If you are a passenger in a car, don't leave your safety entirely in the
hands of the driver. Take matters into your hands to improve your safety during
the ride.
Here are a few tips to keep you safe as a car passenger.
Fasten the Seat Belt at All Times
The seatbelt is one of the best safety features of any car. With the seat
belt in place, the car won't throw you out in case of an accident and neither
will you get knocked around inside the car. Fasten your seatbelt every time you
are in a moving car.
Don't Distract the Driver
Driver distraction is a serious risk of an accident. Distractions come in
various ways such as phone use, food, and pranks among other things. Don't do
anything that might distract the driver. For example, don't point out
interesting objects outside the car since you might distract the driver.
Don't Encourage Irresponsible Driving
You may influence the driver's behavior; ensure you don't encourage them to
engage in irresponsible behavior. For example, don't encourage the drier to
tailgate or race other motorists. You should also not give alcohol to the
driver. Otherwise, your encouragement can easily lead to an accident.
Keep Doors Closed
The body of the car, which includes the doors, plays a role in your safety.
Don't ride with the doors open since a crash may throw you out of the car or
let you get hit by outside objects.
Stay Inside the Car
Ensure all parts of your body are inside the car. Don't hang out your hands
or put your feet out of the window while the car is in motion. In case of a
crash, any part of the body outside the car is likely to get severely injured.
Help the Driver
Lastly, help out the driver to maintain your road safety. For example, you
can help the driver to navigate, answer and make phone calls on the driver's
behalf, and take charge of the dashboard controls.
Despite your best efforts to be a safe passenger, accidents still happen,
and passengers still get hurt. Here are a few pieces of advice to help you
pursue accident compensation as a passenger after an auto accident.
Mitigate Damages
The law expects you to take reasonable measures to mitigate your damages
after an accident. If your negligence increases your damages, the defendant
will only be responsible for the original damages they caused you. In practice,
you should seek prompt medical care, get treatment from a conventional doctor,
and follow the doctor's advice to the letter.
Target Liable Parties
In a multi-vehicle accident, both drivers may be liable for your damages.
For example, if both drivers ran the red light and crashed, both of them should
compensate for your damages. Target both drivers with your accident damage to
boost your chances of recovery. Otherwise, you might get reduced compensation
if a driver only compensates you for their share of liability.
Watch Out for Comparative Negligence
In some cases, a passenger may also be liable for an auto accident. For
example, a passenger who gets a driver drunk or grabs the steering wheel in an
emergency may be liable for the ensuing accident. The other party will seek to
reduce your compensation if they think you contributed to the accident.
Note that Michigan is a comparative negligence state. The court will reduce
your economic damages proportionally to your negligence. However, you won't get
any compensation for non-economic damages if your actions contributed more than 50
percent
to the accident. Get an experienced auto accident attorney to
ensure the court treats you fairly.
O'Grady & O'Neil PC has a wealth of experience in auto accident claims. Consult us
about
your passenger injury claim or any accident claim you may have, and we will do
our best to maximize your damages.
