Tips for Tactfully Handling Injuries on a Friend’s Property

Imagine a friend has invited you to dinner. Like the countless times before, you accepted and offered to bring a side dish. However, upon arrival, as you excitedly approach the door with your arms full of food, your foot gracefully finds a tool that was left in the driveway that afternoon after the homeowners finished with the lawn work. Yes, your pride and the side dish you artfully prepared both suffer brutally; however, the more significant problem is the broken wrist you sustained as a result of the injury.

Whether this is your situation or not, sustaining an injury at a friend’s house is a delicate matter. On the one hand, you want to brush off the damage to maintain the friendship. But on the other hand, your medical bills are accumulating and your loss of work is not making the matter better.

Consider the following tips and tricks for handling a premises liability case similar to the example above.

You will want to be sure of the injury you sustained before approaching your party and potentially jeopardizing your relationship. Therefore, you should first seek medical attention immediately, whether that means taking a trip to the emergency room or scheduling an appointment with your physician first thing in the morning.

From the very beginning, you will want to keep a detailed journal of your experiences. Keep an itemized list of every day missed from work, trips to a specialist, or medication you must fill. Having accurate records will help when emotions become involved.

Make time to speak with your friend directly about your experience. Invite him or her out for coffee or another neutral location to discuss your experience. Explain to your friend how the injury is impacting your life. Let him or her know that you do not want to jeopardize the friendship, but financially you cannot accept the full responsibility.

The claim will not be against your friend directly but rather against his or her homeowner’s insurance. In most circumstances, your friend may experience a slight increase in his or her insurance premium; but this outcome is often preferable to either party paying for the cost out of pocket.

If you sustained injuries at the home of a friend or relative, the last thing you likely want to do is contact an attorney. However, the case is probably not a direct attack on your friend, but is instead a request for an insurance company to pay the cost of the injury. Insurance companies do not have your best interest in mind; in fact, they often go out of their way to protect their company's costs by reducing the amount a victim receives.

A Monterey premises liability attorney will help you earn the most financial compensation for your injury while doing his or her best to preserve the delicate balance of your relationship with the homeowner. The attorneys at Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P have your best interest at heart and will use their knowledge and expertise to defend your claim and earn you the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (408) 298-7200 to set-up a free, no-obligation consultation.

• PLD-PI-001(4) Cause of Action-Premises Liability