If you have obtained terrible injuries as a result of being a passenger in another person's vehicle, you have a right to make a claim for compensation. It is not necessary to be in the driving seat in order to make a claim. If the vehicle you were in collided with another vehicle, you can make a passenger accident compensation claim.

Most likely you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is the driver's responsibility to make sure that the passengers are safe at all times. The driver should be driving carefully and this applies to other road users as well. This is why when an accident occurs, the passenger has a strong legal basis for being able to make a claim.

Making a claim against the driver

If you were involved in a vehicle accident as a passenger and obtained terrible injuries, you should bring forward a claim, even if the driver is someone you know. You should remember that as long as the driver has basic car insurance cover, and third party insurance, he or she will be covered for liability for injuries to other people in the car (including passengers), liability for damage to other people's property and liability for injuries to the occupants of other vehicles.

You may be feeling hesitant about making a claim against a close friend or family member, however you should note that your actions will not bear any negative repercussions on them. Most likely they will be making a claim on their insurance anyway, and their insurance provider will be liable to pay any compensation that you receive.

You should bear in mind that you are not just limited to making a claim against one driver only. If more than one driver was responsible for the negligence that ensued, which resulted in you becoming injured, then you can make a claim against both of them.

It should be borne in mind that the amount of compensation you receive will be affected by whether or not you were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Your compensation may be reduced if you were not wearing one, so be prepared for this.

The driver making the other driver accountable too

If the driver is aware that a claim is being brought against him or her, then the driver can request that the driver of the other vehicle be also held accountable for the collision. This is advantageous for the driver as bringing the other driver into the equation it may help reduce the amount of compensation he or she might have to pay. This way each driver is responsible for paying their proportion of the compensation to the victim.

Passengers are often distraught in the aftermath of a car accident. In most situations it happens so quickly that it is difficult to witness what actually happened. This is particularly applicable for passengers travelling in the back of the vehicle due to limited vision. It is best that you seek legal advice from our solicitors if you have been involved in an accident as a passenger. This way you will know your options and the right way forward.