There is great risk to passengers when they are involved in an auto accident. Even if the driver of the car they were in caused the crash, that in no way means that the passenger was liable. They may be able to seek compensation from that driver after the wreck.
Some people counter this by pointing out that passengers themselves make accidents more likely, especially for teens. While this is true, that type of analysis applies more to the statistical likelihood of a crash than it does to the fault in said crash. For instance, if a driver turns around to talk to a passenger and therefore causes an accident while distracted, that crash is still the fault of the driver and not the passenger.
Serious injuries can happen anywhere
No matter where you’re seated in a car, you could suffer serious injuries. These could include things like:
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Skull fractures
You could also suffer from mental and emotional injuries, such as PTSD. A traumatic accident could make it nearly impossible for you to ride in a car for months or even years.
In some ways, being a passenger may be more dangerous than being a driver. Many types of safety technology focus on drivers — as most miles driven are covered by just a single driver in their own car — and may not help passengers. For instance, a lot of vehicles have airbags in the front seat and the passenger seat, but not in the back.
In fact, some have gone so far as to point out that the odds of death in an accident, which were tradaditonally lower in the back, are no longer lower than the front seat, thanks to the changes in modern auto technology. This is great for drivers, but it leaves passengers more vulnerable than many people realize.
What if you get injured?
If you have been injured in a serious car accident, even if you were just riding in a car that was involved in a crash, you need to know how you can seek financial compensation.