Can I Get Compensation If I Was a Passenger in a Car Accident in New York?

Passengers injured in New York car accidents can get compensation by filing a claim against the at-fault party. Most often, the claim is negotiated with an insurance company. There are different types of coverage available, some or all of which might provide benefits and compensation.

If you were injured as a passenger in a car accident, you deserve attentive, communicative legal assistance. Our New York car accident lawyers will provide the help you need and fight hard to protect your right to just compensation.

What to Do After Getting Hurt as a Passenger in a Car Accident in New York

It is easy to feel powerless if you’re a passenger in a car accident, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your legal rights:

Get Medical Help

One of your first actions after a car accident should be to see a doctor and to make sure everyone else in the vehicle with you gets help as well. This will ensure timely treatment and document your injuries.

Collect Evidence

You will want to take photos of the auto accident scene and your injuries. If your vehicle’s driver has not already done so, get the other driver’s name and insurance information.

Talk to Our Car Accident Attorneys

Our legal team has experience with all kinds of motor vehicle accident cases, including truck accident claims, taxi accident claims, and DUI accident claims. We will contact your insurance company (if applicable), file all paperwork, and relentlessly pursue the damages you are entitled to.

How Do I Get Compensation as a Passenger in a Car Accident in NYC?

If you were a passenger in a car accident, you may have more than one option for pursuing financial damages, depending on your situation. Our car injury lawyers will help you file a claim with the right insurer(s), including:

Your Car Insurance

According to the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), your personal injury protection (PIP) policy, which all drivers are required to purchase, will cover at least some of your financial losses (e.g., medical bills), regardless of whether you were a driver or a passenger at the time.

Your Driver’s Car Insurance

The driver of the car you were in should have PIP coverage as well. Their insurance should also cover your economic losses if you were injured as a passenger in their vehicle.

The At-Fault Driver’s Car Insurance

PIP coverage is helpful but limited. If your injuries are severe, it may not be enough to cover all of your expenses and other losses.

Our legal team will work hard to prove that at least one driver in your crash was negligent. By showing that negligence played a role in your collision, you gain the right to file a claim or lawsuit with the liable party’s insurance company, which enables you to pursue a much wider array of damages.

What Damages Can I Recover After Being Injured as a Passenger in a Car Accident?

The compensation you recover should reflect the nature and severity of your injuries. You could file your claim on the basis of injuries like:

• A concussion or brain injury
• Broken bones
• Burns
• A spinal cord injury
• Organ damage
• Lacerations with scarring

A passenger can recover damages in an auto accident, but the compensation you receive depends on whose insurer you file with. In a PIP claim, you are limited to certain economic damages:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Some out-of-pocket expenses

A personal injury claim allows you to pursue compensation for expenses not covered by your PIP policy, as well as:

• Past and future pain and suffering
• Disability
• Lost union benefits and other job benefits
• Property damage

You can use this money to rebuild your life after an accident.

Call Now for a Free Consultation

Contact Oresky & Associates, PLLC, at (718) 993-9999 for a free, confidential consultation today. Our attorneys are ready to start protecting your rights.

Free Consultation

Why Hire a Lawyer If You Got into a Car Accident as a Passenger?

No matter whose insurance company you file a claim with, their priority is protecting their bottom line. The insurer might try any number of tactics to undermine or undervalue your claim, such as offering a settlement that is too small or asking you to sign papers before you consult with an attorney.

Dealing with insurance adjusters on your own while you are recovering from an injury is often exhausting — and it puts your rights at risk. Our car crash lawyers in New York protect your rights while you focus on receiving treatment.

How Oresky & Associates, PLLC, Helps Injured Passengers

Our New York law firm is committed to seeking the right outcome for each and every client. That includes passengers injured because of reckless drivers. Our past case results include the following payouts for motor vehicle passengers:

• A $2.8 million settlement for passengers injured when a bus rolled over
• A $1.5 million award for a passenger injured in a car accident
• A $1.1 million verdict for a taxi passenger who needed extensive medical treatment

No matter how complex your case is, we will handle it with the compassion you deserve.

Passengers in Car Accidents Are Entitled to Justice

Oresky & Associates, PLLC, provides legal services that make it easier for you to pursue compensation if you were a passenger in a New York car accident. We are not concerned about your legal status: all that matters is that you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve justice.

Contact us today for a free consultation. Our car accident law firm will assist you in English or Spanish, and we will charge no attorneys’ fees until we win.