Car Accident Passenger Claims – How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

If you’re a passenger who’s been hurt in a car accident because of negligence by another party, you may be eligible to make a car accident passenger claim for compensation.

We are here to help if you have been injured as a car passenger and would like to review your options. Our team provides free legal advice and a no-obligation assessment of your chances of being compensated. If your case appears to have strong grounds, we could refer you to one of our personal injury solicitors. Importantly, they’ll provide a No Win No Fee service if they agree to represent you.

If you would like to start a car accident passenger claim right away, please call us on 0800 6524 881 today. Otherwise, please read on to learn more about the claims process.

Am I Eligible To Make A Car Accident Passenger Claim?

To be eligible to make a car accident passenger claim, you’ll typically need to prove:

• The party you’re claiming against owed you a duty of care;
• Their actions or negligence caused the accident; and
• You suffered injuries as a passenger in the accident.

In many passenger accident claims, proving that a duty of care existed is fairly straightforward. The more important issue is usually proving how the accident happened, who was at fault and how your injuries were caused.

Can I Claim If The Driver’s Uninsured?

Yes, if you’re injured in a hit-and-run car accident or where the driver is uninsured, you could still be entitled to compensation through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). This is an organisation funded by a levy on motor insurers. Therefore, don’t be put off from contacting us for this type of claim.

Common Causes Of Car Accident Passenger Claims

Some common causes of car accident passenger claims include:

• Careless or reckless driving by any motorist.
• Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Incidents involving road rage.
• Drivers distracted by their phone, sat nav, or radio.
• Accidents at roundabouts or junctions.
• Being rear-ended by another vehicle.
• Accidents involving buses, taxis or delivery vans.

As a passenger, it usually doesn’t matter whether your injuries were caused by the driver of the car you were travelling in or another road user. If you were not responsible for the accident, you could be entitled to compensation.

Common Injuries Suffered By Passengers In Car Crashes

Generally, car passengers have just as much chance of being injured as the driver in a crash. Some common injury claims involving passengers hurt in car crashes include:

Please get in touch today if you’d like us to review your chances of being compensated, even if your type of injury isn’t shown above.

*A Note On Claiming Whiplash Compensation As A Passenger

Passengers who’ve suffered whiplash following a car crash could be eligible to claim whiplash compensation for their suffering. However, in 2021, the government made changes to the claims process.

An online portal has been set up where you can deal with claims valued at less than £5,000 yourself. Due to the government’s changes, it is not cost-effective for our solicitors to help with these types of claims.

We would suggest calling us about your claim so we can help you understand what you could claim for. If we believe your claim value exceeds the threshold, we’ll ask one of our personal injury solicitors to speak with you. If not, we’ll refer you to the claims portal instead.

Evidence To Support A Car Accident Passenger Claim

To help prove how the car accident happened, who was at fault and how you were injured as a passenger, you should try to gather as much evidence as possible. This could include:

• Photographs of the accident scene. Ideally, these should be taken before any vehicles have been moved.
• A police report or incident reference number, if the police attended or the accident was reported to them.
• Details of any witnesses who saw the car accident happen. If necessary, your solicitor might contact them for a statement later on.
• Information about the other driver and their vehicle. This should include contact details, registration plate number and insurance details.
• CCTV or dashcam footage of your accident. You will usually need to request footage quickly as it might get wiped.
• Your medical records and X-rays from the hospital, GP or minor injuries unit that treated you.
• A diary of events relating to the car crash and the impact it’s had on you. It’s a good idea to record any expenses you’ve incurred and also note the dates that your injuries stopped you from working.

As part of our free review of your claim, we’ll look through any evidence you’ve already collected. Therefore, having as much ready as you can when you get in touch will be helpful.

How Much Compensation Do Passengers Injured In Car Accidents Get?

There isn’t a fixed amount of money a passenger injured in a car accident would get in a successful claim. This is because the type and severity of injuries sustained can vary significantly, and so can compensation.

Compensation for passenger injuries is generally divided into two main types of damages:

• General damages compensate for pain, suffering and the impact your injuries have had on your quality of life.
• Special damages compensate for financial losses caused by your injuries, such as lost income, travel expenses, medical costs and care costs.

Each claim is unique, but as an injured car passenger, you could claim compensation for:

• Physical and mental harm (including PTSD from a car crash).
• Any loss of income resulting from your injuries.
• Any loss of amenity, e.g. where your injuries stop you from participating in your usual hobbies or activities.
• The costs associated with somebody caring for you.
• Any travel expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injuries.
• The cost of repairing or replacing personal items damaged in the car crash.
• Future income loss for long-term injuries that reduce your earning capacity.
• The cost of making changes to your house or vehicle to improve your quality of life if you’re left with a disability.

The differences between both general and special damages are explained in more detail here.

Passenger Injury Compensation Calculator

To get some idea of compensation amounts for common injuries that passengers in car accidents might suffer (for general damages), you can use our compensation calculator below:

As part of the car accident passenger claims process, an independent medical report is usually required to try to ascertain the full extent of your injuries. Your solicitor will usually be able to book a local appointment with a medical expert, so you won’t need to travel too far.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Passenger Accident Claim?

While it’s possible to file a passenger accident compensation claim without a solicitor, having professional legal support can significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome. A solicitor brings expertise in gathering strong evidence, negotiating with insurers, and ensuring that all relevant factors are considered to secure the full compensation you’re entitled to.

A solicitor can also handle important parts of the claim, such as arranging medical assessments. If liability is admitted, they may also be able to request an interim payment before the claim settles. This could help fund private medical treatment or cover urgent costs while your passenger injury claim is ongoing.

With a specialist car crash solicitor managing your case, you’ll have the reassurance that each stage of the car accident passenger claims process is handled professionally, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

Time Limit For Claiming Passenger Injury Compensation

In most cases, you have 3 years to start a car passenger accident claim. This will usually begin from the date of the car accident, although exceptions can sometimes apply.

For example, if a child is injured as a passenger in a car crash, the 3-year time limit does not usually begin until their 18^th birthday. Before then, a parent, guardian or another suitable adult could claim on their behalf as a litigation friend.

Where an injured passenger lacks the mental capacity to claim, the time limit is usually suspended unless they regain capacity. A litigation friend may be able to claim on their behalf while they are unable to manage the claim themselves.

We’d recommend getting free legal advice from our car crash solicitors as soon as possible to check you still have time to claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve answered some common questions on car passenger accident claims.

Starting The Car Accident Passenger Claims Process?

If you would like us to review your chances of being compensated and potentially start the car accident passenger claims process today, please feel free to get in touch on 0800 6524 881.

If your case is accepted, it will be handled on a No Win No Fee basis. That means you won’t have to pay your solicitor’s fees unless you are awarded compensation. All in all, knowing that usually makes the claims process much less stressful.

Thanks for reading our guide to car accident passenger claims. If you require any further information, please call or use live chat to contact us.