Injury due to helping a friend

Claiming damages for injury caused by a favor done to a friend

What if you're injured while helping someone? A so-called "favor." Think, for example, of helping your neighbor with their garden or helping someone move. Everyone performs favors for someone, and it's not inconceivable that you might sustain an injury. Often, one party feels very guilty, while the other party finds it difficult to hold the other liable. After all, it was a friend or acquaintance you were assisting.

The personal injury lawyers at Hardt Advocaten offer expert legal support to help you explore your options and, where possible, claim compensation. We also take into account the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the liable party.

Legal support throughout the Netherlands

As your expert partner for personal injury claims, we serve victims nationwide. With offices in Amsterdam and Utrecht, we offer nationwide coverage and will visit you at home if necessary. Our experience in successfully claiming personal injury damages makes us a leading name in the industry.

Hardt Advocaten is proud to hold the National Personal Injury Quality Mark, a prestigious recognition that emphasizes our commitment to quality and professionalism. This quality mark, awarded by the Dutch Personal Injury Council (De Letselschade Raad), reinforces our reputation as a reliable and expert entity within the personal injury sector.

Hardt Advocaten was founded with the goal of supporting victims of personal injury and providing the best possible legal help. With our in house lawyers, we can assist you from start to end.

Legal framework for claiming damages for a favor done to a friend

As a rule, you can only claim damages if the other party is legally liable. In this case, it's important to determine whether the wrongful act was committed or whether the favor in question was simply an unfortunate coincidence.

In the case of favors rendered by friends, a liable party isn't automatically deemed liable. Case law has ruled that these are not professional parties. Therefore, you must assume a certain degree of incompetence and negligence, which makes it easier to conclude that the injury occurred due to an unfortunate combination of circumstances. This isn't surprising, as it wouldn't be desirable for every favor rendered by friends that results in damage to lead to a claim for damages.

However, this doesn't mean that every "favor" can be attributed to an unfortunate coincidence. In 2003, our highest court ruled that there was indeed sufficient reason to recover damages from the other party.

In this case, the victim helped his neighbor move a washing machine. According to the Court of Appeal, the person in charge of how the washing machine was lifted failed to fulfill their duty of care. The Court of Appeal found that negligence was due to a combination of factors: lifting in a hazardous situation, it being unclear whether the person in charge was even capable of lifting the washing machine safely together with the other person, and no clear agreements had been made about the timing of the lifting. Furthermore, the victim was not asked whether he had secured the washing machine properly.

In this case there was no 'unfortunate coincidence' and the injured party received full compensation for his damages.

Compensation for personal injury caused by a favor done to a friend

Your compensation for personal injury resulting from a favor to a friend can consist of several components. You may be entitled to compensation for (medical) expenses and lost income, as well as for pain and suffering (non-pecuniary damages). There is no limit to the things you can receive compensation for. All adverse consequences and costs that you would not have incurred without the accident are eligible for compensation.

Examples include:

• Lost revenue
• Medical expenses
• Domestic help required as a result of the accident
• Loss of self-reliance (jobs in, on and around the house that can no longer be carried out independently after the accident and for which assistance must be hired, such as gardening or painting)
• Compensation for pain, sorrow or reduced enjoyment of life

This list is not exhaustive – so please contact our personal injury lawyers. They will work with you to identify your damages so you receive the compensation you're entitled to.

Your options

Once liability has been established, we must substantiate your damages. This is important for determining how much damage can be recovered. You can include all costs incurred as a result of the accident in your claim. All expenses you incur are eligible for compensation.

Have you suffered a personal injury and need support from an experienced personal injury lawyer? Then you've come to the right place at Hardt Advocaten. We believe in providing you with personalized and expert assistance. We're happy to pursue your personal injury claim.

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Hardt Advocaten: Expert legal assistance in cases of personal injury resulting from a favor done for a friend

Legal assistance in cases of personal injury due to favor for a friend

Hardt Advocaten offers more than just legal support; we also provide personalized guidance throughout the entire recovery process. Our approach is holistic, addressing both the physical and emotional impact of the accident. Our goal is not only to seek financial compensation but also to support your recovery and well-being.

Working together towards a new future

At Hardt Advocaten, we believe in building a new future together with our clients. Our team works closely with you to develop a recovery plan focused not only on the present but also on the long term. This includes establishing goals for physical and psychological recovery and finding ways to achieve them, in harmony with your life and ambitions.

The role of Hardt Advocaten in your recovery process

Every personal injury case begins with a story. Your experience deserves our full attention. Together, we'll map out the relevant events, taking into account the financial, physical, and emotional consequences of your injury.

 At Hardt Advocaten, we are inspired and driven by our core values: Helpfulness, Attention, Results-Orientedness, Expertise, and Transparency (HARDT). Our mission is to help you move forward, toward a future where your well-being is paramount.

Our team is ready to help you!

Suffering personal injury? We'll help you get back on track. Contact us for a free consultation.

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I'm very pleased with Hardt's services after my motorcycle accident. I was kept informed throughout the entire process. