A few years ago, I was in a pretty serious car accident. During the aftermath, I became really familiar with a lot of different types of lawyers. I worked with personal injury lawyers, insurance lawyers, and many others. Perhaps the most important, though, was the estate planning lawyer. I was really young, and neither my wife or I had thought about starting a will. But the accident kind of scared us into it. What would happen if one of us were to die? Even when still in the hospital, I was working with the lawyer to draw up a will. Now, I have some peace and security about what the future will be like if something should happen to me. And I have a lot of experience working with various types of lawyers! The accident was kind of a blessing in disguise in that way.
If you decide to have night out at a bar, it is your right under law to be protected and safe. If other patrons in the bar display undesirable behavior such as fighting and you suffer minor or major injuries, then it is very likely that you are entitled to compensation. Understanding who should be held liable when such incidents occur, and what evidence you need to collect, will help you to prove your case.
Always call the police
This is one of the most essential components of your case. If you have only suffered minor injuries, then you should do it yourself. In cases of major injury, it is more likely than not, that the management of the establishment or some other patron in the bar will call the police, so that an official report can be made. Be sure you get a copy of the police report as soon as you can. In cases of major injury, the medical attendants who are rushed to the scene will make perfect witnesses to your condition. They can also testify to the nature of the establishment in which the incident occurred. When you suffer minor injuries you should still get a medical checkup, as this is further proof that the incident occurred.
Do a background check on those involved
This may sound difficult but it is usually easy to find a person's criminal record online, as it is public record. However, if you want a comprehensive check of someone's background, you should hire a private investigator. Finding out about the criminal record of those involved in the fight, the owner of the bar, along with the background of the bouncers at the bar can go a long way in helping your case. This is especially important if it can be proven that any of them have been involved in past incidents where the law has been broken.
Approach the bar owner's insurance company
The most liable person in cases where bar fights occur is usually the owner of the establishment. Once patrons enter the bar, they should be well-protected, and adequate security should be in place to break up undesirable activities such as fights. You can approach the bar owner's insurance company yourself, with a copy of the police report, pictures of your injuries and statements from witnesses, a copy of your medical bills, and the criminal records of those involved. If your injuries are minor and your case strong, then you will usually receive compensation. If they refuse to give you compensation, then you should hire a personal injury attorney to deal with the case. Cases where you received major injuries should always be referred to a personal injury lawyer.
Share5 January 2015
