What Should You Do if You Get Hurt at a Friend’s Holiday Party in Richmond?

If you get injured at a friend or neighbor’s house during the holidays, an experienced Richmond injury lawyer can help you file a claim. Call Virginia Injury Law today for more information.

Now that we’re well into the holiday season, you’ve probably already been to a few parties. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic plaguing the nation, small gatherings of friends and family are taking place. It’s a time when people like to get together and have a good time. The last thing you expect is to get hurt while at a holiday party. If this happens, there are a few things you need to do.

The first thing you need to do is go to the hospital. You need to get checked out even if you think you’re okay. There’s no way to know for sure. Even if you’re a doctor, there’s no way to know if you’ve suffered an internal injury. At the hospital, they’ll do the necessary tests to make sure you’re okay. You could have a traumatic brain injury or concussion.

The next thing you need to do is document the incident. Unlike a workplace injury or slip and fall, you won’t have an actual form to fill out. A lot of people also don’t think to call the cops at a time like this. Unless the injury involved a fight of some sort, very few people think to call the authorities. So, the best way to document that incident could be a video on your cell phone. Or you could write an email to the homeowner just recapping what happened. The longer you wait to document it, the less accurate it will be. Your Richmond personal injury lawyer will need a description of the events. The more detailed your story, the better. 

Your Richmond Personal Injury Attorney Will Help Pursue the Insurance Company

More often than not, these cases are resolved through insurance. You can file a claim against your friend’s homeowner’s policy. If they own their home, then they’re required to carry insurance. If they rent their home, you can pursue the landlord’s insurance company. If you’re lucky, your claim will be paid right away. If this is the case, you’ll have a check within a couple of weeks. If your claim is denied, then you’re definitely going to want to call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Richmond. 

Your lawyer will reach out to the insurance company. They’ll find out why your claim was denied. They can also try to negotiate payment of your claim. If this doesn’t work, you’ll have no choice but to file suit.

Nobody Wants to Sue a Friend or Neighbor

As mentioned earlier, if you can’t settle your claim with the insurance company, you won’t have any other choice – you’ll have to sue. Most people tell their personal injury attorney in Richmond that they don’t want to sue a friend. The truth is that you’re really pursuing the insurance company. You do need to name your friend in the lawsuit. But that’s in case the insurance company doesn’t pay. Or the policy may not cover all of your damages. In that sort of situation, the individual would be liable for the difference. 

Contact a Skilled Richmond Injury Lawyer Right Away

It’s important that you contact a personal injury lawyer in Richmond sooner rather than later. You only have a certain amount of time to file suit in Virginia. This is because the statute of limitations in Richmond is only two (2) years. This may sound like a lot of time. However, by the time you get the medical care you need, several months may have gone by. There’s also bound to be a lot of back and forth with the defendant’s insurance company. You could lose quite some time just waiting to see if your claim will be paid.

Despite what a lot of people think, your attorney will need time to prepare your case. They don’t want to have to run down to the courthouse at the eleventh hour to file your lawsuit. They need to review the evidence and determine if you have a valid claim. They also need to talk to the other party and see where they stand. If they can find a way to settle your case, that’ll be their first priority. If this isn’t possible, they will file suit on your behalf. 

The only way to know how your case will proceed is to call a skilled personal injury attorney in Richmond. At Virginia Injury Law, the initial consultation is free, and you don’t pay a dime until your case is resolved.