Being a passenger during a car accident can be terrible, and recovering from it might be complex. In Minnesota, passengers may be eligible for compensation. It can be especially difficult if you’re a close friend or family member of the driver, but our attorneys are skilled at managing such cases with sensitivity and discretion. If you were in a car accident, Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. will represent you to ensure you get the compensation you deserve so that you can recover with less stress. Contact our lawyers today, and we can start working for you.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Receive as a Passenger?
If you were the passenger in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. These funds could cover financial and non-monetary losses. As a passenger, you have just as much legal right to recover damages after an accident as the vehicle’s driver.
Medical Expenses and Ongoing Care
After an accident, your compensation can cover medical expenses such as hospital bills, appointments, emergency room visits, rehabilitation, and medication costs. It can also cover cases where your injuries are severe and require long-term or ongoing care.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
You can recover lost wages if you need to take time off work after an accident or if your injuries prevent you from returning to work.
Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Distress
After your accident, your life can dramatically change, and there can be more than just physical injuries. These non-economic damages can cover mental or physical pain and suffering, inconvenience, scarring or disfigurement, emotional anguish, loss of quality or enjoyment of life, loss of a spouse or family relationship, or companionship.
These can be some of the most impactful aspects of an accident, and you deserve a fair calculation for your pain and suffering damages. An experienced car accident attorney can help you determine the amount to claim based on your case, so you recover the compensation you deserve.
Steps To Take After a Car Accident as a Passenger
You should prioritize your well-being and document as much as possible if you were a passenger in a car accident. Every step after a car accident can potentially strengthen any claim or legal cases you could pursue. After an accident, remember these steps.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
No matter how minor your injuries might seem at first, always seek medical attention after a crash. Some injuries can take days or weeks to show symptoms, and getting a medical assessment after an accident is in your best interest.
Getting medical attention after can also help prove claims that your injuries were caused by the accident. Even if someone says you seem okay, or the driver says they will not get a medical evaluation, you should prioritize yourself and your health.
Gather Contact and Insurance Info From All Drivers
Even as a passenger, it’s important to collect the driver’s contact and insurance details right away. This is often the easiest time to get accurate information, and it’s essential for any insurance or legal claim. If you were in a rideshare, make sure you protect your own interests by gathering this information immediately.
Keep Records of All Medical Treatment and Expenses
After your initial medical evaluation, keep all documents from the appointment, follow your doctor’s instructions, and seek follow-up appointments to show the impact of your injuries. All appointment paperwork, diagnostic reports and prescriptions you acquire after the accident should be kept for evidence when you pursue a claim.
Speak to a Minnesota Car Accident Lawyer
Being a passenger in an accident in Minnesota can present specific challenges when making a claim, and having an attorney guide you through the legal process can help you avoid insurance delays or low settlement offers. You deserve a car accident attorney who will fight for what you deserve and advocate for your best interests.
How Long Do Injured Passengers Have to Sue After a Car Accident in Minnesota?
In most cases, you have six years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Minnesota, under the state’s statute of limitations rules. Wrongful death cases must be filed within three years of the death, and if a government entity is involved, you must file a Notice of Claim within 180 days. Missing these deadlines can prevent you from recovering compensation. You must file your case within the time frame, or you will lose your right to compensation.
How Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. Helps Injured Passengers Recover
Being involved in an accident can dramatically change your life. You deserve compensation if you were in an accident as the vehicle’s passenger, and you deserve an experienced car accident attorney to represent your interests.
At Milavetz Injury Law, P.A., we put our clients in Minnesota first and will do all we can to protect their rights and secure justice. Our lawyers have over 60 years of knowledge and experience in personal injury, investigating accidents, gathering evidence, interviewing, and putting together strong cases for our clients.
Our clients are trying to recover from life-changing incidents, and we will handle all the legal details so you can get better. It can also be difficult if you are close friends or family with the driver, but our attorneys also specialize in family law and know how to handle cases with care and discretion.
Contact Our Minnesota Car Accident Attorneys Today
We’ve successfully handled complex cases with passenger claims and will always protect your best interests, no matter how complicated your case may be. If you were a passenger in a car accident, Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. is here to represent you and your legal rights and will do all we can to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact our attorneys or call our Brooklyn Center office at 763-560-0000 for your free consultation today.
