If you have had some sort of accident on your property you might be wondering if there is a way to protect yourself from a personal injury lawsuit. There is no way to definitively make sure you aren't sued, or that the lawsuit doesn't rule against you, but there are some things that you can do to protect yourself. Here are some things you should know.
1. Be Honest About The Risk
Anytime you host something at your house, or have people over, be honest and forthcoming about any risks. For instance, if there is a trampoline make sure that the children ask their parents before they can jump on it. This passes the burden of risk to them rather than on you. Additionally, you could even put up a sign if you have a pool or something letting people know that there is no life guard and that they swim or jump on the tramp at their own risk. Lastly, if you are having a party or hosting an event at your house where someone could potentially get hurt, you can get release forms from the parents so that you no longer hold the responsibility of their safety.
2. Have Liability Insurance
Even with the best planning there is no way to totally absolve yourself of responsibility, and there will be cases where you are found liable for an accident. This is why you should always carry some sort of liability insurance. First, you need to make sure that your homeowners insurance has liability coverage. Meaning that if something happens on your home property that you are protected and the insurance company will help you pay for any damages that you are found responsible for. Second, you should always have liability coverage with your car insurance. A large majority of personal injury lawsuits that are filed are in relation to car accidents. Thus, you should always make sure that you are protected with your auto insurance. Some states require that you carry liability insurance, but others do not. This is not a place to try and cut costs, you could be financially ruined if there is a lawsuit that is found against you.
3. Consult An Attorney
If at any time you believe that you might be at risk for a lawsuit, talk to an attorney. It is always better to talk to an attorney about how to prevent the lawsuit than to talk to them after everything has blown up. Just a phone call to discuss protecting yourself can make a huge difference.
For more information, contact a business such as Wegner C Dennis & Assoc.