Our Atlanta slip and fall lawyers have found that most of our clients don’t want to sue their neighbors. If they get hurt on their property, most of them would rather just walk away and deal with it. What they don’t realize is that your Atlanta personal injury attorney most likely won’t have to sue your neighbor personally. Even if they do, their insurance company should cover any damages owed.
Our Atlanta Slip and Fall Lawyers Understand Why You Wouldn’t Want to Sue Your Neighbor
Nobody wants to risk ruining their relationship with their neighbor by suing them for an injury sustained on their property. There may be a part of you that blames yourself for the slip and fall accident. Another part doesn’t care who was at fault – you just want to matter to go away.
One thing our Atlanta injury lawyers can tell you is that, sometimes, you don’t have a choice in the matter. Your private health insurance carrier may not want to cover injuries suffered in an accident. In fact, if they choose to do so, the insurance company can initiate a suit on their own.
Your Insurance Carrier Won’t Want to Pay for Your Medical Care if They Don’t Have to
You can understand why your insurance carrier wouldn’t want to pay for your medical care. If you were hurt in some sort of accident, the responsible party should be held accountable.
Believe it or not, your Atlanta slip and fall lawyer can pursue a claim with your neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance carrier. As long as the insurance company pays your claim, you won’t have to worry about filing legal action anyway.
Even if Your Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Sues, the Insurance Company Must Represent Your Friend
If the insurance company denies your claim, you may need to take legal action. Your Atlanta slip and fall lawyer will file a lawsuit against your neighbor. Their homeowner’s insurance company will be required to defend them in court.
Usually, once the insurance company sees that you’re taking the matter seriously, they’ll be more willing to pay. While they may not pay your full claim, they may be willing to discuss a settlement with your Atlanta personal injury attorney.
Can’t Your Atlanta Injury Lawyer Find Some Other Way to Resolve Your Slip and Fall Case?
A lot of our clients ask whether our Atlanta slip and fall lawyers can get them money some other way. For example, they ask if we can simply appeal the claim with the insurance company.
It is true that your Atlanta personal injury attorney can try to appeal your claim. However, the same people who denied your claim initially will be reviewing it once again. What are the odds of them deciding any differently than they did the first time around?
Do You Really Need to Hire a Lawyer for Your Slip and Fall Claim?
You may wonder if you even need to hire an Atlanta personal injury lawyer. After all, how hard can it be to file a claim with your neighbor’s homeowner’s carrier? The truth is that the insurance adjuster won’t take you seriously if you don’t have a lawyer.
Typically, what we find is that insurance adjusters look forward to cases that don’t involve an Atlanta personal injury attorney. They figure they can either deny your claim outright. Or they can offer you a ridiculously low settlement and hope you’ll accept it.
Never Sign an Insurance Settlement Release Without First Showing it to an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer
If the insurance company makes you a settlement offer, don’t answer them right away. They should give you at least three days to make any final decisions. The insurance adjuster is hoping that you’ll just sign it and take the money.
What they don’t want to see happen is an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney taking on your case. They know they won’t be able to take advantage of your lawyer the way they can you. They certainly won’t try to convince your attorney to accept a lowball settlement.
Even if You Have to Sue, the Insurance Company Must Represent Your Neighbor
You may feel bad having to file suit against your neighbor. The problem is that you can’t sue the insurance company directly in most premises liability cases. However, that doesn’t mean your neighbor will be on their own.
The insurance company will have to represent your neighbor in court. As long as your damages are covered by their homeowner’s insurance policy, it shouldn’t cost your neighbor a penny.
Of course, there is a chance that their insurance premiums may go up, but that’s insignificant compared to having to pay your damages.
Even if Your Atlanta Slip and Fall Lawyer Sues, Your Case Will Probably Still Settle
Just because your Atlanta personal injury attorney had to sue, that doesn’t mean your case won’t settle. In fact, sometimes, by filing suit, your lawyer will motivate the defendant’s insurance company to settle.
The incentive for the insurance company to settle is being able to pay less than your full demand. When your Atlanta injury lawyer files your lawsuit, they’ll demand certain damages. If the insurance company can settle for anything less than that full demand, it’s a win for them.
What Kind of Damages Will Your Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Demand?
When your lawyer first files suit, they’ll have to list your damages in your complaint. In most of the premises liability cases our Atlanta personal injury attorneys handle, they demand some or all of the following:
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future income
- Property damage (if any)
- Pain and suffering
Usually, unless your injuries are very severe, the biggest expense you’ll experience is your medical bills. A ride to the hospital in an ambulance can cost upwards of a thousand dollars.
We Suggest You Talk to an Experienced Atlanta Slip and Fall Lawyer Right Away
If you fall and get hurt at a neighbor’s house, it may seem more embarrassing than anything else. However, if you are hurt during the fall, you may experience thousands of dollars in medical bills. Your Atlanta personal injury attorney will step in and make sure these bills are covered.
Since we offer all new clients a free, initial consultation, we suggest you call our office sooner rather than later.
