Getting into an accident with a friend is not uncommon. Whether you are walking around a mall and trip or someone else hits you while you are driving to the grocery store, you are bound to get into an accident with a friend if you spend a lot of time with them. However, what happens when your friend is the cause of the accident? Things may suddenly become very awkward if you were on your friend’s property and you slipped, fell, and became injured. In fact, it can feel so uncomfortable for you to file a claim that you may be more tempted to move on from it and pay for your own medical bills. Before you do this, you should speak with a lawyer to determine your next steps.
Lawyering up against my friend sounds like a bad idea. Won’t this ruin a friendship?
It is important to understand that if you slip and fall on your friend’s property your claim will not be against your friend. You’re not getting a lawyer to take your friend to court to try and get money out of them. Instead, if you have a legitimate claim for slipping and falling on your friend’s property, a Des Moines, IA slip and fall lawyer can help you get through the steps of filing a claim.
Why not just save the awkwardness and pay on my own?
It may sound like the best option at first because no one wants to make things uncomfortable with a friend; however, there are many serious dangers that can accompany slipping and falling. Possible injuries you may get from a slip and fall accident are:
- Spine injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- A neck injury
- A traumatic brain injury
- Cuts or abrasions
Some of these injuries could lead to serious and permanent damage and you may be surprised if you find out you need surgery, time off of work, and physical therapy. When you suffer from injuries that disrupt your life and cause damages (like needing to take time off of work or having expensive medical bills), it is not your obligation to pay for these.
Your lawyer from Des Moines Injury Law will work to get you a fair settlement instead of going to court and can help walk you through the steps of filing a claim against your friend’s insurance. It is important to understand that if your friend has a danger on their property or any type of hazard, they should keep their property safe or warn those who may be visiting if there are any hazards.
It is unlikely that your case will make it to court, so long as you and your friend’s insurance company can reach a settlement that is fair to you.
When you become injured by slipping and falling on a friend’s property and are cautious about filing a claim, turn to the law firm you can trust. Give our office a call when you have questions about filing your slip and fall claim.
