When you get into a car when one of your friends is driving, you should be able to expect that they are taking the appropriate steps to keep you safe from injury in an accident. However, this isn’t a guarantee, and if you do get into an accident because of your friend’s driving, you need to file an insurance claim to cover your damages and injuries. In nearly all cases, this involves filing a claim with your friend’s insurance company, who will then pay out the appropriate damages for your injuries.
The issue with filing a claim with your friend’s insurance company after an accident is that there is the fact that you are friends, which can cause a bit of tension or discomfort for you both as you seek redress for your suffering. You deserve to be compensated, and to navigate this tricky situation as best as possible you will benefit greatly from working with an attorney.
You can get more information here about how to find the right attorney, or read more below to get a better idea of what you can expect as you work through the claims process with your friend’s insurance company.
Insurance Claims As a Passenger in a Vehicle
If you are injured in a car accident, then you are entitled to damages from the insurance company representing the person responsible for the crash, whether it was your friend who was driving or someone in another vehicle. Unfortunately, filing a claim against your friend can cause some discomfort in your relationship, but that does not mean that you should not move forward with getting the financial compensation that you deserve and need to move forward with your life.
You will file the claim as you would if it was any other accident, but it might be very beneficial to work with an attorney as soon as possible regardless of how minor or severe your injuries are. An experienced attorney will help you move forward with your claim in a way that can reduce the chances that you and your friend have personal issues as a result of the claim. That said, the claim process may be a small part of the issues between you and your friend after an accident if your injuries are very serious.
Dealing with Guilt About Filing a Claim Against a Family Member or Friend
When someone causes an accident and there is an insurance claim that gets filed against them, their insurance rates will go up as a result. It is understandable that you may feel a bit guilty about this rate increase, especially if it is a friend or family member that you are filing against.
However, it is equally important to consider the fact that you will be stuck with an unfair burden of medical bills, lost wages, and all of the other financial impacts of a serious injury if you were to not file a claim. Additionally, you can rest easy knowing that you will be getting the significant compensation that you need for your injuries, and your friend will pay a rate increase for the next few years in exchange—you are not making them pay for your damages directly.
Just remember that if you feel guilty about your friend or family member paying an increased insurance rate, they would feel even worse if you were left in financial ruin because of the injuries that you sustained as a result of their driving. Contact an attorney as soon as possible so that you can get started on a legal process with the help of a professional so that you can navigate this additionally complicated situation with experienced counsel.
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Interesting related article: “What is a Lawyer?“