Should I Sue My Neighbor?

Should I Sue My Neighbor?

Maybe your neighbor’s dog bit you or your child. Perhaps you fell while inside your neighbor’s house and have a broken bone. One of the only ways to avoid paying for the medical bills out of your own pocket or with your insurance is to place a claim against your neighbor’s home owners policy.

Whether you sue or not, your neighbor is likely to see a claim against his or her home insurance policy. And your neighbor is likely to pay some money out of pocket. Every home insurance policy has a deductible so if there is a claim against the policy, your neighbor could be seeing a cash payment of $500, minimum. However, most home insurance policies have deductibles of $2,500 or $5,000.

If you don’t directly place a claim against your neighbor’s insurance policy, your health insurance company is likely to do it anyway. Your health insurance company doesn’t want to pay out on medical bills that could be paid using a different insurance policy. So if they suspect or determine that your injuries occurred in a neighbor’s home, the health insurance company will effectively sue the home insurance company. When insurance companies sue each other, it’s call subrogation.

If you’ve been injured because of a neighbor’s neglect or fault, there may be no way to avoid a legal battle. Consult with a personal injury attorney and keep your neighbor informed about the progress. While it might make for difficult neighborhood gatherings, there may be no way to avoid the conflict.