Filing Claims Against Your Family or Friends
Obviously, some concerns may arise when a person close to you causes an accident where you have suffered injuries. For many people, the discomfort of filing a claim against a family member or friend is enough to dissuade them from doing something to recover compensation for their loss.
Fortunately, almost all car accident cases are covered by liability insurance policies where any payment made related to a personal injury is made by the insurance company, not by the individual.
Accidents Caused by Family Members
Most accidents with friends and family are road accidents. This is often the case when parents or siblings drive a car with family members as passengers in an accident.
The careless driver’s insurance company will handle the claims of the other driver and his passengers. In addition, the insurance company will also resolve your claims as an innocent passenger in the vehicle that caused the accident.
Making the Decision to Sue Family Members or Friends
It is not easy or cheap to treat the injury caused by accident. In addition, when a family member is found to be at fault for the accident then things become even more complicated. No one is likely to ever be comfortable when thinking about suing his/her loved ones, but the hard truth is that you will need a lot of money to recover from your injuries and this is the best way to obtain that compensation.
The Process for Filing a Claim
Once you decide that you need to file a claim, the first step is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. After that, these are likely the steps that will occur:
- Assessment of your claim – Accident and personal injury claims are not the result of a crime. An investigation of the accident scene should be done to collect information that will be used for establishing your claim in front of the court. Experienced lawyers have the knowledge and experience to gather such information.
- File documentation in court – A legal document known as lawsuit will be written by your attorney and filed with the court. This document alleges that the defendant has caused injuries to you as a plaintiff.
- Before the trial – After filing the lawsuit in court, your attorney will collect all the necessary information to give a solid base to your claim. Your attorney will collect medical records, meeting with the defendant’s attorney, and interview witnesses. During this time, the defendant may offer a settlement.
Contact an Experienced Attorney Today
If you have been injured in an accident involving a family member or friend, although the last thing you may want to do is file a lawsuit against them to collect compensation, it may be your best, or even only, option. The West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP can review your situation with you and help you understand what your legal options are for getting the compensation that you need and are entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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