Who Should I Call if I'm Hurt While Away From Home?

Accidents can potentially happen anywhere, whether you are out of state or even in another country. Some common accidents and incidents away from home include: 

Slips and Falls

Falls can occur for many reasons, including wearing the wrong footwear. However, if you slipped and fell on another’s property due to a hazardous condition, you could have legal recourse. Dangerous and unsafe conditions include but are not limited to: 

• Unsafe staircases
• Snow or ice accumulations on walkways or stairs
• Wet and slippery floors
• Broken floorboards
• Obstructions and cluttered walkways
• Loose mats and bulging carpets
• Inadequate lighting

Lack of Security

Lack of security can lead to robberies, violent attacks and assaults, and even murder. If a property owner fails to install adequate security such as security cameras, locks on doors, gates and fencing, and others, they could be liable for your expenses. Lack of security incidents can practically occur anywhere, such as in hotels, parking garages, medical facilities, malls, and elsewhere.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

A dog owner is responsible for keeping their animal under control at all times. If you or a loved one got attacked by a dog and suffered physical and emotional injuries, you could sue the owner for damages. 

Swimming Pool Accidents

Swimming pools have many potential hazards, in particular for the very young and the elderly. Slips and falls on wet and slippery floors or pool slide accidents can be common. Pool accidents can result in serious, debilitating, and costly injuries. If a swimming pool owner or operator is responsible, you could be entitled to damages.

Common injuries when away from home due to a slip and fall or other accident include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury
• Lacerations and cuts
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Electric shocks

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), assaults and violent attacks involving negligent security typically result in facial injuries, lacerations, and fractures. Moreover, if an attack involves a weapon, the victim could be permanently disabled or pass away from their injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury or permanent disability after an accident, medical costs, income loss, and other expenses could be astronomical. Moreover, with a long-term injury, you could incur considerable costs in the future. If someone else recklessly or carelessly caused your injury, you could qualify for damages including:

• Past, present, and future healthcare expenses
• Loss of income and future loss of income
• Emotional distress
• Physical pain and anguish
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Household assistance
• Modification of your home and vehicle
• Disfigurement
• Permanent disability

If you got hurt while not at home, who you call can be vital for preserving your rights to justice and compensation. A seasoned personal injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan can help you get clear on your legal options and fight for what you deserve on your behalf.

Accidents and injuries away from home can occur with unsafe conditions due to the negligence of property or business owners. 

Premises Liability Law

Premises liability means that an owner or lessee who failed to make their property safe for visitors could be responsible if someone comes to harm due to a dangerous condition. Accidents can be caused by lack of maintenance, negligent security, and other reasons. In premises liability cases, the injured person must prove that a property owner or lessee was negligent or careless in some way.

Getting hurt away from home can cause devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences. However, if a property owner or other party is responsible for your injuries, they should pay for your damages and not you. Our determined injury attorneys can walk you through your legal options and fight for what you deserve.

Getting hurt while away can be confusing and stressful. Moreover, being far away from your usual support system, doctors, familiar medical facilities, and family can be frightening. However, taking some important steps can prevent you from running into problems when you get hurt while not at home: 

Seek Medical Attention

Depending on your injuries, you can call 911 for assistance or visit a local medical center. The sooner you get checked out by a doctor, the better. According to the Mayo Clinic, traumatic brain injury (TBI), a common accident injury, may not show symptoms for days or weeks. Having a doctor diagnose and treat any injuries promptly can shorten your recovery time and help you get your life back on track sooner.

Collect Evidence

If someone else is responsible for your accident and injury, you could file a personal injury lawsuit. However, to be successful, you will require relevant evidence proving the fault of the other party. You will also have to prove your injuries and losses in connection with the accident. Evidence can include:

• Photographs of the accident scene and injuries
• Receipts for out-of-pocket costs and medical bills
• Statements from eyewitnesses 

If you get hurt in a store or restaurant, ensure to report the accident to management. Ask to fill in an accident report and make sure to take a copy of the report with you, as this could be vital evidence in court.  

