New Haven Passenger Injury Lawyer

New Haven Passenger Injury Attorney

If you were a passenger injured in an auto accident, you should consult with our accident attorneys. You have the right to bring a claim against the friend or relative who owns the car in which you were the passenger. In order to protect your rights and receive all the compensation you deserve from your injuries, you should consult a personal injury attorney at Jacobs & Jacobs. We fight to ensure that those responsible for car passenger injuries in New Haven are held responsible.

Who is Liable in a New Haven Car Accident?

If you’ve suffered a serious injury in a car crash, determining who was at fault during the incident is probably the furthest thing from your mind. However, if you suffered an injury as a passenger involved in an auto vehicle collision, you may need to prove fault to receive fair compensation. In Connecticut, the party responsible for the collision is financially liable for your injuries.

When a driver fails to act with a rational degree of care towards other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, this is deemed as “negligence.” All drivers are required to possess a valid driver’s license and understand the rules of the road. Failure to abide by these conditions can be considered negligence, whether a motorist runs a red light and hits the vehicle you’re in or is talking on their phone while driving. As long as you can prove that the driver of another vehicle was substantially responsible for the crash (51% at fault or higher), you may be eligible for compensation.

Insurance companies oftentimes try to pin the blame on the driver of your vehicle or dispute claims that their client was primarily responsible for the wreck. In these situations, you need our experienced personal injury lawyer in your corner. We’ll thoroughly analyze the details of your case and bring in reputable experts, such as an accident reconstruction team, to provide expert witness testimony regarding collision liability.

What to Do After an Accident

Vehicle accidents can be stressful for New Haven drivers and passengers alike. If you’re involved in a motor vehicle collision, our law firm recommends:

1. Making sure no one is injured: The most important thing to do after a car crash is check for injuries. If you suspect that you, the driver of your vehicle, or another passenger has sustained serious injuries, call for medical help immediately. Even if there are only minor injuries, it’s wise to have everyone involved in the crash visit a doctor as soon as possible.
2. Get yourself out of danger: If the vehicle is still operable, urge the driver to get out of the flow of traffic. If you’re on a highway, get to the shoulder if possible. On a surface street, pull over to the side of the road or into a nearby parking lot. If your vehicle is unsafe or undrivable, seek a safe location while you wait for first responders to arrive.
3. Call 911: When a motor vehicle accident occurs, it’s important to call the police. The responding officer(s) will make an accident report that may help the driver of your vehicle prove they were not liable for the car crash.
4. Contact your roadside assistance provider: If you have roadside assistance through AAA, Progressive, Geico, or another provider, now is a good time to call for help.
5. Call your insurance provider: If you’re a passenger involved in a crash, it’s important to contact your insurance provider as quickly as possible. Most insurance companies require you to contact them within a few days of the accident in order to make a successful claim. If a personal injury lawsuit is necessary, the statute of limitations to file is two years from the day of the collision.

How Jacobs & Jacobs Handles Car Passenger Injury Cases

If you were injured as a passenger in a New Haven car or truck accident, you may have several options to obtain the compensation you need for recovery. Our New Haven passenger accident attorney may be able to assist with:

• Car insurance claim: If you suffered serious injuries as a passenger, you can make a claim against the insurance company that covers the car you were in, if the driver of that car is found to be at fault.
• Your own insurance: If there was insufficient liability insurance coverage for a serious passenger injury, you can often make up some or all of the shortfall by making a claim against your own policy. This will not affect your motorist coverage rates.
• The other driver’s insurance: If a driver in another car was found responsible for the accident, you can make a claim against his or her insurance company.

If you have questions about your rights or your options in a passenger injury case, talk to a New Haven car accident lawyer at Jacobs & Jacobs by calling (203) 777-2300 or by completing our online contact form.