It’s not just the drivers of the vehicles involved in road traffic accidents, but also the passengers that can suffer injuries.
As a passenger in a car accident, in most cases you will be eligible to make a claim. Compensation that can be claimed includes for pain, suffering and loss of amenity and other losses including medical expenses, travel costs and any loss of earnings that have been suffered as a result of the accident.
A lot of people who have been injured as a passenger in an accident are hesitant to pursue a claim, if the vehicle that they were in was being driven by a friend or family member. It is however important to remember that the compensation obtained from any claim is paid from the driver’s insurance company and not directly from their pocket.
If you are aware when getting into the vehicle that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and they crash as a consequence, you may still be able to make a claim but the amount that you will obtain will be significantly less. If you were unaware that the driver was over the limit, this will not have any effect on the compensation amount.