MOTOR ACCIDENTS - PASSENGERS

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident and you were a passenger (whether in a car, truck, bus, van, taxi, or any other vehicle), you should seek legal advice about pursuing a claim for compensation. You may be entitled to compensatory payments for physical and emotional damage that results from a motor accident that is caused by somebody else. Even if the driver of your vehicle was at fault, you may still be able to claim some motor accident compensation.

If you were not wearing a seatbelt, you may still be able to obtain compensation, however, at a reduced rate. Your compensation may also be reduced if you knew, or ought to have known that the driver of the vehicle you were in was unfit to drive, say for example, they were intoxicated.

This area of law is quite complex as differing schemes apply in different States. We cannot possibly cover all the different scenarios here. A solicitor can look at the particular facts in your case, and advise you of your rights.

Passengers in motor accidents often suffer severe injuries, despite wearing a seatbelt and the presence of airbags. Consider for example the front passenger involved in a collision. Without a seatbelt and airbags, facial and head injuries may occur if there is contact with the windscreen during the collision. Even where a seatbelt is worn, the front seat passenger may suffer rib injuries, injuries to the chest and related internal organs (heart, lungs) if their body hits the shelf of the front seat. Side impact collisions can also result in skull fractures, and damage to the ribs and pelvis.

High speed collisions may result in major trauma. Brain damage, paraplegia or quadriplegia may be devastating for the individual, physically and emotionally. Permanent disabilities will often create ongoing needs- medical expenses, treatment and rehabilitation, personal care, assistance with activities of daily living.

The purpose of compensation is to provide financial assistance for those injured by an accident. Depending on where the accident occurred, the relevant legislation may provide for certain injuries and disabilities to be compensable. If you are not sure whether you can make a claim, you should seek legal advice.

Whether you have suffered minor or major injuries, injuries which have settled, or injuries which are permanent, a solicitor can advise you whether you have any recourse under the law to compensation entitlements.

Our panel of  personal injury solicitors are experienced in acting in all types of road accidents - head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions, roll-over collisions.

A personal injury solicitor can tell you whether you can claim for such things as loss of income, medical, hospital and pharmaceutical expenses, assistance with domestic activities and personal care.

LEGAL HELPLINE: 1800 352 100