Pittsburgh Car Accidents: What If I’m the Passenger?
If you suffered injuries as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident, you may wonder about your rights and options for pursuing financial compensation for your injuries. Fortunately, injured passengers may have several avenues for seeking compensation to help pay for their recovery.
Steps to Take After Your Driver Gets Into An Accident
When the vehicle you’re riding in is involved in a collision in Pittsburgh, taking prompt action can protect your rights to compensation as an injured passenger. Steps you should take following a car crash include:
- Report the accident to law enforcement and obtain a copy of any police crash reports
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Follow all treatment recommendations and recovery instructions
- Obtain copies of your medical records of your treatment and physical therapy
- Notify your insurance providers about the accident to request medical benefits or other applicable coverage
- Keep all bills, invoices, receipts, and pay stubs to calculate your financial losses from your injuries
Finally, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash to learn more about your options for seeking financial recovery as an injured passenger.
Options for Obtaining Financial Recovery
In Pennsylvania, an injured passenger may have several avenues for recovering compensation for expenses or losses, depending on who was at fault for the car accident. First, a passenger may have the right to recover compensation for medical expenses under their own or their driver’s medical benefits coverage. All car insurance policies in Pennsylvania must include at least $5,000 of medical benefits coverage, although policyholders can purchase higher coverage limits.
An injured passenger’s right to sue an at-fault driver may depend on whether the passenger’s policy providing coverage has a limited or full tort option. A limited tort option allows an injured passenger to sue for financial losses not covered by insurance. However, it generally precludes them from seeking compensation for non-financial losses like pain and suffering.
There may be some exceptions, though. For example, if the passenger suffers a qualifying “serious” injury, they can sue the at-fault driver to recover compensation. They may also be able to file a claim against the other driver if they were impaired, were operating a vehicle registered in another state, intentionally caused the accident, or lacked insurance.
If the passenger’s policy has the full tort option, they may file a lawsuit to recover all their economic and non-economic losses.
Deadlines for Filing Car Accident Claims
Under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, an injured passenger typically has two years to file a lawsuit to recover compensation, although specific exceptions may extend the deadline. However, when a state or local government vehicle causes a car accident, state law requires the injured passenger to give written notice of their car accident claim to the relevant government agency within six months of the crash. The law also limits the government’s financial liability for car accidents.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
After suffering injuries as a passenger in a Pittsburgh car crash, you may have the right to seek financial recovery for your injuries and losses. Contact Ainsman Levine, LLC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced attorneys to discuss your legal options.