When to Hire a Lawyer to Sue for Property Damage

Damage to your property can happen in all sorts of ways. Your car or even your home can be damaged in a car accident. The same could happen from falling trees or branches. Your car might even fall victim to a stray golf ball.

No matter how it happens, it may be difficult to get compensated for your damaged property. And insurance may not cover everything. Here's what you need to know about hiring a lawyer to file a property damage claim.

Property Damage Claims

It's one thing to say that a person is liable for the property damage caused by his or her negligence. But proving it can be quite another. There are four elements to a standard negligence claim:

1. Duty: The defendant owed you a legal duty to use reasonable care under the circumstances;
2. Breach: The defendant breached that legal duty by acting or failing to act in a certain way;
3. Causation: It was the defendant's breach that actually caused the damage to your property; and
4. Damages: Your property was damaged as a result of the defendant's actions.

In order to be compensated for the damage to your property, you will need to be able to prove all four elements. And provide an accurate estimate of the amount of damage your property sustained.

Property Damage Cases

Proving property damage liability in court can be a complicated process, which is why it helps to have an experienced attorney on your side. And there are ways to help your attorney, as well.

Documenting the damage and tracking your exact costs after the accident are just some of the first steps you can take in a property damage case. Any statements from the person who causes the damage or from an insurance company could also help.

If someone has damaged your property, you can contact an experienced attorney near you.

Related Resources:

• Have an injury claim? Get your claim reviewed for free. (Consumer Injury)
• 5 Things a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do (That You Probably Can't) (FindLaw's Injured)
• When Is It Too Late to Sue for Injury? (FindLaw's Injured)
• First Steps in Personal Injury Claim (FindLaw)