Car accidents happen quickly and seemingly out of nowhere. One moment, you are enjoying a car ride to your next destination, and then next, you are horrified by the situation at hand.
As a passenger, you are caught in the middle with no control over what happens next. You are in a terrible wreck, leading to injuries, confusion, and substantial property damage.
Being a car passenger during an accident leaves many victims with questions: who is liable? Am I entitled to compensation? How do I get help to pay my medical bills?
The reality is that it is possible to recover compensation for damages when you are a passenger in a car accident.
If you were a passenger who was hurt in a car accident, you do not have to file for compensation alone. With the help of the legal team at Bert McDowell Injury Law, you can expect the kind of legal support and representation you need until you receive a satisfactory settlement.
Contact us today to discuss your case when you schedule a free initial case review. Call (203) 590-9169 or visit us online and complete our form to get started.
Hire a Bridgeport Passenger Injury Attorney
Bridgeport residents know that driving a car is part of everyday life. Whether you drop your children at school, work, or simply run errands, using a car is likely the most accessible form of transportation available to you.
But convenience sometimes comes at a price. With so many on the road at any given time, the chances of being involved in a car accident are great.
Fortunately, you do not need to approach the claims process alone. With the support and guidance from your passenger injury attorney, you may be able to recover more compensation than you were expecting.
Working with a Bridgeport car wreck attorney is one of the best decisions you can make for positive results from your claim. Car accidents can be complex events in which different parties might be involved and at fault, creating unprecedented nuances that victims typically do not expect.
The services provided by a passenger injury attorney are:
- Representation throughout your case
- Industry knowledge and resources
- Accurate and full valuation of all damages, past and future
- The capacity to review evidence and construct a solid claim
- The ability to negotiate on your behalf
- The grit to fight for your case in court
Common Causes of Car Accidents Affecting Passengers
Passengers don’t ask to be put in harm’s way when riding to their destination, yet others on the road can injure them when they act negligently. Common causes of car accidents in Bridgeport that lead to passenger injuries include the following:
- A drowsy driver
- Drivers with illegal levels of alcohol and drugs in their system
- Poor weather conditions
- Reckless and aggressive drivers
- Large commercial vehicles
Car accidents sometimes are not caused by one contributing factor but multiple. Negligence is often involved in one way or another, leading to injuries that the sufferer should not legally have to pay for.
Proving Liability
Car accidents may have more than one party responsible for your damages. They may be the person driving the car you were in, other drivers, and even potentially governmental agencies.
An experienced Bridgeport personal injury attorney knows what to look for when approaching a passenger injury case, including reviewing police reports, photos, and video and analyzing the evidence to prove the parties who are held responsible for your injuries.
In passenger injury cases, your claim must prove the following:
- Another party was responsible
- The association of your injuries with the accident
Below are some of the common parties named in a passenger injury claim.
Ridesharing Companies and Drivers
Other parties, such as ridesharing companies and drivers, may be responsible. Both ridesharing companies and drivers must carry insurance before bringing any passengers on board. However, approaching rideshare companies with an insurance claim may not initially work out as one would hope. These cases require significantly more strategy and negotiation, as these companies are known to either deflect the blame to someone else and refuse to pay or to offer significantly less than what your case deserves.
Drivers
When you enter someone else’s car, they assume reasonable responsibility for your safety. Actions like swerving, speeding, and aggressively driving are potential contributors to a crash and, in some cases, the sole reason.
If they were driving recklessly in a way that created a dangerous environment for you to be in and you were hurt, they hold liability for your injuries.
In addition, if the other party’s driver contributed to these behaviors, they will also be liable for any injuries associated with the accident.
Governmental Agencies
Local and federal government agencies are responsible for maintaining roadways, keeping them free of snow, ice, debris, and potholes. Yet, when these duties are not performed efficiently or effectively, it opens the gate to car accidents, injuries, and expensive property damage.
Filing for compensation to local governmental agencies, like the Connecticut DOT, is possible online.
When negotiating with the government, there will likely be a couple of additional steps before you can receive compensation. In addition, not one single agency owns the roadway.
Their agreement and ownership can vary between the state, local county, and Bridgeport. Claims to government agencies may carry their own complexities that are best approached with the help of a seasoned passenger injury lawyer.
Types of Injuries Seen in Passengers
Car accidents do not favor one occupant over another. Injuries are sustained depending on where you are in the car if you are wearing a seatbelt, and where you are sitting from the point of impact.
Passengers facing injury during a car accident may experience:
Passengers may encounter more than one type of injury. Depending on their seat in the car and other factors that may influence the severity of their injuries.
Broken Bones
The force of a crash makes it easy for someone to break a bone. Human bones are strong and tolerant, but when the right amount of sudden force is applied, it is too much for the bone to handle, leading to a break.
Victims may break their arms, legs, wrists, or ankles as they stiffen in anticipation of coming into contact with another car or obstacle. The force of the crash may send passengers flying against the sides of the car that took the impact, further increasing their chances of breaking a bone in the process.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissues are the human muscles, and in a car accident, they may face an exceeding amount of strain as the car they are in collides with another. Muscles impacted by the force of the crash may be affected by sprains, strains, and tears, creating long recovery periods with extensive therapy and possible surgery.
If the victim requires surgery, there is a chance for scarring and visible disfigurement where they performed the surgery, leading to lifelong reminders of what happened and what it cost the victim.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
What makes head injuries more dangerous than other is that it typically is not present at the scene of the accident. Whether you have a minor traumatic brain injury (concussion) or one that is more severe, you may not show symptoms until hours or even days after the accident.
Victims often present symptoms of a TBI through sudden changes in their sleep schedules, cognitive function, personalities, and ability to focus as usual. An additional layer of complexity is added to the situation when there is no possible way to self-diagnose the condition, and it requires a trip to the emergency room and multiple scans to confirm a diagnosis.
Cuts, Burns, and Bruises
Cars are filled with oils and flammable materials that may ignite after a car accident. As much as manufacturers design their vehicles with passenger safety in mind, a collision creates the perfect circumstances for fires and exposure to chemical burns.
Fortunately, cuts and bruises go away with minimal medical intervention. However, burns are more dangerous and require many months to heal and years to see a reduction in scarring.
As a result, victims may require surgery and skin grafts and face future disfigurement for the rest of their lives.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries endured by people involved in car accidents. The force of the collision and subsequent sudden stop creates severe strain on the neck and upper back muscles, leading to stiffness, pain, and limited mobility.
Victims with whiplash often seek help from a physical therapist and over-the-counter pain medication to assist in alleviating the symptoms that often last for weeks.
Our Bridgeport Passenger Injury Law Firm Is Here to Help You
Were you hurt in a car accident as a passenger? Being in a car accident is terrifying for all involved. Depending on the severity of the crash, you may experience pain from cuts, bruises, broken bones, and even burns.
Passengers may face uncertainty as they are unsure how to approach the situation when they need compensation for their injuries, medical bills, loss of working hours, and more. Car accidents happen when we least expect them, but even if you were not driving the car, you may have the right to seek compensation for your injuries from the negligent party.
At Bert McDowell Injury Law, our team is here to help. We start all our potential clients by
scheduling a free initial consultation, where we complete a case review and provide insight on how to approach your claim. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your initial appointment.
You may reach us at (203) 590-9169 or online when you submit our form.
(203) 690-1030
