On September 3, 2023, a Jeannette Man, driving a Chevrolet Silverado, crashed his truck into a tree on Baughman Road in Penn Township, Pennsylvania. In the truck were four children and a woman. Two of the passengers were seriously injured. After the accident, a police investigation resulted in the man being charged with a DUI and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
When accidents occur, drivers are not the only people that are injured. In fact, passengers, who have no control over the vehicle, are often injured too. So, what happens when the passenger that is injured is riding in the car that is being driven by the at fault driver? Normally, the passenger should be able to make a claim against the at fault driver’s insurance policy. This may seem like an odd situation, but it happens often.
In a case where a passenger is injured in an accident and that passenger is riding in the vehicle that caused the crash, it is helpful to speak with an attorney that handles car accident cases. Insurance companies look for ways to not fully compensate people injured in car accidents. In a case like this, the insurance company will most likely refer the case to their “Special Investigative Unit.” When passengers are injured, normally the car is driven by someone that they know, family, a friend, or a colleague. The Special Investigative Unit reviews the accident to determine whether or not the claim is fraudulent. From their perspective, it’s possible that the passenger and driver could be in cahoots with each other to make up the accident and injuries. Insurance companies look for ways to label a case fraudulent so that they can justify not compensating those injured.
At Bononi & Company, our personal injury team has experience dealing with insurance companies trying to not compensate those injured. Our car accident attorneys know what steps to take to preserve your claim and prove its legitimacy.
If you have any questions regarding car accident or personal injury cases, you can call Bononi and Company at 724-832-2499, text us at 724-858-2744, or schedule an appointment at our Greensburg office, Pittsburgh office, Latrobe office, or Johnstown office. Our team provides free consultations and evaluations for all personal injury claims.