Being a passenger in a vehicle that is involved in a crash is a frightening experience. You had no control over what happened, yet you are left managing the physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If you are considering making a car accident passenger claim, our specialist personal injury solicitors are perfectly placed to help. We have helped injured passengers across Northern Ireland recover the compensation they are entitled to, and we are here to do the same for you.
To speak to our experts please call us on 028 2766 6698 or Make An Online Enquiry.
What is a car accident passenger claim?
A car accident passenger claim is a compensation claim brought by someone who was travelling in a vehicle at the time of a collision. Because passengers play no role in driving decisions, they are very rarely considered to have contributed to an accident, which makes this type of claim one of the strongest categories of personal injury case.
A car accident passenger claim is made against the insurer of the driver responsible, whether that was the person driving the car you were in or another road user whose negligence caused the crash. Importantly, the fact that the driver is a friend or family member does not prevent you from claiming. The process runs through their insurance policy, and it will not ordinarily leave them out of pocket.
Who do we represent?
We act for passengers who have been injured in a road traffic accident caused by another person’s negligence. Whether you were in the front or back seat of a car, travelling in a taxi, or a passenger in any other type of vehicle, you may have grounds to claim.
Your injury does not have to be immediately visible. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, fractures, spinal injuries, and psychological conditions are all regularly pursued in car accident passenger claims. We can help you understand whether the circumstances of your accident support a claim, and we will give you a straightforward, honest assessment of your position from the outset.
Can I make a claim?
For a passenger claim to succeed, the accident must have been caused by the negligence of another road user. That could be the driver of the vehicle you were travelling in who was driving carelessly, was distracted, or was travelling too fast for the conditions. It could equally be another driver who failed to give way, ignored a traffic signal, or whose standard of driving fell below what is reasonably expected in some other way. Where more than one driver bears responsibility for the collision, it may be possible to bring a claim against multiple parties simultaneously.
The time limit for bringing a personal injury claim in Northern Ireland is three years from the date of the accident. For passengers under the age of 18 at the time of the collision, the three-year period does not begin until their 18th birthday, giving them until they turn 21. If you have any doubt about how the time limit applies to your case, contact us without delay. If you miss the deadline, you will be unable to pursue your claim, regardless of its merits.
What compensation can I recover?
The value of a passenger claim depends on the nature of your injuries and their impact on your day-to-day life. A successful claim can include:
- General damages for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
- General damages for loss of amenities of life, reflecting the impact your injuries have had on your ability to enjoy the activities, relationships, and daily routines you had before the accident.
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses, including medication, physiotherapy, and mental health treatment.
- Loss of earnings, both for the income you have already lost as well as any reduction in your future earning capacity.
- Care costs, where family members or paid carers have supported you during your recovery.
- Travel and other out-of-pocket expenses arising directly from the accident.
We can help you identify every applicable head of loss and build a detailed picture of the compensation you deserve. We work with highly respected medical consultants who carry out thorough independent assessments to ensure that your injuries are accurately valued. That means you are not at risk of settling for less than you are entitled to.
Why choose LMK Law?
When you choose us to support you with your car accident specialist claim, you will receive:
Specialist expertise you can rely on
Leo McKee is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and brings more than 25 years of experience to every case he handles. Personal injury law is central to what we do at LMK Law, not a secondary area of practice, and that depth of focus is reflected in the results we achieve. We are the highest-rated personal injury solicitors in the area, a reputation we have earned through consistently securing excellent outcomes for our clients.
Clear communication at every stage
Few personal injury claimants have prior experience of the claims process. The proceedings can feel overwhelming and difficult to follow, particularly when you are still dealing with the physical and psychological effects of an injury.
We communicate clearly and are always on hand to address any questions or deal with any concerns. We offer support in both English and Polish, so bilingual clients can speak to us in the language they are most comfortable with.
Mental health and wellbeing support
Road traffic accidents carry psychological consequences as well as physical ones. Anxiety, recurring nightmares, difficulty sleeping, and post-traumatic stress disorder are well-documented outcomes of collision trauma and carry equal legal weight to a physical injury.
Where clients are experiencing these difficulties, we refer them to a trusted specialist psychotherapist for private treatment at no upfront cost to them. Access to evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, and Exposure Therapy, can be arranged within weeks rather than the two-year NHS waiting period many patients currently face in Northern Ireland. The cost of that treatment is recovered as part of your overall compensation award.
100% of your compensation
Where your claim succeeds, legal costs are recovered from the opposing party, which means you keep 100% of your compensation. We assess every case honestly and will only advise you to proceed where there is a genuine prospect of success. We have strong relationships with a network of highly respected barristers with vast experience of presenting personal injury claims in court, so you can be confident that you are in safe hands.
Speak to our team today
We offer every client a free initial consultation with one of our car accident passenger claims solicitors. During this meeting, we will review the merits of your claim, explain your legal options clearly, and give you everything you need to make an informed decision about next steps. There is no pressure and no obligation to proceed following your consultation. Call us today on 028 2766 6698 or complete our online enquiry form and we will be in touch.
To speak to our experts please call us on 028 2766 6698 or Make An Online Enquiry.