If you get hurt while on someone else’s property, you may not know what to do. The last thing you want to do is hurt your relationship with your friend or neighbor. But, at the same time, you don’t think you should have to pay for your own medical care. Even if you have insurance, you’ll have to pay for things like co-pays and deductibles. Plus, if your injuries are serious, you’ll have to take some time off from work. This time isn’t going to pay by your employer.
The other thing to keep in mind is, once the insurance company finds out that you fell on someone’s property, they may not cover your claim. Or, they’ll insist that you file a legal claim so they can be reimbursed. When you go to the emergency room, you have to fill out certain paperwork. This paperwork includes a section where you need to disclose if your injuries were caused by an accident. Once you check off this box, the hospital and your insurance company will expect a legal claim to be filed.
This can be confusing and scary, especially for someone who’s never had to deal with insurance issues. That’s why it’s a good idea to call and talk to an experienced car crash lawyer right away. They can review your case and let you know what your options are. The good news is that, very rarely will you have to actually go to trial against your friend or neighbor. More than 95% of all personal injury cases settle long before a court.
It’s Not Personal – It’s Just Business
You’ve heard this plenty of times. It’s not personal, it’s just business. If you get hurt at your friend’s house, you really don’t have much of a choice. If you need medical treatment, you’re going to need to file a claim against their insurance policy. That’s why they pay for it, isn’t it? As long as your claim is paid, it’s not really going to impact your friend or their family at all. Even if the claim isn’t paid and you need to take legal action, odds are, your friend will never have to go to court. Almost all of these cases settle long before trial.
We do understand that your friend won’t be happy when they find out you filed a claim against their insurance. But they should understand that you have to protect your best interests. If you need a lot of medical care, they shouldn’t expect you to pay for this out of pocket. They also shouldn’t be upset that their insurance company was contacted. After all, they pay for insurance in case something like this happens. It shouldn’t matter that you’re a friend and not a stranger.
Odds Are, You’ll Never Go to Court
As we already stated, most personal injury cases never actually go to trial. It’s in everyone’s best interest to settle out of court. Both sides know there’s the chance that they’ll lose in court. For the insurance company, this is a big risk to take. If your damages and demands are high, they could end up having to pay the whole thing. At the end of the day, it can be hard for the defendant to prove that you were in any way at fault for your injury. It could just be a matter of them not wanting to pay the full claim amount. Your attorney wants to settle as well. They’ll fight to get you as much money as possible.
Talk to a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer in Albany, Georgia Right Away
If you’ve fallen or gotten hurt while on someone else’s property, you need to talk to a personal injury lawyer in Albany. An experienced lawyer has probably handled dozens of cases just like yours. While the circumstances of any case are unique, premises liability cases are all somewhat similar. And, most of them settle out of court.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation with our office. Let an experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer look at your case and let you know what your options are. You may have already filed a claim against your friend’s homeowner’s policy. Or, you may not know where to start. That’s where your lawyer comes into play. They can direct you toward what to do and help you along the way. The initial consultation is free and you don’t pay anything until your case settles or is resolved.
