Personal Injuries Caused by Riots: Know Your Options

Protests and riots have been happening for weeks all across the country. Protests began after a police officer in Minnesota put a knee on George Floyd’s neck during an arrest, killing him. Protesters have gathered in cities around the world. Riots have ensued in several cities, causing serious personal injuries, property damage, and even death. If you have suffered personal injuries caused by riots in New Hampshire, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Who Pays for the Damage After a Riot?

If you have suffered a serious personal injury from the riots that have been going on, you are likely concerned about how you will pay your medical bills. Perhaps you are one of the many people who were innocently hurt during the riots and you do not know where to turn. First, you should investigate whether you can file a claim through an insurance company.

If you were injured on someone else’s property, you might be able to seek monetary relief from the property owner’s insurance company. Additionally, if a motor vehicle was involved in your injuries, you might be able to seek compensation from the vehicle owner’s motor vehicle insurance. Keep in mind that many insurance policies have an exception for damages suffered due to civil unrest. Rioting falls into the category of civil unrest.

If insurance is not an option, you might be able to recover from the person or people who actually caused your personal injuries. It can be challenging to identify the people who hurt you. There could be surveillance cameras or personal video footage that shows who caused your injuries. You can seek damages against a person who injuris you through a personal civil lawsuit.

You will need to prove that the defendant’s actions caused your injuries. If the person who hurt you does not have any assets or money, you will not be able to recover from them. Finally, you might be able to recover compensation for the city or state government of the location at which you became injured. Every state has a riot relief fund and will determine whether or not to issue you compensation for your injuries.

If You Have Been Injured, Document Your Medical Treatment

One of the most important things you can do after being injured in a riot is to document all of your medical treatment. Take pictures of your injuries and write down all of your symptoms. Write down all of your doctor’s appointments and medication. Be sure to save all of your visit summaries and follow all of your doctor’s orders. Doing so will help preserve your legal claims in the future.