Sustaining an injury while travelling as a passenger can have a serious impact on your day-to-day life. If someone else caused the car accident, you may be entitled to bring a personal injury claim for the harm you have experienced.

A passenger can make a personal injury claim after a road traffic accident in most situations. As an injured passenger in a car, you are not responsible for how the vehicle was driven, so your right to bring a passenger accident claim is usually clear. You can make a claim for any injuries caused by the collision, whether the driver of your car was at fault, another road user caused the crash, or someone else's negligence was responsible.

A passenger car accident claim focuses on the injuries you sustained and the effect they have had on your life. This can include pain, restricted movement, time away from work or the need for ongoing treatment. This guide explains how a passenger car accident claim works, who you can claim against and what you may be able to recover through the process.

Who Can a Passenger Make a Personal Injury Claim Against?

A passenger injury claim can be made against any party responsible for the road traffic accident. This may be the driver of the car you were travelling in, another motorist, or several drivers if responsibility is shared. Making a claim against the responsible party is based on who caused the collision, not your relationship with the driver, and your right to bring a passenger car accident claim is unaffected by whether you knew the person involved or not, such as in the case of a taxi accident.

A compensation claim is handled through the insurer of the driver at fault. The insurance company or insurance provider is responsible for paying compensation, so you are not claiming compensation from the driver personally. This can help to preserve relationships if you were a passenger in a car driven by a friend or family member. This ensures you can pursue a passenger injury compensation claim without worrying about personal conflict and focus on your recovery and the support you need.

If another road user caused the crash, your passenger accident claim would be directed to their insurance company or insurance provider instead. If the responsible party is an uninsured driver, you may still be able to make a claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

What Injuries Can Lead to a Passenger Injury Compensation Claim?

Injuries from a car accident can vary, and even low-speed collisions can leave a passenger in a car involved dealing with pain and restricted movement. A passenger injury claim can be made for a wide range of physical injuries, including passenger injuries sustained in public transport or taxi accidents, as long as they were caused by a road traffic accident or similar incident.

Common examples include soft tissue injuries, broken bones, back and neck injuries, head and brain injuries, and shoulder injuries. Some people also experience psychological symptoms linked to their physical injuries. These issues can interfere with everyday tasks, affect work, and lead to ongoing medical treatment, all of which can be considered as part of a passenger injury compensation claim.

Both serious injury and minor injury can be the basis for a claim, depending on the circumstances and the injuries sustained.

A passenger accident claim focuses on the full impact of the collision, not just the immediate symptoms, and forms an important part of a wider compensation claim for your recovery, taking into account all injuries sustained and the long-term effects of sustained injuries.

What Evidence Supports a Passenger Car Accident Claim?

Gathering evidence is crucial to support your claim after a car accident. Strong evidence shows how the car accident happened and the injuries it caused. As a passenger in a car, you can rely on several types of information to support your personal injury claim. Medical evidence is central, as it records your injuries, the treatment you received and how the road traffic accident affected you. Attending medical appointments and following treatment advice will help to build a clear picture of your condition.

Other evidence can also help your compensation claim. This may include witness statements, contact details of witnesses, photographs or video footage of the scene, details of the vehicles involved, and a police reference number if officers attended. If you reported symptoms shortly after the collision, records from your GP or hospital can also support your passenger injury claim. For financial evidence, keep receipts and bank statements to show costs such as travel expenses, medical bills, or other losses related to the accident.

Combining this information strengthens a passenger accident claim and provides a clearer view of how the injuries have affected your day-to-day life.

How to Start a Passenger Car Accident Claim

Starting a passenger accident claim begins with getting medical attention so your injuries are assessed and recorded. This creates the medical evidence needed for your personal injury claim, which will show how the car accident has affected you.

You can then start a no win, no fee passenger claim with JMW, which means you only pay a success fee if your claim delivers the compensation you deserve. There are no legal fees to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.

Call us to speak to a specialist who deals with road traffic accident claims. We can often provide legal representation on a no win, no fee basis. We will review how the collision happened, identify who may be responsible and discuss the impact your injuries have had. Once we have reviewed the circumstances of your injury and the evidence you have collected, we will start the formal process of your compensation claim by sending the required legal documents to the court and contacting the party at fault..

Will Claiming as a Passenger Affect Relationships?

Many people worry about bringing a passenger accident claim when the driver is a friend or family member. However, a compensation claim is handled through the insurer of the person responsible, not the individual themselves. This means you are not taking personal action against them.

A passenger injury claim focuses on the injuries you sustained and the support you need to recover. The process is designed to help you claim compensation without affecting your relationships, allowing you to access treatment, rehabilitation and financial support where needed. In many cases, you will claim against another party involved, such as the other driver, which means you will have no personal connection to the liable party and no need to worry about preserving relationships.

Why Legal Advice Helps Strengthen a Passenger Accident Claim

Working with a specialist can make a real difference to a passenger accident claim. At JMW, the team will look at how the road traffic accident happened, identify who may be responsible and gather the evidence needed to support your personal injury claim. This includes reviewing your medical records, speaking with witnesses where appropriate and assessing how your injuries have affected your daily life. In more complicated situations, legal advice can clarify whether you can claim on behalf of a child passenger or someone who lacks mental capacity.

JMW will manage all communication with the other party’s representatives and progress your compensation claim on your behalf. Our role is to secure a fair compensation settlement and maximise compensation payouts for clients to support their recovery and address any financial losses. From the start of the process, our solicitors can advise on how much compensation you may be entitled to and work to secure the full amount. JMW’s goal is to secure a fair outcome while keeping the process as straightforward as possible, allowing you to focus on your recovery with confidence that your passenger injury claim is being handled by an experienced team.