Passenger Rights in a Serious Car Crash
The big difference between the driver and the passenger is a liability. If you are injured as a passenger in an accident and it was the fault of the driver of the vehicle you occupied, you can pursue compensation. Likewise, if the driver of your car was not at-fault for an accident and you sustained injuries you again can pursue compensation. In both scenarios, you as a passenger don’t have to deal with liability for the crash and the related fall-out that comes with it.
In the state of Wisconsin, the aftermath of a car accident is governed by the modified comparative negligence system. This means that each party in an accident can have a certain percentage of fault. Anyone who is injured and looking to recover costs for their damages must be under 50% liable. When the final settlement is calculated and distributed, then you will obtain that amount minus the amount you were deemed at-fault.
For example, as a driver, if you were deemed to be awarded a settlement for $100,000 but you were found to be 20% at-fault, you would receive $80,000. As a passenger it is different. When there are multiple parties responsible for a passenger’s injuries they both have to compensate for those damages. So in the same scenario, if you are deemed to have suffered $100,000 in damages as a passenger then the driver that was responsible for 80% of the crash would be responsible for $80,000 paid to you while the driver responsible for 20% of the crash would be responsible to pay you $20,000.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are notorious for trying to skirt their responsibility to victims. They will try anything possible to reduce the amount they pay you or try to get out of their obligation to pay you altogether. When you have a Wisconsin automobile accident attorney on your side, you will have a better chance to obtain a fair settlement for all that you had to endure.
Where To Find An Automobile Accident Attorney In Wisconsin
When you need the most compensation for your damages hiring the right legal team with the most experience in successfully executing cases on behalf of car accident victims in the sate is important. Alexander J. Smith is a Janesville personal injury lawyer with more than 18 years of pursuing personal injury cases. I am dedicated to providing fast, aggressive, and client-focused service.
The Janesville serious accident injury lawyers at Alexander J. Smith Law Offices are here to talk to you about your accident during a free consultation. Call us today at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 2439686 for residents of Illinois.