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.
You're attending a friend's party and you suddenly slip and fall, breaking your leg. In this type of scenario, getting the medical treatment you need and being compensated for any other expenses or losses you experience pertaining to the injury are important. However, in this type of situation, who is responsible for the incident is often the question. Make sure you know what to do if you are injured in someone's home.
Homeowner's Insurance
When you are injured on someone's personal property and you are not at fault for the incident, your first question should be whether or not there is a homeowner's insurance policy in place. Generally, if the home is still under a mortgage, the lender will require this type of protection. However, once the property is owned, it's the owner's preference as to whether or not they will retain this coverage.
You should be able to ask the homeowner for this information. If the property is under an insurance policy, it's imperative that you report the injury as soon as possible. Waiting an unreasonable amount of time between the incident and filing a claim can weaken the legitimacy of your claim and only prolong the time it takes to recover any money you've already spent or lost.
When The Homeowner Is Reluctant
In some instances, the fear of having their policy canceled will cause some homeowners to be reluctant about giving an injured victim their homeowner's insurance policy information. If you are faced with this type of scenario and the homeowner refuses to give you this information, don't get discouraged, you still have options.
You have the legal right to sue the homeowner for their insurance details. Once you have this info on hand, you can submit your claim to their insurance company. If the homeowner's unwillingness to provide this information is the reason for the delay in the submission of your claim, this won't count against you.
Working With An Attorney
If you are injured on someone's else property, an attorney is an invaluable asset. An attorney won't just facilitate the legal process of suing the homeowner for their information, but more importantly, the attorney can help you navigate the sometimes difficult claim process. Unfortunately, some insurance companies try everything in their power to pay as little as possible or deny a claim altogether, even when the claim is valid. An attorney like Risley Law Firm, P.C. can fight on your behalf to ensure you are fairly compensated.
If you are injured, make sure you activate your rights for due compensation.
Share9 November 2015
