At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Georgia personal injury attorneys know that visiting neighbors, friends, and family members in their homes is common for nearly everyone in the state. Unfortunately, just because you are friends with someone or related to them doesn’t mean you may not encounter unsafe or even dangerous conditions while on their property.
Homeowners need to maintain their properties in a safe condition and take reasonable precautions to prevent incidents and injuries to guests.
To pursue damages, homeowner’s insurance typically includes liability coverage that may provide compensation for injuries suffered by guests or visitors to the property — including those caused by a slip-and-fall, dog bite, or swimming pool incident, to name a few — if the homeowner is liable for the injuries.
Here, we discuss some key points to consider before filing a claim.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Premises Liability Claim?
To have a valid claim, you must demonstrate that your neighbor was negligent and failed to take reasonable care to prevent your injury. Common examples of negligence on a homeowner’s part might include failure to maintain safe premises, warn of hazards, or address dangerous conditions on the property.
To pursue compensation through your neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance, you must typically file a claim with the insurance company. This process may involve providing documentation of your injuries, medical treatment, and evidence of your neighbor’s negligence.
Before getting started, we believe it is advisable to consult with personal injury attorneys who can help you understand your rights, assess the strength of your claim, and negotiate with the insurance company to seek fair compensation for your injuries. And that is not just because we are a personal injury law firm.
Removing yourself from the claim may be crucial to preserving your relationship when dealing with neighbors, friends, or family members. In these critical premises liability cases, our attorneys will pursue the homeowner’s insurance coverage directly, so you are not asking the at-fault party to pay for your damages out of pocket.
Remember that every case is unique, and the outcome will depend on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding your injury.
If you have been injured on another person’s property — even a neighbor, friend, or family member — in Georgia, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers and support team at Ashby Thelen Lowry at (404) 777-7771 to schedule a free consultation. This will ensure your rights are protected so you can make informed decisions about the direction of your claim.