Call an Injury Attorney

An injury lawyer can be a great choice to call if you get hurt while not at home. Most first consultations with personal injury attorneys are free, allowing you to get valuable advice regarding your particular situation. Notably, a local injury attorney could also help you get medical care or other assistance you might need while injured away from home. 

If you get injured while away from home, you need an advocate on your side who can ensure that you receive adequate medical care and legal advice. Morgan & Morgan knows how to handle your injury case away from home efficiently and confidently. We can help fight for what you deserve by:

Gathering the Evidence to Prove Your Case

If you are not well and away from home, you most likely have a lot on your plate. The last thing on your mind should be gathering documents, reports, photographs, and witness statements. Our legal team can collect the evidence needed to prove your case while you are recovering from your injuries.

Assessing Your Damages 

If you do not know what your case is worth, you could leave money on the table in negotiations with the defendant or their insurance company. Our experienced attorneys can calculate your losses and damages accurately and fight for a fair and comprehensive settlement on your behalf. 

Fighting for What You Deserve

Insurance companies are experts in dragging out or denying claims. For accident victims, especially when injured away from home, fighting an insurer for every dollar can feel exhausting. Morgan & Morgan’s lawyers can handle all negotiations and communication with the insurance company. If an insurer refuses to settle, we will see them in court and fight for what you deserve at trial. 

Most of all, having America’s largest personal injury law firm on your side gives you peace of mind and the knowledge that you are in safe and experienced hands. We have secured more than $20 billion in damages for our clients over the years and could help you get justice too. 

Premises liability law can apply to all kinds of property, including public premises. You could potentially sue the responsible party whether you came to harm in a government building, a parking garage, or even on a broken sidewalk, to name just a few examples. 

However, if you got hurt on public property, your case could be more complicated. Filing a suit against a government entity could involve additional regulations, laws, and tighter time limits. If you think you have a case against a local or state government, consider speaking to a personal injury lawyer who can guide you through the complex legal issues involving public property.

No two injury claims are the same. While it is impossible to know the exact value of your case, an attorney can estimate the approximate worth of your damages. How much compensation you could receive can depend on many factors, such as:

• The facts and details of your accident
• The extent of your injury
• Who is at fault for the accident 
• The scope of your medical treatments and costs
• Your insurance coverage
• The amount of income you lost due to the injury
• The extent of your pain and suffering
• The future impact of the injury on your work and home life

One of our personal injury lawyers can assess your losses and future expected damages and give you an indication of the worth of your case.

Since you do not have an unlimited amount of time for filing a lawsuit, knowing the deadlines in your state is vital. The statute of limitations, determining how long victims can sue, varies from one state to another. While many states give injured individuals at least two years to file suit, some factors, such as taking a government entity to court, can considerably shorten the timeframe available.

If you miss the deadline in your state, you risk losing your right to claim damages as your case could simply get thrown out by the court. Therefore, it can be crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible after suffering an injury away from home. A personal injury lawyer from our firm can walk you through your options and ensure that you are not missing any vital deadlines.

Most personal injury attorneys, including those handling premises liability claims, work on a "contingency fee" basis. In this instance, you are not responsible for any upfront attorney’s charges as the fees for representing you will be deducted from your settlement or damages if you win. If you lose your case, you will not be responsible for paying any lawyer’s fees. However, every law firm’s fee percentage varies. Some attorneys also charge their clients upfront for any costs involved with filing the lawsuit, such as court fees.

Morgan & Morgan wants to help injury victims get their due. We believe that you deserve quality legal representation, regardless of financial circumstances. We do not charge you a dime unless and until we win and you receive damages or an out-of-court settlement. You pay nothing out of your pocket and have no financial risks when working with us.

Our compassionate and dedicated personal injury attorneys understand that those hurt away from home need additional support to deal with their injuries, paperwork, and legal issues. If you feel alone or overwhelmed, Morgan & Morgan is here to help and fight for what you need to put your life back together. 

No matter where your accident and injury occurred, with more than 1,000 attorneys nationwide working tirelessly for the injured, we are just around the corner. Don’t struggle alone. If you got hurt while not at home, call us for free help and advice now.