Many people enjoy sitting out in the sun under a patio umbrella during the summer. It is a great place to take in the outdoors and to relax after a busy day.
However, a patio umbrella can become a hazard when adequately set up or secured. This can cause significant injuries or even wrongful death.
Get Medical Attention
If a patio umbrella has injured you or someone you know, getting medical attention as soon as possible is essential. The injury may be severe and can cause long-term issues. The type of injury you have can also determine whether or not you will need treatment or surgery.
Getting medical attention is especially important if you are a child or elderly. These individuals are less likely to move as quickly, which could lead to a more severe impact. Moreover, they might not be able to tell that the umbrella is hurting them, or they might be too weak to ask for help.
In addition, older adults can have different health conditions that may need to be addressed to prevent the injury from worsening. These include heart and lung problems and other conditions that can harm your health.
Fortunately, the majority of injuries from umbrellas are minor and not life-threatening. Most injuries from beach and patio umbrellas reported to emergency departments (EDs) were lacerations and contusions or abrasions. Internal organ damage was also a common injury with both types of umbrellas. The most frequently affected body part was the head and neck.
Contact Your Insurance Company
If you have a patio umbrella and are injured while using it, it is essential to contact your insurance company. This can help you to get medical attention and receive compensation if you are deemed at fault for the accident.
Your insurance policy can also help to cover your legal costs if you are found liable in a lawsuit. This is particularly helpful if you have a large amount of money in savings or other assets and would risk losing these if you were sued for personal liability.
The best time to contact your insurance company after a patio umbrella injury is immediately after the accident. This is because they will have a better idea of the extent and severity of the damage, as well as how it impacted your life and career.
Typically, your insurance agent will decide how much compensation to offer you based on these factors. You may be required to pay out of pocket for certain costs, significantly if the damages exceed the liability limits of your insurance policy.
Umbrella insurance is a type of personal liability coverage that protects you from claims and lawsuits that go beyond the limits of your primary liability policies, such as auto or homeowners insurance. These can include liability claims for bodily injuries, property damage, and libel lawsuits.
You can buy an umbrella insurance policy as an add-on if you already have a liability policy. If you are in an accident and your existing liability insurance limits are exhausted, your umbrella policy will come into play.
You can get umbrella insurance even if you don’t already have a liability insurance policy. Still, you must check with your insurance agent to see if this is an option. In most cases, you must be a customer of the same insurance company to qualify for umbrella coverage.
You can often find a good deal on an umbrella policy by shopping for quotes with multiple insurers. You can also save on this insurance by purchasing it with your existing auto or homeowners insurance policy.
Contact a Lawyer
There are many reasons a person may get hurt when a patio umbrella falls on them, including the fact that the umbrella may be poorly maintained or installed incorrectly. This is why it’s essential to contact a patio umbrella injury lawyer when injured by an umbrella.
If you’re a victim of a patio umbrella injury, you should know that your injuries are likely to result in significant medical bills. This is because umbrellas can cause various physical injuries, such as head and neck injuries, facial injuries, eye injuries, and spinal cord injuries.
In addition to the physical damage caused by the umbrella falling on you, you may also have a personal injury claim against the party or business that placed the umbrella in the location where you were injured. This is because the company or individual that placed the umbrella has a responsibility to ensure that the area where they place their products is safe for their customers to use.
A patio umbrella is a heavy piece of outdoor equipment that is prone to becoming dislodged by the wind, which can lead to serious injury. This is why following the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings is essential when using an umbrella.
You should also be aware of the different types of umbrellas available on the market. The most common type of umbrella is the center pole umbrella, which has a straight pole extending from the top of the canopy to the umbrella’s base. Depending on the model, this umbrella style is usually stabilized by a mobile or fixed base.
This umbrella type is usually made of wood, fiberglass, or aluminum and can be much heavier than other umbrellas. Because these materials are less flexible than other options, they’re especially vulnerable to high winds.
