Injured As A Passenger?

Our law firm can help you move forward

Any car accident can be devastating, but we've seen that people who are injured as passengers can have a particularly difficult time moving forward. You may have been seriously hurt, and you had absolutely no control over what happened. These types of accidents may have you feeling lost, powerless, and overwhelmed, especially if your child was the passenger injured. If you were the passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, it can complicate things even further as your accident-related expenses pile up.

The first step toward taking control of the situation is to contact an experienced passenger injury lawyer at Lawter & Associates, PLLC. Our attorneys are passionate about standing up for people who have been hurt due to the negligence of others, and we have the experience, dedication and close attention to detail needed to navigate complex passenger injury cases. We know what we're doing because we've been doing this work for more than 40 years.

Understanding Oklahoma's laws regarding passenger injuries

Oklahoma, like most states, uses a fault-based insurance system to compensate people injured in car accidents. That means the person at fault for the accident is liable for any injuries or fatalities caused. In principle, this system favors injured passengers because fault for an accident is presumed to lie with someone who was actually operating a vehicle. Unless you deliberately did something to distract or interfere with the driver, such as grabbing the wheel, you most likely will not be found at fault.

You may also have access to coverage through the driver of the vehicle you were in at the time of the accident, depending on his or her policy. For instance, if the driver of the vehicle you were in has medical payments coverage, then you may be covered for some of your medical expenses. If the accident involved an uninsured driver and the vehicle you were in has uninsured motorist coverage, you may be covered under that policy as well. But in all likelihood, you will be dealing with a motorist's liability coverage to get most or all of your compensation.

This system means you will be dealing with an insurance company representing one of the drivers involved, and their priority is to protect their client and their bottom line - not to compensate you. That's why you need an experienced attorney on your side to fight for your pain and suffering and other damages on your behalf.

We handle complex and delicate cases with precision and experience

If you were injured as a passenger and the driver of another vehicle was at fault, we can handle your passenger injury claim in much the same way as any other car accident. But if the person at  fault for the accident was the driver of the vehicle you were in, the case can grow much more complicated. That's because you may be in the uncomfortable position of needing to take legal action against a friend, family member or colleague who was driving the car.

We understand just how delicate these cases can be, and we're committed to providing high-quality service to our clients. In most cases, we can handle your claim by negotiating directly with your friend's insurance carrier. Remember, even if your friend is named as the defendant in a lawsuit, you're not trying to take his or her money. You're just asking the insurance company to provide the coverage that your friend has already paid for - coverage that is intended to help make you whole again.

Whether it’s through a settlement or verdict, we can help you move forward. Contact us today to find out how our passenger injury attorneys can help you rebuild your life, one step at a time. Our consultation is fully confidential, and you don't owe us a cent unless we recover for you.