Can I Sue my Friend if I got Injured at Their House?

Were you injured from an accident while you were at your friend’s house? Was there a dangerous condition on the premises that caused you to be injured? Hazards at a residential property include:

• Water and other slippery substances on the floor
• Failure to remove ice and snow
• Aggressive or unrestrained dogs (dog bites, knocked over by a dog)
• Cracks in sidewalks and walkways
• Faulty stairs / missing or defective handrails
• Poor lighting in hallways, corridors, garbage areas, etc.

This is a tricky situation, as you are entitled to compensation under the state’s premises liability laws. On the other hand, the incident occurred at the home of someone you love and care about. This isn’t like a slip and fall at a supermarket, where you wouldn’t hesitate to speak to a manager and file an accident claim for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other monetary damages.

Please keep reading to learn what you should do if you had an accident while you were at a friend’s house. In the event your accident was caused by negligent circumstances, the premises liability lawyers of Normandie are here to advise you of your rights and legal options.

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Can I Sue my Friend if I Fall in Her House?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit against your friend if you fell down at their home, meaning you were injured from a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. However, you will need to prove the following:

• Your accident was caused by a condition that clearly had the potential to cause a fall-related accident.
• This was a condition that your friend was aware of, or should have been aware of (water from a leaking pipe, ice on the steps, etc.).
• You were injured as a direct result of this condition and suffered one or more injuries.
• Your injuries have resulted in monetary losses, which entitles you to file a claim for compensation.

We understand that the idea of suing a friend is uncomfortable, and you are afraid of how doing so may compromise your relationship. Keep in mind, however, that your friend may have homeowner’s insurance specifically for this purpose. The lawsuit process actually begins with an insurance claim, which you should file as soon as possible.

Most of these claims are covered by the policy limits, but if you have severe injuries, your friend may be responsible for any amount that’s remaining. This is where you need a skilled attorney by your side, who can navigate the complexities of negotiating a settlement against someone that’s close to you. Let us take care of talking to the insurance company and their attorneys, while you focus on recovering from your physical and mental injuries.

Who Can I Sue if I got Hurt at my Friend’s Apartment?

Were you injured at a house or apartment that your friend is renting from someone else? These lawsuits are more complicated, as you will need to determine exactly who is responsible for accidents that occur on the premises. If your friend has renter’s insurance, for example, you can probably file a claim through them, though you will have to verify that their policy covers third party accidents and injuries.

You may also have the option of filing a lawsuit against the landlord, which may be an individual or leasing company. In some cases, you may need to sue a homeowner’s association, condo board, or property management company. Our attorneys can help you establish who is liable if you were injured by negligence at a friend’s apartment building or rental home.

If I was Bitten by a Dog at my Friend’s Home, Can I Sue?

Yes, you have the right to sue for injuries from being bitten by a dog while you were visiting a friend. California operates under the premise of strict liability for animal attacks, meaning the owner is responsible for any harm that’s caused by their pet. There are exceptions, like a dog lashing out because they are being abused or while trying to protect their owner from an attack. But in most cases, you would be suing the owner of the dog, which may be your friend.

If the dog belongs to someone else – another guest, tenant in the apartment building, etc., that’s the person you would sue for monetary damages. The dog owner may have an insurance plan that covers these incidents, or you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Either way, it’s best to speak with a lawyer that’s experienced in dog bite injury cases before you undertake any legal action against the owner.

What to Do if You are Injured at Your Friend’s House

Now that we’ve discussed who is responsible for your accident at a friend’s house, let’s go over the steps you should take to protect your rights as an injury victim:

• Take photos of any injuries, the cause of the accident, and the exact location where you were injured.
• If there were witnesses that saw the accident, ask for their contact information.
• Seek medical attention right away to treat your injuries and establish evidence of the harm you suffered.
• Keep all your medical records, like hospital bills and prescriptions, which you will need to submit to the insurance company.
• Gather evidence of other monetary losses, like income lost from your job and property that was damaged in the accident.

Statute of Limitations to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit

A lawsuit for being injured at your friend’s house or apartment must be filed within 2 years from the incident date. However, you can also file a lawsuit based on the discovery of an injury from the accident. For example, you may have a brain injury that takes over 2 years to develop, meaning it was not diagnosed until long after you were injured from falling down at your friend’s home. Even though the statute of limitations has already passed, you still have 1 year from the date of discovery (diagnosis) to sue your friend for monetary losses resulting from the accident.

How Much can I Receive from a Lawsuit against my Friend?

The total amount you can receive from a personal injury lawsuit can range from $5,000 to $10,000,000. On average, settlements recovered by our attorneys are between $15,000 to $2,500,000 for slip and falls and trip and falls. Dog bite claims are worth $10,000 to $250,000, though amounts may be higher depending on the injuries and if the owner was grossly negligent / reckless if their duty of care. Dog bite lawsuits with permanent damage, including nerve damage and significant disfigurement, may be settled for over $1,000,000.

How Long will it Take for my Case to Settle?

If your injuries are not severe and/or permanent, your case may be settled in 3 to 6 months. If there are serious, long-term injuries and significant monetary losses, it can take 2 or more years to reach a settlement.

It’s always our goal to negotiate a settlement on your behalf as soon as possible. That way, you and your friend can put this incident behind you and hopefully, move forward with your relationship. However, ensuring that you receive a fair amount of compensation is our duty as your legal representative. It can be challenging to balance these objectives, but rest assured that we have decades of experience with lawsuits between friends and family members. Our legal team is here to guide you through the process from start to finish, with the compassion and sensitivity that’s required when you are suing a friend for an accident on their property.

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Our law firm operates under the Zero Fee Guarantee, which means you pay nothing towards the cost of legal fees. We represent you for $0 and wait until the end of your case, when we receive a percentage of your settlement award. That means we have to win your case to receive payment; otherwise, you are not responsible for any legal fees.

A personal injury attorney is ready to speak with you if you are interested in a free case evaluation. We also have legal experts who are happy to offer you a free second opinion on a pending lawsuit for injuries from an accident at your friend’s house. All you have to do is contact u 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your available legal options with an experienced premises liability lawyer.