In many motor vehicle accidents, passengers can suffer severe injuries. This can be especially true for back-seat passengers. If you were injured while you were riding in another person’s car, be sure that you hire a Sioux Falls passenger injuries lawyer who knows your rights and can protect them.
At Hoy Law, our Sioux Falls car accident lawyers have a great deal of experience representing passengers, whose rights are often forgotten in car accident claims. We understand the severity of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and other injuries passengers can suffer.
With over 150 years of combined experience, our team knows the best approach to take to obtain a fair settlement for your injuries. Contact us by phone or through our website to schedule a free case review today.
Damages You Can Recover After an Accident
If you were injured as a passenger in a car accident, a Sioux Falls personal injury lawyer can help you recover damages from the liable party or their insurer. The specific damages you are eligible to claim will vary from case to case and depend primarily on the injuries you sustained. In order to recover the full value of your claim, it is critical to identify all the damages that apply.
An experienced Sioux Falls passenger injuries attorney can help you determine which compensatory damages apply and whether you are able to pursue punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover all of your losses that have a clear financial cost. Economic damages include both money you were compelled to spend as well as income you were unable to earn because of your accident. Some of the economic damages most commonly available to injured passengers after car accidents include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Decreased earning ability
Non-Economic Damages
Instead of focusing on your financial losses, non-economic damages are used as a means of compensating you for the losses you incurred that impacted your quality of life. Non-economic damages are often severe and irreplaceable. Some of the non-economic damages most commonly available to injured passengers after car accidents include:
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring and disfigurement
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are only available in rare cases. A judge will only award punitive damages in extreme cases involving criminal negligence or intentional harm.
Unlike compensatory damages, which are used to replace the losses incurred by the accident victim, the purpose of punitive damages is to punish the at-fault party for the role they played in causing the accident to occur.
For a free legal consultation with a passenger injury lawyer serving Sioux Falls, call 605-600-5000
Protecting Your Rights in Complex Passenger Injury Claims
Passenger injury cases can become quite complex. In some cases, the negligent party will be the driver of the vehicle in which you were riding. This can sometimes mean filing a claim against a friend or family member. We can help you manage these often sensitive issues as we seek full justice from the insurance company on your behalf.
At Hoy Law, we have experience with all types of South Dakota passenger injury claims, and our lawyers can help with claims arising from the following types of accidents:
- Rollover accidents
- Single-car accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Head-on collisions
While you may be reluctant to file a claim against the party that was driving the car in which you were a passenger, it is important to remember that it is not personal and that you are simply trying to recover the money you need to ensure your personal well-being.
As long as the driver of the vehicle is properly insured, you will simply need to file a claim with their insurer rather than taking legal action against them personally. An experienced Sioux Falls car accident lawyer can help you discover more about your legal options.
Sioux Falls Passenger Injury Lawyer Near Me 605-600-5000
Don’t Trust Any Insurance Companies Following an Accident
Whether you are pursuing a claim against the insurance provider for the driver of another vehicle or for the driver of the car in which you were riding, it is important to remember that these companies are not on your side. Insurers will go to great lengths to avoid paying out the full value of valid insurance claims.
While an insurance adjuster may act as though they are simply trying to help you along with your claim, the truth is that they are working to find a way to deny or devalue your claim.
Unfortunately, because insurance adjusters are far more familiar with how these cases are handled than the average accident victim, it can be difficult to hold your ground.
That’s why the best thing to do is to decline to speak with the insurer until you have hired a passenger injuries attorney in Sioux Falls. Once you have legal representation, the insurer will no longer be permitted to contact you directly.
Forcing them to deal with your lawyer will ensure they are on an even playing field and give you the best chance of securing fair compensation.
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Contact Us to Schedule a Free Consultation With One of Our Sioux Falls Passenger Injury Lawyers Today
The best way to set yourself up to recover the money you need after suffering injuries as a passenger in a car accident is by securing the services of an experienced attorney. At Hoy Law, our firm has been helping injury victims throughout Sioux Falls for over 35 years. If you were injured as a passenger, we’re here to help.
You can reach us by phone or through our website to schedule a free case evaluation. We will provide a thorough assessment of your claim and give you our best recommendation about how to proceed to ensure a favorable case result.
Call or text 605-600-5000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
