Rights of a Passenger Involved in a Drunk Driving Incident

Did you suffer passenger injuries while riding in a vehicle involved in a drunk driving accident in Maryland? If so, you have rights and options to pursue financial compensation for what you’ve suffered. Our experienced car accident lawyers can help you assert them. 

Navigating Passenger Rights in Drunk Driving Incidents

Asserting your passenger rights begins with reporting the car accident to law enforcement and obtaining a copy of the police crash report for your insurance and legal claims. You can also protect your rights by seeking prompt medical attention and following your doctor’s treatment plan and recovery instructions. Putting off treatment may negatively affect the strength of your injury claim.  

Are Passengers of Drunk Drivers Eligible for Compensation After Accidents?

Passengers in vehicles involved in drunk driving crashes may have the right to seek compensation from the intoxicated driver and other motorists at fault for the crash. Even the passengers in the drunk driver’s vehicle may have a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. However, specific circumstances may complicate pursuing compensation from the driver, such as when the driver and passenger are related or household members or when the passenger got into the car aware of the driver’s intoxication. You need an experienced attorney from our law firm to counter the insurance company’s attempts to shift blame to minimize your payout.

Insurance Solutions for Passengers Injured in Drunk Driving Incidents

Insurance coverage provides legal options for drunk driving car crash victims seeking compensation for their injuries and losses. In Maryland, auto insurance providers must offer policyholders at least $2,500 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which compensates them for medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault for the accident.

Although policyholders can waive PIP coverage for themselves, they usually cannot waive coverage for passengers in their vehicles. As a result, passengers injured in drunk driving accidents can turn to the driver’s insurance to seek compensation for at least a portion of medical expenses and lost wages. Injured passengers also may have the right to pursue compensation claims against a drunk driver by filing a claim against the negligent driver’s liability insurance coverage. 

If the impaired driver lacked insurance coverage or had insufficient insurance, an injured passenger may be able to recover compensation through their own auto policy’s uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. You can count on our attorneys to thoroughly review your case and pursue every available avenue for recovering compensation. 

Why You Need an Attorney Who Focuses on Drunk Driving Cases

Pursuing compensation for injured passengers after drunk driving accidents can become a complex endeavor. Hiring an attorney experienced in handling drunk driving accident claims can give you the best chance of obtaining a financial recovery by:

• Assessing your options during a free consultation
• Gathering evidence to establish liability
• Showing that you were not partially responsible for your own injuries
• Engaging in settlement negotiations with liable parties and insurance companies to seek a fair settlement
• Going to court as necessary to assert your passenger rights in a car accident case

Consult with Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys for a Complimentary Claim Evaluation 

Get the help you need to pursue legal recourse as a passenger injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver. Contact Cohen & Dwin, P.A., today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced car accident attorney to learn more about passenger rights in drunk driving accidents.