You may not think twice when a family member, friend, or coworker asks if you want to carpool with them. After all, it is reasonable, and not to mention environmentally friendly, if you are headed to the same destination anyway. However, you may be unaware of their driving habits that border on the line of recklessness. More realistically, though, you cannot control the behaviors and actions of other drivers on the road in any circumstance. Needless to say, you may wind up in a carpool accident. If so, please follow along to find out whether you have a valid claim after being made the injured victim of a carpool accident, and how a proficient Morris County, New Jersey car accident lawyer at Macri Law Firm can help you get the coverage you need.
Who can I file a claim against after getting injured in a carpool accident?
Now, a carpool accident is no different than any other standard car accident on the road. This is in the sense that the person you file your personal injury claim against is the person whose negligence caused the accident and your subsequent injuries and damages. This may vary depending on the unique circumstances surrounding your incident. But you may consider the following parties:
- The driver of the vehicle you are a passenger in.
- Another driver on the road at the time and involved in the crash.
- A fellow passenger in the same vehicle and who was distracting the driver before the crash.
- The manufacturer, designer, or seller of a defective vehicle part that caused it to malfunction and crash.
- The government entity in charge of the defective traffic light or the dangerous road condition that prompted the crash.
- A pedestrian who crossed the road out of turn or outside a designated crosswalk and prompted the crash.
How does auto insurance coverage work for a carpool accident injury?
As an injured passenger in a carpool accident, the first step towards coverage you will likely take is filing a claim with the driver’s auto insurance company. With this, New Jersey law requires all drivers to carry a policy that covers at least $15,00o per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage.
If this limited coverage is insufficient for your total injuries and damages, you may tap into your own auto insurance and health insurance policies. Namely, New Jersey law requires you to have personal injury protection coverage in your auto policy, which helps pay for your medical expenses regardless of fault.
Of course, navigating an insurance claim may be tricky in the event of a carpool accident because there are likely multiple injured parties, along with possibly several at-fault parties. This is why you should hire a lawyer right away, to determine how to distribute liability and confirm how much you are entitled to in an insurance claim, and a personal injury claim if need be.
To conclude, there is no need to go through the important steps of filing an insurance claim and presenting your legal case alone. Please seek the support and assistance of a talented Parsippany, New Jersey personal injury lawyer. Contact Macri Law Firm today.