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ChatIn a vehicle accident, if the at-fault driver does not have insurance or enough insurance coverage to pay for your damages, you may be able to recover from your own insurance company. But what happens when you are injured as a passenger in a car accident like this?
As a passenger in this situation, you may receive compensation through your driver’s uninsured motorist coverage. However, these cases often become complicated quickly. In general, if you are an injured passenger party to a motor vehicle accident, call a personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case.
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we handle uninsured motorist coverage and passengers relatively often. Call us anytime, 24/7, to discuss the details of your car accident.
In today’s case highlight, learn how we at Bottaro Injury Lawyers helped a young client receive the compensation she deserved, even when the at-fault party did not have car insurance coverage.
Warwick, Rhode Island DUI Car Accident Leads to Passenger Client’s High-Grade PCL Tear in Left Knee
Unfortunately, serious car accidents happen often, quickly, and seemingly out of nowhere.
On a day like any other, our 29-year-old client was sitting passenger side of her friend’s truck. Together, they were traveling north on Warwick Avenue in Warwick, Rhode Island. At the same time, a careless driver was traveling down the same roadway in the opposite direction.
Suddenly, the at-fault driver crossed the yellow line directly into our client and her friend! This serious, front-end collision caused both drivers’ vehicles to sustain major damage, along with personal injuries.
Later, the at-fault driver was arrested for a DUI. Meanwhile, our client sought immediate medical assistance.
Photo of the vehicle our client was a passenger in at the time of the DUI car accident.
At the scene, the fire department quickly transported our client to Rhode Island Hospital. At the time medical personnel examined our client, she was experiencing head, face, knee, ankle, and shoulder pain, as well as blurred vision. Unfortunately, her injuries only worsened with time.
A few days after the accident, our client returned for medical care, reporting severe ankle and knee pain. So much so that she felt nauseous over the pain. Additionally, the pain had spread down her leg and made it impossible for her to sleep on her left side. Our client continued to endure throbbing, stabbing pain along with numbness from her knee down to her ankle months after the accident.
After months of physical therapy and other medical interventions, our client still reported 10/10 pain and intermittent numbness in her left leg. Recently, her doctor recommended surgery to correct her high-grade PCL (ligament in the knee) tear.
What Do I Do When I am Injured and the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Car Insurance?
When an at-fault driver causes your personal injuries, always call a skilled and local personal injury law firm, like Bottaro Injury Lawyers, to discuss the specifics of your case.
Generally, if you find yourself in this situation, you may be able to recover from your own insurance company. This recovery method works if you maintain Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. In Rhode Island, UM coverage is not mandatory but is highly encouraged. However, in Massachusetts, where we also practice, UM coverage is mandatory, though only $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident. Thus, we encourage drivers to purchase more than the state minimum coverage. Call us if you have specific questions about your UM/UIM case!
If you opt for UM coverage, it allows your insurance company to compensate you for your own injuries. In other words, your insurance company essentially takes the at-fault driver’s place.
When our client needed compensation for her extensive medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc., we worked directly with the driver’s/her friend’s insurance company to ensure she was compensated for her injuries.
In the end, we were able to build a compelling case to support our passenger client’s maximum $250,000 settlement. We are grateful to be part of the happy ending in this case!
It’s Good to Know Mike Bottaro – 24/7 Top-Rated Personal Injury Help
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we care for people. Attorney Mike Bottaro and his award-winning legal team handle all types of personal injury cases throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We can even help on cases in other states as well. We pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and results. Contact us 24/7 in any method you prefer for a fast, free, and confidential consultation about your case. Text or call us at 401-777-7777, or fill out our free and confidential online form. We are here to serve and help you!
