How to Handle a Personal Injury Claim Against a Friend or Family Member

If a person sustains any kind of medical injury due to the carelessness or negligence of another person, he or she has the right to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. Most of the time, such cases will be filed against strangers. For example, a claim might be filed against a person you were involved in a car accident with. What should you do, however, if the personal injury claim is being filed against someone you do know and trust, like a friend or family member?

These kinds of claims tend to be the most difficult to deal with emotionally because it becomes more than seeking money from a stranger who hurt you. Firstly, you need to look at what this kind of claim might do to your relationship with the friend or family member. Could perhaps the situation be handled without the need to take it to court? For example, if you were in a car accident with a friend, could you instead agree on the best way to pay for the damages? Would it even be better to accept a simple apology due to the nature of the relationship?

Those are questions that no one but yourself can answer. Sometimes, it is best to go to court against someone close to you if you need to be sure the finances will be dispensed. Perhaps that friend or family member is giving you a hard time with the situation and you need to ask yourself if the relationship is even worth trying to mend.

However you decide to proceed with your personal injury claim, it is always best to get an objective point of view on the situation. You and the friend or family member might be too close to the situation and therefore need an outside perspective to help determine what your options can and should be. At the Franco Law Firm, we would be happy to provide this for you in the form of a free consultation for your personal injury claim. To learn more and to schedule one today, please call us at (813) 872-0929.