Giving Yourself Permission: When You Feel Guilty About Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit But It's Necessary

It can be hard to make the decision to file a personal injury lawsuit. It's possible you were permanently disabled because of an accident caused by a friend. Some people feel guilty about filing a lawsuit, even when they are entitled to compensation for their injuries. If you find yourself considering a lawsuit, but you aren't sure if you can go through with it emotionally, you have to take into consideration a number of factors.

Your Amount of Fault for the Accident

If you were at a party drinking and decided to climb on the roof to try and jump into the pool, the injuries you sustained are your fault. While you may be able to place some blame on the homeowner, you are responsible for your actions while you were intoxicated. If you were behaving responsibly and your injury is significant, your percentage of fault could be zero. In the case of a car accident, if you were more than 51% at fault for the accident, you will not be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

How Permanent Your Injuries Are

If you were hurt at a friend's house and you are out of work for a week or two, your injury probably isn't worth a lawsuit. Even if you got hurt because of your friend's negligence, you have to consider how serious your injuries are and what it would mean to your friendship. If your injuries have left you permanently disabled, you will have expenses to cover that will be near impossible without compensation from a lawsuit.

When You Can't Afford Treatment

Even if you have health insurance, you may not be able to afford all of the treatment you need because of your injuries. If you can't afford treatment and you were hurt because of the negligence of a property owner, it won't hurt to file a personal injury lawsuit against the homeowner's insurance. While a friend may be offended because of the lawsuit, you can explain that you are only pursuing compensation to pay for treatment. You can file a lawsuit against an insurance policy without filing a personal lawsuit against your friend.

If you are seriously injured and you are going to spend a lot of time out of work, you will have few resources to cover your own expenses. While it may be difficult to make the decision to file a lawsuit, if you can't afford your injuries, you will need the compensation. For more information, contact a lawyer from a firm like Palmetto Injury Lawyers.