Know Your Rights as a Passenger
You’re never expected to get into a car with someone you don’t trust, but even close friends and family make mistakes behind the wheel. As a passenger, it may seem like there is little to nothing you can do if your vehicle is involved in a collision. However, since passengers are more likely to suffer from serious injuries than the driver, it is crucial to have a better understanding of your rights when riding with someone.
Right to Compensation for Injuries
One of the most important things to know is that you always have a right to seek compensation for any injuries sustained in an accident. This means that any medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. are within your legal right to gain compensation over.
Unlike other states that have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage or Medical Pay (MedPay) that can be included in your insurance to cover this circumstance, Illinois relies on the driver’s own liability coverage for medical bills. Should you be involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, they could face more consequences for your injuries.
Right to Pursue Legal Action
Since you have a right to compensation for injuries following an accident, you also have the right to pursue legal action against the drivers involved. Motorists must uphold a duty of care when on the roads, and if either driver in the collision failed to do so or were negligent in their actions, you have a right to take legal action. Learn more about how McNabola & Associates, LLC can help with this.
Does This Change with Rideshare Services?
In short, no. Rideshare services require their drivers meet a certain criteria in order to get the job, so you should be at the same if not better comfort levels when riding with one. There is an extra level of protection here, however, in that both the rideshare company and individual driver can face legal action for being involved in an accident, especially if injuries are present.
Along with this, most of the well-known companies that provide these pseudo-taxi services have forms on their websites where you can file a complaint against their drivers for poor driving or report one for an accident. When filing a claim or lawsuit for a crash involving one, it may be best to obtain a copy of this and any other crash report for your records.
Your Right to Safety Matters - We Can Help
McNabola & Associates, LLC has been serving Chicago and surrounding areas for decades. Our founding attorney, Ted McNabola, hasn’t lost a case in 12 years and will work tirelessly to provide you with winning representation. If you or a loved one was the passenger in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in injuries, call (312) 888-8700 to schedule a consultation today.
