have
any fault in the events that led to the accident. If you didn’t do anything wrong and you were injured, you should
be allowed to seek compensation for damages. But who is paying for those damages? How do you pursue them?
You may have multiple options when you’re injured as the passenger in a car accident. Who is liable for your injuries
and how you receive coverage depends on who is at fault for causing the accident and how you are related to them.
It is important to remember that, immediately after the accident occurs, you may not know for certain who is at fault
for the accident. Even if you believe one driver was completely responsible, it is prudent to collect the contact
and insurance information of all parties or drivers involved in the accident. This ensures that, when the time comes
to file a claim, you are able to file against the right parties.
If you were riding in the car with someone and another driver causes an accident, you could have a claim against the
other driver’s insurance policy. This is a third-party claim on the other driver’s liability coverage. However, this
claim is limited by the driver’s policy limits. Policy limits have both a per person maximum as well as a per
accident maximum. So if you are not the only person injured in the accident, it is likely that you will not receive
compensation equal to the value of your claim.
If you were injured in an accident caused by the driver of the car you were in, you could have a claim against your
driver’s insurance policy. Missouri and Illinois are both tort states and, unlike no-fault states, they do not
require all drivers to have a personal injury protection (or PIP) or medical payments insurance plan. For drivers
who do not carry this coverage, your claim as a passenger will be through their bodily injury coverage.
If you were the passenger while a family member or member of your household was driving, some policies might consider
you as a covered individual and therefore would not allow you to file a third-party claim. However, in the Missouri
case of State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. C. v. Ballmer, it was
established that this exclusion of coverage for family members is not enforceable up to the state’s minimum
liability coverage requirements. In other words, if you are the passenger of a family member who is driving at the
time of the accident, you have the right to pursue a claim of up to the policy limit minimum.
Currently, Missouri has the following liability limit minimums:
You may be able to file claims against both drivers’ insurance policies in the case of an accident where both drivers
are found to have a percentage of fault. This is the case in both Missouri and Illinois because both states are
comparative fault states. If an accident occurs where one driver is primarily at fault but the other driver also
contributed to the accident when it could have been avoided, both drivers may be assigned a percentage of blame or
fault. If one driver was 85% responsible for the accident while the other driver was 15% responsible, as the
passenger you are allowed to pursue 85% of your damages from the first driver and the remaining 15% from the second
driver.
The last possible remedy for you as a passenger is to file a claim with your own insurance company. Many people are
resistant to this idea, but it may still be a significant option to consider in your situation. It is actually quite
affordable, does not require deductibles, and is unlikely to raise your premium rates. Your own insurance will
particularly help if you carry optional medical payment–or Med Pay–coverage or underinsured motorist coverage.
These plans will help fill in the gaps left by the policy limits of the drivers’ insurance policies when your
damages exceed those limits.
If you are injured while riding in a vehicle as a passenger, it is important that you are aware of your rights and
options for compensation. To understand where to file your claim and to get the full compensation you deserve, you
need a reputable car accident law firm on your side. The team at Burger Law is experienced in even highly complex
and difficult car accident cases. We understand car accidents and are not afraid to demand what you are owed.
Let us help you with your accident and get you the damages you deserve. Take the first step by sending us a message or giving us a call at 314-542-2222 right away. Our lawyers are available to speak to you about your case
for free and begin fighting for your compensation.
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO
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