A driver was seriously injured and a passenger died after a single-car crash in Aurora. On Saturday night, police were called to the scene of the accident at South Lima Street and East Alameda Avenue, where they saw a Chrysler 300 in the street.

The driver was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition. The passenger was also taken to the hospital, but died of his injuries shortly after arriving.

Aurora police are still investigating the cause of the accident, but so far they believe speed and alcohol were factors that led to this accident. They've said it seems the Chrysler was westbound on Alameda when the driver lost control, so the car jumped the curb and hit a tree on the side of the road.

Passenger Lawsuits in Colorado

When people are injured in auto accidents, a common course of action is to file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company. But what if the at-fault driver is someone you know, and you were in their car at the time of the accident? In that case, you can typically file a claim against his or her insurance provider.

Granted, there are some exceptions. For example, you typically can't sue an immediate family member, such as a spouse or child. This is to prevent family members from conspiring together to commit insurance fraud. However, if you were a passenger in a car driven by a friend, coworker, or neighbor, you could pursue compensation from his or her insurance provider after an accident.

In the Aurora auto accident reported above, the relationship between the driver and passenger is unclear. But assuming they weren't immediate family members, the passenger's family could sue the driver for wrongful death. This way, the family would have a chance of getting compensation to pay for the victim's hospital bills and funeral services.

And if the victim had a spouse or children he was providing for financially, the family could sue for lost income, as well as loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and more. An experienced Aurora personal injury lawyer can guide families like this through the legal process to ensure they get the compensation they deserve after losing a loved one.

Hiring an Aurora Car Accident Attorney for Your Case

If you were the passenger in a car driven by someone you know, and you ended up in a car crash that caused injuries, you have the right to pursue the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills as you recover. This will typically involve filing a claim against the driver who caused the crash—even if it's the driver of the car you were in.

Doing so will help you get compensation for the following damages:

• Hospital bills
• Physical therapy bills
• Future medical care
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages

Similarly, if you lost a family member in a car accident, you can file a claim against the driver of the vehicle he or she was in. Either way, if you want a chance of getting the money you need to pay for the costs associated with a Colorado car accident that was caused by someone else, it's important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Contact an Aurora car accident attorney today to get started on your case!