Can Passengers Sue Drivers for Injuries?

To determine if passengers can sue drivers for damages, we first need to establish if drivers have a duty of care to passengers. In personal injury lawsuits, a duty of care is when one party has a legal responsibility to care for another party.

As a passenger’s safety is wholly reliant on the driver’s ability to operate a vehicle, it’s been legally established that a driver has a duty of care to the passenger(s) riding in the vehicle. Therefore, a driver is responsible for keeping passengers safe while they are driving.

Drivers & Damages

If a driver’s negligent actions (speeding, distracted driving, etc.) result in an accident, the driver may be found liable for damages sustained in the accident.

A driver may be liable for the following after an accident:

• Personal injuries of pedestrians;
• Property damage;
• Personal injuries of other drivers;
• Vehicle damage;
• Personal injuries of passengers.

Thanks to a driver’s duty of care, a driver who injures passengers by causing an accident may be liable for passengers’ injuries.

Need Representation for Your Case

If you or a loved one is injured in an auto accident as a passenger, you have the right to pursue just compensation for your wounds. With decades of award-winning representation, Suzuki Law Offices is more than qualified to handle this unfortunate matter.