Chair pulled out from under me.

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Chair pulled out from under me.

I had a chair pulled out from under me. I wanted to just let it heal, but it has not. What are my rights? What steps should i take to protect myself?

Asked on May 28, 2009 under Personal Injury, Alabama

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 14 years ago | Contributor

If a chair was pulled out from under you, then you may have a personal injury law suit--in negligence, if it was done carelessly, or for tortious assault if it was deliberate. Not knowing the facts, we can't say how strong or weak your case is, just that you might have one.

In terms of your rights, you have the right to not be carelessly or deliberately injured, and if someone violates that right, you can sue them for the monetary damages you've suffered, such as: out-of-pocket medical bills, lost wages or income (if you missed work), the cost of any special shows or canes or crutches, the cost of any assistance or nursing care, the value of anything else (like concert tickets or a vacation) you could not go to. You might be able to get pain and suffering, if you were badly injured; it's *very* doubtful you could get any punitive damages.

Before bringing a lawsuit though, bear in mind that retaining an attorney and filing a case can be expensive, and if the case is contested--if the defendant doesn't quickly settle--the costs can add up very fast. Depending on how badly you were injured, it might not be worth it. Are there other sources of compensation you could look to first? For example, if injured at work, your company's workers compensation policy?

In terms of protecting yourself, make sure you don't make any statements, particularly in writing (and including online, such as on Facebook) that either contradict your account of the accident or let the person who pulled the chair out from under "off the hook." When we talk about events, it's hard to always make sure we're saying the same thing, the same way, and contradictory or out-of-context statements can hurt a case.


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.

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