Jason Stephens | August 11, 2020 | Wrongful Death

Many factors could be involved in a single car crash, such as:

Whenever a passenger dies in a car accident, the person’s family may have a wrongful death claim against the person that caused the accident. That person could be the driver of the vehicle that the deceased was a passenger in at the time of the crash. Another motorist or a third party may be to blame for the cause of the crash.

Until law enforcement officers complete the accident investigation, the family does not know who to blame for the cause of their loved one’s death. A wrongful death lawyer may need to conduct an independent investigation to identify all potential defendants before filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

In most cases, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date of death. The surviving spouse, children, and parents of a family member may file a wrongful death claim.

Filing Personal Injury Claims for Passenger Injuries

Passengers can sustain traumatic injuries in a car accident. In most cases, passengers are not to blame for the cause of the accident. Unless a passenger acted negligently and contributed to the cause of the crash, the passenger should be entitled to full compensation of damages from the parties who caused the accident.

As with a wrongful death claim, the passenger may have injury claims against one or more parties. The driver, another motorist, a trucking company, an automobile manufacturer, and a government entity are just a few of the parties that could be liable for the passenger’s damages.

Proving fault for the car accident involves gathering evidence to prove how the accident occurred. Evidence that an injury lawyer might use to prove fault and liability include:

  • Traffic camera footage
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Physical evidence from the accident scene
  • Video from nearby surveillance cameras
  • Photographs taken of the accident scene
  • Medical records for the passenger
  • Expert testimony from accident reconstructionists and other professionals
  • Data retrieved from the vehicle’s systems or black box
  • Cell phone records for all parties involved in the crash

After the parties who caused the accident are identified, the passenger can proceed with a personal injury claim to recover compensation for injuries, damages, and losses.

How Much is a Passenger Injury Claim Worth?

The value of a passenger injury claim depends on the facts and circumstances of the crash. In most cases, a passenger injured in a traffic accident can recover compensation for damages including:

  • Medical bills
  • Personal care costs
  • Loss of income and benefits
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disabilities and impairments
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Diminished earning potential

The value of the damages depends on things such as the severity of your injuries and the amount of financial losses (medical bills and lost income) you incur because of the accident. If you sustain a permanent disability, your claim could be worth more because of future lost wages, personal care, and medical care.

However, the value of your car accident claim may be limited to the amount of insurance coverage for the other party. If the driver has minimum state insurance requirements, you may only receive $30,000 for your claim. 

A car accident lawyer can explore other options for recovery if the at-fault party does not have insurance or the insurance coverage is not sufficient to pay your claim. 

Contact Our Wrongful Death Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.

Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000