I Was a Passenger in a Car Accident, Who Do I Sue?

If you were a passenger injured in a California car accident, you may be able to sue the driver who caused the crash, the owner of the vehicle, an employer, a rideshare company, or another party whose negligence contributed to your injuries.

The right defendant depends on how the collision happened and the relationships between the people and businesses involved. If you’re wondering, “I was a passenger in a car accident, who do I sue?”, we’re here to help.

Fowler | Helsel | Vogt has 40 years of combined experience helping injured people seek compensation after accidents. If you were hurt as a passenger, call a Fresno car accident lawyer 24/7 to discuss your circumstances and learn who may be responsible for your injuries.

Who Can I Sue After a California Car Accident?

As a passenger, you generally are not responsible for causing the accident. California law may allow you to pursue compensation from one or more parties whose negligence caused your injuries.

If you are unsure who may be responsible, seeking legal help from the personal injury attorneys at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt can help you understand your options and address this issue within California’s legal system.

The Driver Who Caused the Accident

The most common defendant in a passenger injury claim is the driver whose negligence caused the crash. This could be the driver of the vehicle you were riding in or another motorist involved in the car crash.

For example, if the driver of your vehicle was speeding, distracted, or driving while impaired and caused the collision, you may have a personal injury claim against that driver. If another motorist ran a red light and struck your vehicle, that driver’s negligence may provide the basis for your claim.

The Driver of the Vehicle You Were Riding In

Being a passenger does not automatically prevent you from seeking compensation for your personal injury, even if you know the negligent driver.

This can sometimes feel uncomfortable when the driver is a friend, family member, or coworker. However, an injury claim generally involves pursuing available insurance coverage for damages caused by the accident.

You should not assume that knowing the driver means you cannot seek legal help or compensation.

The Vehicle Owner

In certain circumstances, the owner of a vehicle may be legally responsible for injuries caused by a permitted driver. California law recognizes a claim against a vehicle owner when the owner gave the driver permission to operate the vehicle and the driver was negligent.

Our personal injury attorneys can review the circumstances to determine whether the vehicle owner may also be responsible.

An Employer

If the driver who caused your accident was working at the time, the driver’s employer may be responsible for injuries caused by the driver’s conduct. This can apply in situations involving commercial vehicles, delivery drivers, company vehicles, and other work-related driving.

Determining whether an employer is legally responsible requires examining what the driver was doing at the time of the collision and the relationship between the driver and the company. This can become an important legal issue when seeking compensation for personal injuries after a car crash.

A Rideshare Company

If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, additional insurance issues can arise. The insurance coverage available may depend on whether the driver was waiting for a ride request, traveling to pick up a passenger, or transporting you at the time of the accident.

A rideshare passenger should preserve information about the trip, including the ride receipt and details shown in the rideshare application. Our car accident attorneys can examine the circumstances and applicable insurance coverage to determine which parties may be responsible.

A Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer

In some car crashes, the driver’s conduct is not the only potential cause of the accident. A defective vehicle or vehicle component may contribute to a collision or make injuries worse.

If a defective tire, brake system, seat belt, vehicle air bag, or another component contributed to your injuries, a product liability claim may potentially be available against a manufacturer or another responsible business.

Gathering evidence and obtaining appropriate medical treatment can be important when pursuing this type of personal injury claim.

A Government Entity

Sometimes dangerous road conditions contribute to a collision. A poorly designed roadway, defective traffic signal, inadequate signage, or other dangerous condition could potentially create liability.

Claims involving government entities can have additional requirements and deadlines. If you believe a roadway condition contributed to your passenger injuries, discuss the circumstances with our personal injury attorneys promptly to determine whether you may have a claim.

What If Both Drivers Were at Fault?

California uses a comparative negligence system, which means fault can be divided among parties. If multiple drivers contributed to your injuries, you may be able to pursue claims against more than one responsible party.

For example, suppose you were riding as a passenger when the driver of your vehicle and another driver both contributed to the crash. Evidence from the accident may help determine how responsibility should be allocated.

As the passenger, you may not have caused the accident at all. At Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, our car accident attorneys can investigate the circumstances rather than assuming that only one driver is responsible.

What Insurance Covers an Injured Passenger?

California requires drivers to maintain financial responsibility, and standard auto policies currently have minimum bodily injury liability limits of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident.

However, minimum insurance limits may not be enough to cover serious injuries. Depending on the circumstances, additional insurance coverage may be available through another driver’s policy, the vehicle owner’s policy, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

California’s Department of Insurance explains that uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage can provide protection for injuries to you and passengers when the at-fault driver lacks insurance or does not have enough coverage.

What Compensation Can a Passenger Recover?

If another party’s negligence caused your injuries, Fowler | Helsel | Vogt may be able to seek compensation for losses related to the accident. Our personal injury attorneys can review your losses and explain what compensation may be available under California law.

Medical Expenses

Compensation may include emergency treatment, hospital care, medication, physical therapy, surgery, and other reasonable medical expenses caused by the crash. Following recommended medical treatment can also help document the nature and extent of your injuries.

Lost Income

If your injuries prevented you from working, you can pursue compensation for lost wages. Serious injuries may also affect your ability to earn income in the future.

Pain and Suffering

A passenger may experience significant physical pain, permanent limitations, scarring, or other lasting effects after a collision. Compensation may account for the impact these injuries have on your life.

Other Damages

Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve additional losses related to the accident. The severity of your injuries, expected recovery, and other facts can affect the damages available.

If you are dealing with a personal injury after a California car crash, legal help can make it easier to understand your rights and options within the legal system.

Contact Fowler | Helsel | Vogt After a California Passenger Accident

If you were a passenger in a car accident and are wondering who you can sue, it depends on the circumstances of the crash. You may have a claim against the at-fault driver, another driver, a vehicle owner, an employer, a rideshare company, a manufacturer, or another responsible party.

Fowler | Helsel | Vogt has been helping injured people pursue compensation after accidents since 2010. If you were injured as a passenger, call a Fresno car accident lawyer 24/7 to discuss your case and learn who may be responsible for your injuries. Visit our blog to learn more about starting a lawsuit.