Don’t feel guilty about claiming as a passenger against the driver

Passengers are sometimes forgotten when discussing compensation claims and road accidents in general, including their exposure to dangers on the road.

In the last week, there have been many road accidents that have hit the headlines which have left passengers with serious injuries and even fatalities, including a male passenger who suffered back injuries and had to be cut free from a car in Gloucester, an elderly passenger who has life threatening injuries following a crash in Harewood and tragically a coach crash in Devon which caused two passenger fatalities and has left seven passengers seriously injured.

As a passenger, good road safety also applies and it is a legal requirement to buckle up and wear a seat belt when in the front or back of any vehicle to ensure your safety. Furthermore, pillion motorcycle passengers should also wear the recommended safety equipment such as helmets leathers, gloves and adequate footwear. The key is to ensure you’ve done everything possible to safeguard yourself from injury in a road accident situation.

As a passenger, most road accidents occur through no fault of your own; in most cases the accident has been caused by the driver’s negligence of the vehicle you are in, or due to the driver of another vehicle that has caused the crash.

Therefore it’s important to know that you can get legal help in making a compensation claim should you be injured as a passenger in a road traffic accident.

Many people do not realise they can make a claim against the driver of the vehicle they are in, even if the driver is someone they know, for example a husband or wife. People can feel guilty or do not realise they have a right to make a claim for their injuries; however compensation will be paid by the driver’s insurance company and not the driver themselves.

Other examples can include:

• If you were the passenger in a car driving by a friend, other family member or work colleague who was at fault for the accident.
• If you were the passenger in a car that was not responsible for causing the accident, the claim will be made against the other driver.
• If you were the passenger in a public or private transport vehicle, such as a bus, coach or taxi that has been involved in a crash (whether caused by the driver or another road user).
• If you were the passenger in a van, lorry or you were a pillion passenger on a motorbike.

Contact Information

D Cobourne

SEO Executive

Hitsearch Limited

Contact via E-mail