2:02Families and passengers
Do I have my own claim if I was a passenger in a car accident?
The short answer
Yes. Every person in a vehicle has an independent claim of their own, whether the car held a family or coworkers. Managing litigation attorney Matthew Graham takes up the passenger question in a video from 2026. Our team starts by asking who else was in the car, since fault may be unclear at first.
“it is possible to call on behalf of others, but when it comes to entering into that client relationship with each individual occupant of the vehicle”
Key points from Matthew
Intake begins with a simple question: were you alone in the car, or was anyone else with you.
A full car often means a family or coworkers, and each occupant holds an independent claim.
When the driver may have been at fault, relatives riding along are represented first, and the firm waits for an authority to determine fault before representing the driver.
A relative may phone for everyone, yet each occupant should speak with the firm and understand the services and care being offered.
First question for a new passenger caller
Matthew Graham says an early question for any new caller is whether they were alone in the car. A car with a family or a group of coworkers is common, and each person in it holds an individual claim, so the answer shapes the rest of the call.
Fault is sometimes hazy at the beginning. The driver may have caused the crash, shared the blame, or done nothing wrong. In that case the firm takes on the other passengers first and the driver comes after an authority has decided fault. A friend can phone for you, but the person hurt is the one who needs to hear what we offer.
Related questions
See all 23 questions2:02
0:51
0:31Riding along still counts
Being the passenger does not leave you out. Call 1-800-INJURED to ask about a free consultation, or put your questions to our team.
This video and answer explain Texas law in general terms; they are not advice about your own case, and watching does not make us your lawyers.