Image source: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/crash-injuries/images/infographic_970px.jpg
Vehicular Passenger accident refers to road accidents where a passenger sustains bodily harm because of the negligent action of the cars driver or of other cars drivers.
A passenger cannot be held liable for a road accident unless he/she did something to cause said accident like distracting the driver.
A passenger can be involved in different types of vehicular passenger accidents. The most common are the following:
Car accident
Motorcycle accident
Public transportation or common carriers
Car accident
Cars are one of the most common modes of transportation in the United States and with the volume of cars running the roads and freeways, more than 6 million car accidents happen each year.
This number includes thousands of passengers who got injured or even died because of the accident.
To avoid car passenger accidents, seatbelts should always be worn inside the car. It will protect both the driver and the passenger from impact.
According to studies, one of the leading causes of passenger death from car accidents is being thrown off the vehicle during a rollover.
A seatbelt will protect the passenger from being violently ejected from the vehicle in case it flips.
Passenger airbags are also available in some car models. It can protect the passengers from the force of impact during collision.
Motorcycle Accident
As with cars, motorcycles are also a very famous mode of transportation. It is light and can conveniently squeeze through traffic in a way that a car would not be able to.
However, motorcycles are more vulnerable than cars. The driver and the passenger are not as protected in a motorcycle as with a car.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of motorcycle accidents happen either injuring or killing the driver and the passenger.
To avoid passenger accidents involving motorcycle, the passenger should have a proper seat provided at the back of the drivers seat and should have their own helmet.
The passenger should also be able to hold on firmly to the driver to avoid falling off.
The driver should also keep a safe speed to have more control over the motorcycle.
Public Transportation
This refers to mass transportation vehicles like buses and taxis. These vehicles are also called as carriers for hire or common carriers.
Under California law, all common carrier vehicles have a special duty to its passengers and that is to use the highest degree of care possible in transporting their passengers.
They have a responsibility to keep the passenger safe from when they are picked up by the cab or bus until they are dropped off to their destination.
If a passenger accident occurs, the operator and the driver may automatically be held liable for the injuries of the passenger unless proven that an outside party is responsible that is not in their control.
