When you are involved in a car accident, a number of things might flash through your mind. You might be worried about the pain of your injury. You might be concerned about what you will do about work the next day. You might even be afraid of the costs you will have to deal with when you have a long-term injury. What’s also important, though, is that you think about who is at fault. While the incident might be called an accident, there’s nothing innocent about it. You need to hold the person who was responsible liable for the injuries that have occurred, even if that person was the driver of the car in which you sat.
A Question of Liability
When a car accident occurs and more than one party is involved, there’s always a question of liability. The court must determine not only if an injury occurred due to the accident, but also who was at fault. In most cases, it’s very clear that one part or the other was the person who caused the accident. In your case, only one thing will be immediately clear – you are not the person who is at fault. You may be injured, but you did nothing wrong. The onus should now fall on the liable party.
If the driver of your car is the person who caused the accident, it’s only right that he or she should be the person who pays the price. You are injured, just as the person in the other vehicle is injured. If it was a single car accident, you may well be the only person who has paid for your driver’s inability to follow the rules of the road. If the driver broke the law or otherwise caused you to be injured, it’s only fair that he or she be held responsible. Under the law, that responsibility should extend to paying for your medical bills.
Removing Relationships
It can be very difficult to bring a suit against the person who was driving your car. In most cases, there is a pre-existing relationship between two parties if they are in a car together. You might feel a certain degree of loyalty to him or her, especially if he or she is already involved in a suit with another person. You might even feel like suing him or her is just piling on his or her misfortunes. You should remember, though, that the driver felt no so loyalty to you when he or she injured you.
It’s also important to remember that you’re suing not because you have something against the driver, but that you need to be taken care of. You deserve to be made whole, and it is the driver’s responsibility to do so. If the driver is properly insured, you won’t be going after his or her bank account – you will be forcing his or her insurance to do the right thing. If the other driver isn’t willing to take care of you out of the goodness of his or her heart, you may have to force the issue in court.
Dealing With Multiple Drivers
It’s also a good idea to look at the driver of your vehicle as responsible for your injury in a situation in which multiple people are at fault. If you go after the driver of the other vehicle and he or she is found to be minimally responsible for the accident, you might find that your medical bills are the ones that won’t get paid. In fact, one of the worst moves you might make is looking at the wrong party for help.
In fact, you might look at suing the driver who was in your car as a method of insuring yourself against the eventual legal actions taken by the other parties. If they settle, for example, you probably won’t be included in that settlement. The driver will doubtlessly be looking out for his or her own interests, and you should do the same. You can also bring a suit against the other party, which should give you a better chance to hold someone liable for the injuries that you have suffered.
You have the right to sue the driver of the car in which you were injured. If there was only one car involved in the accident, this will be your only chance to have your injuries covered. If there were multiple cars involved, this will be the best way for you to ensure that you are taken care of when the fate of both drivers is decided. Remember, you have a duty to care for yourself over anyone else when you are involved in a car accident. If you are a passenger, you are not the person at fault – and you shouldn’t have to pay the price for someone else’s mistakes.