Both drivers and passengers suffer severe and sometimes fatal injuries in motor vehicle accidents. When they do, they need to know that they have a right to seek compensation for those injuries and the resulting costs. An attorney can help them seek that compensation.
Vehicle passengers aren’t immune when car accidents occur. In some types of car wrecks, they may be even more likely than the driver to suffer injuries. For example, if the car they were riding in was t-boned on the passenger’s side or rolled onto the passenger’s side. Even though passengers aren’t the drivers, they have the same rights and entitlements as the driver of the car they were in. It’s crucial that they contact a knowledgeable Huntsville car accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident to preserve their rights.
Passengers in car accidents are no less at risk than drivers when it comes to injuries. Common passenger injuries include:
Soft tissue injuries are connective tissue damage that can affect muscles, ligaments, or tendons. They are the most common type of injury in motor vehicle collisions. Whiplash is one example of a soft tissue injury. Passengers often have low and mid-back injuries, including muscle sprains or injuries to the spine. They may sound benign, but they can be very painful and require an extended time to heal.
Head injuries can be on the surface, such as scrapes, bruises, gashes. They can also be closed injuries, ranging from a mild concussion to a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting in permanent brain damage. Passengers who blackout after the accident, even for a short period of time, may have a severe TBI.
Impacts to the body in an accident can cause several different bones to break. Passengers may suffer broken:
Some broken bones may require surgery and physical therapy. Others may take a long time to heal or leave the victim with disabilities.
Chest injuries include bruises, contusions, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and internal organ damage. Airbags and seatbelts and being crushed in the accident can often contribute to chest injuries. These injuries can be extremely painful and even life-threatening.
If you’ve suffered any of these injuries or others as a passenger in a car accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Huntsville car accident attorney to learn more about your rights. Further, we can go over how the claims process works so that you know what to expect, as well as navigate the process on your behalf.
No matter which driver caused the car accident, passengers have the right to recover money for their injuries. Sometimes they can do it by filing a claim against another driver’s car insurance. Other times, it’s through a claim with their driver’s insurance carrier. A Huntsville car accident lawyer can help injured passengers determine their best course of action.
To speak with an experienced Huntsville car accident attorney about your injuries, call Cloud, Ryan & Rouse today at 256-801-1000 or use our online contact form.
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