What to do if I fell putting up a tree stand on a friend’s parents’ property but they say that their homeowner’s insurance will not pay medical bills, etc. because it was supposedly a hunting incident?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if I fell putting up a tree stand on a friend’s parents’ property but they say that their homeowner’s insurance will not pay medical bills, etc. because it was supposedly a hunting incident?
I was helping to put a tree stand up but we were not hunting. Broke a bone in leg and had to have emergency surgery and now am out of work for 24 -26 weeks. Not sure if they are telling truth. What are my choices?
Asked on November 19, 2014 under Personal Injury, Virginia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
Review your friend's parents' policy with them, if they'll let you (they do not need to let you see their policy if the don't want; and they don't need to put in a claim on your bahalf, either, if they choose to not do so): if there is an exclusion or exemption for hunting accidents in the policy, then the insurer does not have to pay. Insurance policies are contracts, and the insurer only has to pay in those situations it contracted to pay. If you don't believe your friend's parents or they won't let you see the policy, your only option is to sue them--your friend's parents--for the money, but it is very likely you'd lose anyway: a homeowner is only liable for injuries on his, her, or their land if they were negligent, or careless, in some way. If you fell while putting up a tree stand, it is very difficult to see how your friend's parents would have been negligent in causing, and therefore at fault for, you injury.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.