Insurance companies are typically willing to pay some level of financial settlement for injuries that occurred on a policyholder’s property. However, the policy has a set maximum limit on the amount that can be paid, and the plaintiff cannot force the insurer to pay more. A personal injury lawyer in Baltimore, MD can advise this person as to whether pursuing a lawsuit against the property owner is a reasonable option. Often, the deciding factor is whether the owner is a commercial entity or a private individual.
Businesses more commonly have much deeper pockets than individuals do. Questions about these matters can be asked of attorneys with an organization such as the law office of Fine, Grzech, Kelly & MacMeekin, P.A during a free consultation.
An injured person may come up short financially when the insurance policy liability limits are relatively low. This is more likely with homeowners’ insurance than with corporate coverage. If the injured person needs to take substantial time off from work or suffers a permanent disability, the policy’s maximum may not provide the compensation that is deserved and necessary. The person’s own health insurance will generally cover amounts above and beyond what the liability policy pays, but there may be a steep deductible and co-pay amounts. In addition, many health insurance policies exclude a variety of treatments, therapies, and prescriptions.
A personal injury lawyer in Baltimore, MD might accept the case and file a lawsuit against a corporation if the accident occurred on a corporate property. For example, a customer at a store may trip on broken pavement in a parking lot and suffer a serious head injury or a broken back. Long-term consequences of those injuries may justify more financial compensation than the insurance policy maximum.
Whether or not the attorney accepts a case against a homeowner mainly depends on whether the individual has substantial assets that could be sold to provide a significantly higher level of compensation than the insurance provides. Most people do not. Homeowners generally have mortgages and a relatively small amount of savings–if any at all. Even if the court sides with the plaintiff, the homeowners can probably declare bankruptcy and avoid paying.
Follow Fine, Grzech, Kelly & MacMeekin, P.A for latest updates.
