Passengers and drivers share the risk of suffering serious injuries in a collision. In 2017, car accidents across the country resulted in more than three thousand deaths to passengers and left 20,000 more with incapacitating injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
If you sustained an injury or lost a loved one as the passenger in a motor vehicle accident, you may seek compensation from a few different parties, including:
- The driver of the vehicle in which you traveled.
- The driver of the other vehicle in the accident.
- A car manufacturer.
- A safety equipment manufacturer.
- A municipality.
Vehicle collisions can result from the negligence of one or more drivers. When this happens, the negligent driver may bear responsibility for any injuries or losses suffered by the victims or families of victims.
Some forms of driver negligence include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Speeding.
- Changing lanes abruptly or without signaling.
- Engaging in distracted driving, such as making a phone call, texting, monitoring social media, eating, or drinking.
- Disobeying the laws of the road in any way.
You may also have a case against vehicle manufacturers or individual parts manufacturers if vehicle equipment such as brakes or airbags did not work properly. A city may bear responsibility for a lack of proper signage on a road, for example.
If you or a loved one were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision, you may qualify for financial awards from the liable party or parties. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation.
