Passengers in a car accident have a right to seek compensation for personal injuries. If you’ve been injured in a car accident as a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation through personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance.
Our Minnesota auto accident lawyers can help you understand your full legal rights after a car accident. Contact us online or call (651) 437-3148 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
- Passengers in a car accident have a right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic damages through the state’s no-fault insurance system.
- If you exhaust PIP benefits, you can file a fault-based claim to pursue compensation for economic damages beyond the no-fault policy limit, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
- If multiple parties are at fault for the accident, you can seek compensation from each of them, so long as you contributed less to the cause of the accident than them.
Understanding Your Rights as a Passenger in Car Crash Claims Under Minnesota Law
Minnesota is a no-fault insurance state. Under a no-fault system, all drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This insurance covers certain economic damages resulting from car accidents, no matter who is at fault.
If you were injured as a passenger, you can seek no-fault benefits through your own PIP insurance. You should also find out whether your household members have PIP insurance, as you can also pursue a claim through their policies. Finally, you can seek no-fault benefits through the policy held by the driver of the vehicle you were riding in.
Once you exhaust PIP coverage, you can pursue a fault-based auto liability claim against the driver responsible for the crash. Other parties that may be liable for compensating you include government entities responsible for road maintenance and negligent auto parts manufacturers. A fault-based claim can pay for non-economic damages that PIP insurance doesn’t cover, such as pain and suffering.
What Compensation Is Available to Passengers in Minnesota Car Accidents?
Minnesota PIP insurance covers the policyholder and passengers injured in a car accident. These are the minimum required policy limits for PIP insurance in Minnesota:
- $20,000 for past and future medical expenses.
- $20,000 for non-medical expenses like lost wages.
- $2,000 for funeral expenses if someone dies in an accident.
Once you exhaust no-fault PIP coverage, you can pursue a fault-based claim, which may cover additional compensation for economic damages not covered by PIP. Again, auto liability insurance also covers non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.
Seeking Compensation From Multiple Parties
Multiple parties may be liable for a car accident in Minnesota. In these cases, you can pursue compensation from all responsible parties to cover your damages fully. This is true even if you are partially at fault for the accident—as long as you contributed less to the cause of the accident than the defendants.
However, because Minnesota follows a comparative fault rule, your total compensation will be reduced proportionately to your percentage of fault for the accident. Our skilled car accident lawyers can help identify all liable parties and pursue a claim against each.
Consult Our Minnesota Car Accident Attorneys Today
Passengers in car accidents have a right to seek compensation from the at-fault party. The legal team at Sieben Polk P.A. has the skills and experience needed to pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. Contact us online or call (651) 437-3148 to get started with a free consultation.
