Injured as a Passenger? Your Rights and How to File a Claim

Posted November 10, 2025 | Personal Injury Blog

Being a passenger during an accident can be one of the most frightening experiences imaginable. You trust the driver to get you to your destination safely, but when a collision happens, you’re left with injuries, confusion, and a lot of unanswered questions. Who pays for your medical bills? Can you file a claim against the driver or another vehicle involved?

In this article, we’ll explain:

• What to do immediately after an accident as a passenger
• How liability and insurance work in passenger injury cases
• The types of compensation you can recover
• How a car accident attorney or rideshare accident lawyer can help you file and manage your claim

At Fielding Law Auto Accident Attorneys, we help passengers across Texas and Utah recover the compensation they deserve after serious vehicle accidents, whether it’s in a personal car, rideshare, or public transportation vehicle.

What To Do After an Accident as a Passenger

If you’re injured in a crash, what you do in the minutes and hours afterward can make a big difference in your recovery and your legal case.

1. Call 911 – Report the accident to police and request medical assistance.
2. Document the scene – Take photos of the vehicles, injuries, and surrounding area.
3. Gather driver information – Get the names, phone numbers, insurance details, and license plates of all drivers involved.
4. Collect witness contacts – Statements from neutral witnesses can strengthen your claim.
5. Seek medical attention – Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask serious injuries like internal bleeding or concussions.
6. Avoid talking about fault or posting online – What you say can be used against you by insurance companies.

Once you’re safe, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to begin protecting your rights.

Who Is Liable for Passenger Injuries?

As a passenger, you’re rarely at fault for a crash. The challenge lies in determining which party (or parties) are responsible for compensating you.

Possible liable parties include:

• The driver of the vehicle you were in (if they were negligent or distracted)
• Another driver who caused the collision
• A rideshare driver (Uber or Lyft)
• A commercial vehicle operator, such as a delivery truck or bus driver
• In rare cases, a vehicle manufacturer if a defect contributed to the crash

Depending on the circumstances, your car accident attorneys may pursue claims against one or more insurance companies.

Filing a Passenger Injury Claim

Passenger injury claims are usually handled through insurance, but the process depends on the at-fault driver and the type of vehicle involved.

1. Filing Against the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance

If another driver caused the accident, your injuries are covered under their liability policy.

2. Filing Against the Driver of Your Vehicle

If the driver you were riding with caused the crash, you can file a claim with their insurance. This may feel uncomfortable if it’s a friend or family member, but remember, you’re filing against their insurance company, not them personally.

3. Filing Through Rideshare Coverage

If your accident happened in an Uber or Lyft, the rideshare company may provide up to $1 million in liability coverage for passengers. A rideshare accident lawyer can confirm whether Uber or Lyft’s coverage applies to your case.

4. Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If insurance coverage is insufficient or denied, your attorney may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Common Passenger Injuries

Passenger injuries often vary depending on where the passenger was seated and the severity of the crash. Common examples include:

• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal bleeding
• Emotional trauma and anxiety

These injuries can result in high medical costs and long recovery periods, especially if you were in a truck accident or catastrophic injury incident.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

As an injured passenger, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses: Hospital visits, therapy, surgeries, and long-term care
• Lost income: Wages missed while recovering
• Pain and suffering: Physical and emotional trauma
• Permanent disability or scarring

• Loss of enjoyment of life

In fatal cases, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral costs and loss of financial support.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies may seem friendly, but their goal is to minimize payouts. Adjusters might try to blame multiple drivers to delay payment or reduce your settlement.

That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced car accident attorney handling communication on your behalf. Fielding Law attorneys deal directly with insurers, gather evidence, and ensure you’re not pressured into accepting a low settlement.

Why Choose Fielding Law Auto Accident Attorneys

At Fielding Law, we’ve built our reputation on protecting accident victims, including passengers who are often overlooked in the claims process. Our firm helps clients by:

• Investigating all possible sources of insurance coverage
• Coordinating medical evaluations and expert testimony
• Negotiating aggressively for full compensation
• Taking your case to court when necessary

We also handle related cases such as motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and drunk driving crashes.

Contact Fielding Law Auto Accident Attorneys

If you were injured as a passenger in Texas or Utah, you have the right to pursue compensation, regardless of who was driving. Don’t let insurance companies complicate your recovery or delay your claim.

Let Fielding Law Auto Accident Attorneys handle the details while you focus on healing.

Texas Offices:

• Mesquite: 18601 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway Suite 315, Mesquite, TX 75150
• Heath: 4232 Ridge Rd #104, Heath, TX 75032
• Richardson: 2221 Lakeside Blvd, Suite 1600, Richardson, TX 75082

Utah Office:

• Taylorsville: 4179 South Riverboat Road, Ste 150, Taylorsville, UT 84123

Call Fielding Law today for a free consultation, because it’s not about us. It’s about you.