How Much Money Can a Passenger in a Car Accident Receive?

If you or a loved one suffered injuries as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, you likely have many questions about the potential compensation available. 

As frightening as a car accident can be, passengers do have specific legal rights to recover damages when another driver causes the collision. However, determining realistic a settlement range involves numerous factors.

Proving Liability and Fault of the At-Fault Driver

After any car accident, establishing legal liability and negligence is crucial for injured passengers seeking compensation. Liability refers to the legal responsibility for damages caused by someone’s negligence or carelessness. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the collision to determine if their policyholder bears responsibility.

Police reports, eyewitness statements, and physical evidence from the scene often prove invaluable when identifying the primary cause of the crash. In some multiple-vehicle accidents, several drivers may share liability depending on their respective actions leading up to the collision. 

Comparative negligence laws in Florida allow injury victims to recover damages even if they share partial fault, but any settlement will be reduced proportionally by the claimant’s percentage of blame. 

An experienced personal injury law firm can help build the strongest argument that the other driver’s negligence directly caused the passenger’s injuries.

Documenting Your Injuries From the Car Accident

Unlike drivers, passengers rarely anticipate or prepare for the trauma of a collision. Calling 911 and promptly seeking emergency medical care not only addresses any health or safety needs but also establishes vital evidence for any future injury claim. 

Maintaining thorough records related to hospital and doctor visits, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, and follow-up appointments will help verify accident-related impacts like physical pain, limited mobility, cognitive issues, or psychological distress.

Under Florida law, accident victims can recover damages for both economic and non-economic losses.

• Economic damages cover tangible monetary costs such as:
  • Medical bills
  • Lost income due to missed work
  • Property damage or loss of use
  • Home/vehicle modifications
  • Other reasonable expenses tied directly to the injuries sustained
• Non-economic damages attempt to compensate for harder-to-quantify but very real harm like:
  • Bodily injury
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Inconvenience
  • Reduced quality of life

Documenting all monetary costs enables your car accident attorney to seek fuller compensation through insurance negotiations or personal injury litigation.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

After thoroughly investigating the accident circumstances and verifying the extent of confirmed injuries and expenses, your attorney can demand reasonable compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer. However, insurance companies naturally seek to minimize payouts whenever possible. 

Common negotiation tactics that insurance companies deploy can include:

• Delaying communications and dragging out claims
• Disputing the severity of injuries
• Attempting to attribute preexisting conditions as a primary or contributory factor to injuries
• Making extremely low opening offers

An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to present convincing evidence to maximize settlement offers without overinflating unsubstantiated damages. Settlement amounts should adequately cover all medical care, lost earnings, and any other current and future accident-related impacts.

Many injury claims are successfully resolved through the negotiation process between legal counsel and the insurance companies. Still, passengers do have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit if warranted. An attorney can advise on the amount of money a passenger may reasonably expect to receive after being involved in a car accident. Deciding whether to accept an insurer’s supposed “final offer” or to take legal action depends on the unique merits of each passenger claim.

If Your Claim Goes to Trial

If negotiations with insurers fail to produce an adequate settlement offer, then filing a claim may prove necessary. Lengthy litigation can be inconvenient, stressful, and expensive, but could also potentially increase the financial recovery for passengers injured in a car accident.

The civil litigation process formally begins when a plaintiff, typically the injured party or their attorney, files a complaint in court that outlines the circumstances of the accident, the injuries sustained, and the requested damages. Extensive exchanges of information, witness depositions, expert testimony, and other case preparation may eventually lead to trial before a judge or jury. 

Passenger claims involving clear liability, severe losses, and life-changing impacts can often yield higher damages. However, the final court verdict could vary significantly from the amount that even the most experienced attorneys might expect.

Get the Help You Deserve After Being Injured in a Crash

Filing a personal injury claim presents enough challenges without trying to handle it alone. The experienced attorneys at Purely Legal understand how devastating and complex these situations can be. 

Proudly serving injury victims throughout Florida, their attorneys evaluate your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand all your legal options. With experience securing fair compensation for clients just like you, Purely Legal has the expertise to handle your car accident claim. 

Contact their team now and take the first step toward the closure and justice you deserve.