I Was Injured in Someone Else’s Home. Who Pays My Medical Bills?

 Posted on October 14,2020 in Premises Liability

When you are visiting a neighbor, friend, or family member’s home, the last thing you probably expect is to suffer a serious injury. However, many people find themselves in this very situation. If you were injured in a fall accident, fire, or another incident while on another person’s property, you may wonder whether the other person is responsible for the costs incurred by your injury. The answer to this question largely depends on the circumstances of your injury and whether the property owner’s negligence contributed to the accident.

Injuries Caused by Property Owner Negligence

A property owner cannot prevent every injury on his or her property. After all, accidents do happen. However, property owners do have an obligation to keep their premises free of unreasonable hazards. If an unsafe condition does exist on someone’s property, the property owner should warn any guests to the property so that they can take the appropriate action to avoid injury. If a property owner, including a homeowner, fails to prevent foreseeable injuries on his or her property, it is possible that he or she will be liable for the costs incurred by those injuries. Dangerous conditions such as damaged stairs, loose handrails, slippery floors, icy walkways, or insufficient fire alarms may lead guests to be severely injured. If a property owner knew or should have known about a hazardous condition on his or her property and a guest was harmed because of the hazardous condition, the property owner may be responsible for the costs incurred by the injury. Fortunately, most homeowners have homeowner’s insurance which will cover the costs resulting from a guest’s injury.

Bringing a Claim Against the Property Owner’s Homeowner’s Insurance

If you suffered injuries that resulted in expensive medical bills and other costs while visiting someone else’s property, that person’s homeowner’s insurance may be liable for your damages. If you choose to bring a premises liability claim and pursue financial compensation, you will most likely be bringing the legal action against the insurance company – not the actual property owner. You may be entitled to compensation for your:

• Medical bills and ongoing medical needs including rehabilitative care
• Lost wages from the time you spent off work
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Insurance companies often offer personal injury payouts that do not fully cover an injured person’s costs. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you negotiate a settlement that takes all of your damages into account.

Contact a Lake County Premises Liability Lawyer

If you were hurt while on someone else’s property, you may recover compensation by filing a claim with the property owner’s homeowner’s insurance company. Contact Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. and schedule a free, personalized consultation with a skilled Waukegan personal injury attorney to learn more. Call us at 847-662-3303 today.

Source:

https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/120.00.pdf