Do You Know Your Recovery Rights As An Injured Passenger?

Whether you step into someone else’s vehicle as a friend catching a ride, a coworker carpooling, or a rideshare passenger, you rarely think about what happens if there’s an accident. Yet passengers are often the most vulnerable people on the road. They have no control over the vehicle, but they can suffer the same serious injuries as drivers when a crash occurs.

The good news is that Florida law provides protections for injured passengers. To learn more, connect with a Miami personal injury lawyer. Understanding your recovery rights can make all the difference.

Passengers Often Have Valid Claims

As a passenger, you are rarely considered at fault for a car accident. This means you typically have a strong basis to pursue compensation for your losses. Depending on the circumstances, your claim may involve the driver of the vehicle you were in, other drivers, or both.

In Florida, all drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. But passenger injuries often exceed PIP limits, making it necessary to pursue additional claims.

Although passengers typically have strong legal footing, claims are not always straightforward. Here are a few scenarios that may complicate your recovery process:

• Friendship concerns. A passenger may hesitate to file a claim against a friend or family member’s insurance, even though the claim is handled by the insurer, not the individual directly.
• Rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft carry liability policies, but coverage depends on whether the driver was actively transporting a passenger, waiting for a ride request, or off-duty. Determining which policy applies can be challenging.
• Multiple injured passengers. When several passengers are injured, the available insurance coverage may not be enough to fairly compensate everyone.
• Disputed liability. In crashes where both drivers point fingers, passengers may be stuck waiting for fault to be resolved before their claims move forward.

For instance, if a passenger in a Lyft suffered serious injuries when another driver ran a red light, both the rideshare driver’s policy and the at-fault driver’s insurer will be involved, creating a lengthy dispute over coverage. Or, if a passenger is riding with a coworker on I-95 and is hurt when the vehicle is rear-ended, the passenger may initially hesitate to file a claim out of loyalty to their coworker.

Protecting Your Rights as a Passenger

If you’ve been injured as a passenger in Miami, don’t assume the process will be simple. Insurance companies may minimize your injuries, delay payments, or dispute coverage. Having a talented Miami personal injury lawyer on your side ensures that your claim is taken seriously and that all possible avenues for recovery are explored.

Is the thought of moving forward with a passenger injury claim causing you stress? The attorneys at Spencer Morgan Law advocate for injured passengers every day. If you were riding with a friend, using a rideshare, or simply catching a ride with someone when you were injured in an accident, you have rights. Reach out to learn how an attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call 305-423-3800 to book a confidential consultation.