Can a person be covered if they are a passenger in a car that’s involved in an accident? Determining how accident-related medical bills will be paid can be complex, as answers may depend on who is to blame and who has the best insurance. Here, customers of Auto Insurance Companies in Illinois will learn how they can be covered as a passenger.
When the Other Driver is to Blame
In most areas, motorists have to have a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage, which pays medical bills to those injured in an accident. However, the process differs in jurisdictions with no-fault laws. A person living in such an area has to have PIP, or personal injury protection. If the at-fault party has little or no insurance, the injured person’s only hope may be that the driver of their car has uninsured motorist coverage.
If the Passenger’s Driver is to Blame
In other areas, drivers need medical bill coverage to pay passengers’ expenses. If a driver has insufficient insurance to pay a passenger’s medical bills, they have these choices:
1. Use their own insurance. Those with health coverage can use their own policies to pay their medical bills.
2. Take legal action against their driver. This is an aggressive measure, especially if the driver is a family member or friend. However, if the passenger isn’t negligent, they are entitled to seek compensation for lost income, medical bills, and deductibles.
How Passengers Can Protect Themselves
Most motor vehicle passengers don’t ask drivers for insurance documents before climbing in, and it can be difficult to determine whether one will be covered. Passengers can protect themselves by adding uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage from Auto Insurance Companies in Illinois. It makes sense to avoid negligent behavior, as one may not be able to make a recovery if there was any negligence on their part.
Auto insurance regulations are complex, and it can become even more difficult if a person is a passenger in someone else’s vehicle. By ensuring that they have enough coverage against other people’s errors and negligent acts, passengers can protect themselves from lifelong consequences.
If you are in need of the best Auto Insurance in Illinois, contact one of the Accurate Auto Insurance staff. They will be glad to assist you in the process of getting the best insurance coverage, to meet your needs and your budget.
