Attending a party or having dinner at the home of a family member is always fun. You get to spend time with cousins, siblings, or other family members who you might not see too often anymore. However, the visit can take a turn for the worse if you suffer an injury. Whether you fell down the steps, slipped on wet concrete outside, or were hit by a falling object, your visit is not tainted by injury. Do you sue your family members for your injuries? Do you file a claim against their house liability insurance coverage? Let’s explore this very tough situation in today’s post.
Personal liability insurance is a specific part of a homeowner’s insurance policy. It protects the person or persons covered from the costs of damage they are determined to have caused. This portion of an insurance policy also covers the costs of defending against a lawsuit. It also covers the costs of a judgment from a lawsuit, up to the limits of the policy.
Personal liability insurance coverage comes in two forms: bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury covers the homeowner when a visitor to their home suffers an injury while visiting the property due to any type of accident. The most common accidents include slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk or falling down the stairs. Property damage provides coverage for damage you or a family member causes to someone else’s property.
Many people do not realize that four-wheeler accidents are treated very similarly to motor vehicle accidents and car wrecks. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, your pain and suffering, and your medical bills. Oftentimes, these accidents are caused by dangerous portions of the homeowner’s property which you were not warned about. However, they can also be caused by inexperienced or unsafe drivers. These accidents have also been caused by dogs or other animals that have gotten loose and distracted the driver of the all-terrain vehicle. If you have been injured in a Polaris RZR, mule, gator, or 4-wheeler accident, there are many questions to consider and many avenues you can take to get help with your medical bills and your injuries.
For the most part, any person who lives in the home is protected under personal liability insurance on a homeowner’s policy. This would include the homeowner, their spouse, their children and even aging parents. If all of these people call the property their primary residence, they would be protected under the policy. So, if they cause an injury to someone else on the property, they will be covered by the insurance.
Always remember, the compensation you seek is from the homeowner’s insurance, not the homeowner themselves. Suing homeowners insurance for injury is not uncommon. However, you need to think about whether or not this is your best option. This is never the goal of an injury claim and why consulting with an attorney can provide better insight and a clearer set of options. Many times, an attorney is successfully able to obtain a settlement for you without the need to file suit or ever step foot in a courtroom.
If you have suffered an injury while visiting a family member’s home, it is important to seek legal counsel from an experienced premises liability attorney. Your case might not be as simple to prove as you might think. An attorney will advise whether you should file a claim against the homeowner or if there is another party that is responsible for your injuries. Call Maze Law Offices to schedule a FREE consultation and have your questions answered today.
