Suing a neighbor is an uncomfortable idea — but it may be necessary in some cases.
Most parents dream of living in a neighborhood with plenty of kids, where their little ones can roam and play in each others’ yards. It sounds idyllic — and it can be! But what happens if your child is injured when playing at a neighbor’s house?
There are plenty of risks for kids when they are playing both inside and outside. There are many ways that your child could potentially be hurt while engaging in active play with their friends — broken bones on trampolines, dog bites, falling downstairs, and more. In some cases, these injuries can be incredibly serious, requiring expensive medical care and for one or both parents to take time off of work to care for their child. In the most tragic accidents, the child dies or is permanently disabled as a result of their injury.
If your child has been hurt while playing at a neighbor’s house, it can be hard to know what to do. Can you sue the neighbor ? Will it cause them to lose everything? How will that impact your living situation if you file a lawsuit against your neighbor? At the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we are skilled at handling all types of personal injury cases involving kids, from playground incidents to slip and falls to car crashes. If your child has been injured while playing at a neighbor’s house, you can count on our experienced personal injury attorneys to help you through the process.
Who Is Responsible?
When your child is playing at a neighbor’s house (with their permission), that neighbor is responsible for keeping them safe from harm. That means that they need to take reasonable steps to ensure that the kids playing at their house are safe. If your child is hurt while playing at their house because they failed to supervise them, had a dangerous piece of equipment, or just from an accident, they may be responsible for the damages.
In a personal injury case, damages could include medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses for anything related to the injury, lost wages, and possibly pain and suffering. The specific damages that you recover will depend on the facts of your case.
Can I Really Sue My Neighbor?
The most important question for many people in this situation is whether they can or should sue a neighbor for compensation for their child’s injuries. While the answer to this question will vary based on the individuals involved, you may not have much of a choice in the matter if you want your child’s medical bills to be covered.
This is because many health insurance companies will require you to seek coverage for the injury from the other person’s insurance company — which means that if you don’t file a claim, you may be stuck with the bill yourself. For most parents, it isn’t possible for them to pay $5,000, $10,000, or even 100,000 worth of medical expenses — and so a lawsuit is their only option.
Of course, it may not even be necessary to file a lawsuit. Working with a personal injury attorney, you could submit a demand letter to your neighbor’s home owner’s insurance, outlining why you believe that their insured is liable and your total damages. If the insurance company pays the claim, then no further steps will be required. It is only if the insurance company refuses to pay that a lawsuit will be required — and even in that situation, the insurance company will defend the suit and pay out any awards or settlements. You should not worry that your neighbor will be on the hook — this is why they have insurance, after all.
If your child has been hurt while playing at a neighbor’s house, you will need a highly skilled personal injury attorney to help you through the process. Contact the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your options — and we’ll never charge you a fee unless we get money for you!
