What Passengers Should Know About Being Injured in a Car Accident
A grim article published by the Orlando Sentinel indicates that a passenger died in a recent accident on I-95 in Volusia after the driver lost control of the vehicle. For reasons that remain unclear to authorities, the 31-year-old driver of the Lexus the victim was riding in traveled to the center median during the late night incident, where the right side of the SUV apparently struck a tree. Sadly, the 36-year-old Edgewater woman who was riding in the passenger seat was pronounced dead at the scene.
What Kinds of Injuries Can a Passenger Incur in an Accident?
The good news is that not every accident involving a passenger has such tragic results. However, this doesn’t change the fact that passengers can be some of the least faultworthy and most seriously impacted victims of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Becoming injured in an accident is unfortunately quite common – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have asserted that Americans spend more than 1 million days in the hospital each year as the result of crash-related injuries.
Passengers can incur a wide range of injuries in a car accident such as:
- Whiplash
- Cuts and lacerations
- Fractures and broken bones
- Punctures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Temporary or permanent paralysis
- In the worst cases, even death
Should I Contact an Attorney?
In many circumstances, yes. As a passenger, you may assume that you are not to blame for the accident. However, being involved in an automotive accident can be a confusing and traumatic experience and knowing that someone else is most likely at fault does not make it any clearer what your next actions should be. In addition, insurance companies often do not agree about which driver is liable for the accident and things may have occurred so quickly that even you are not exactly sure of what happened. All of this is completely normal. At a time when things are confusing, one thing that should stand out is that you may also be entitled to compensation from a negligent or reckless driver.
Your first obligation following an accident should always be to visit a medical provider who can assess and treat your medical needs. Afterward, you should consult with a personal injury attorney who can examine the circumstances of the accident to determine which driver and their insurance company should be held financially accountable for the injuries you incurred because of the accident.
Have You or a Loved One Injured While Riding as a Passenger in Someone Else’s Car?
Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough without having to figure out all of the hurdles you have to jump through in order to recover for your injuries. Instead, you should allow someone else to deal with the nuances of your personal injury claim while you focus on recovering from your injuries. As Orlando personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm, we are committed to helping accident victims and their families maximize their compensation which we understand can help ease the burdens left in the aftermath of an accident. Reach out today for a free initial consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Miami, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-passenger-dies-accident-interstate-95-driver-lost-control-20200313-5odj3bdmcbanfblizg4dg5sqbe-story.html
https://www.pendaslaw.com/legal-options-for-injured-pedestrians/
