What Happens If I Am Injured As A Guest In Someone Else's Home

Getting injured on someone else’s property can be a complicated situation. If it happens at a place of business, you may have no qualms about taking action to hold the property owner responsible for your damages. However, if it happens while you are visiting the home of a friend or family member, you may be more conflicted. Fortunately, there are ways of obtaining the compensation you need without causing financial hardship to someone you care about.

Common Causes of Injuries in the Home

There are a number of situations in which you may be injured at another person’s home. Some of these situations may be caused by a homeowner’s negligence, while for others, the fault is less clear. Common examples include:

• Slip and fall accidents - Slip and fall injuries can happen on wet or cluttered floors, icy walkways, stairs, and in showers, and a variety of other areas in and around a home.
• Dog bites - Unfamiliar visitors in a home can cause a dog to feel threatened, and even a dog with no history of violence can lash out and injure a guest.
• Swimming pool accidents - In the summer months, swimming pool injuries are common due to falls, chemical contamination, unsafe use of slides and diving boards, and accidental drowning. Young children are especially at risk.
• Collapsing decks or railings - When the structure of an elevated deck or balcony is compromised, or when the railing on a stairway or upper floor is unstable, serious fall and crush injuries can occur.

Sources of Compensation in Homeowner Liability Cases

Often, when an injury happens in someone’s home, the homeowner’s insurance policy will cover some or all of the damages. There are two types of coverage that may apply. One is medical payments coverage, which can take effect no matter who is at fault for the injuries, but usually has a relatively low policy limit. The other is liability coverage, which tends to have a significantly higher policy limit but requires you to demonstrate that the homeowner is liable for your injuries.

While the homeowner may be willing to take responsibility, it can be more difficult to work with their insurance provider. For this reason, it is a good idea to work with an attorney to gather evidence, file a claim, and negotiate a fair settlement.

Contact a Lake County Premises Liability Attorney

At Salvi & Maher, LLP, we represent injury victims in homeowner liability cases to help them secure compensation as efficiently as possible. We understand that these cases can be sensitive, but that does not have to stop you from getting the financial relief you need. For a free consultation, call our Waukegan, IL personal injury lawyers today at 847-662-3303.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2048&ChapterID=57

https://www.iii.org/article/what-covered-standard-homeowners-policy