From a fender bender to a full-on crash, most accidents are largely resolved either through insurance or a lawsuit barring inadequate compensation for damages. Since most cases involve a complete stranger who has somehow wronged another person, there are no emotions but instead facts and rights to fight for. But when a friend or family member is on the other side of a lawsuit, the whole situation becomes much more complicated.
Suing Someone Close to You
The first thing to address about suing a friend is that in many cases, you won’t actually be suing them. In reality, if you’re fighting for compensation for injuries or damages to your personal property, you will essentially be making a claim against your friend’s insurance. Many insurance policies include factors that keep a person from being personally liable for another person’s injuries. Odds are, the person who is close to you is already paying premiums for this kind of protection.
Because of this, the claim will often be settled before it can actually evolve into a lawsuit against your friend or loved one personally. If the insurance company is not cooperating, however, then you may actually have to sue your friend or loved one. But even in these cases, their insurance provider will often provide a lawyer for them. It’s also very important to know that you have the option to tell your lawyer that you would only like to sue your friend for what their insurance can pay out and nothing beyond that.
Whether you want to sue someone you know beyond what their insurance can provide is entirely up to you.
Suing a friend or loved one can seem very awkward and emotional – but it’s important to protect yourself as others would protect themselves. There is nothing inherently wrong with fighting for the compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you know is suing a friend for compensation following an accident, contact a personal injury attorney who could help. Contact the law offices of Andres and Berger today to schedule your case consultation.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
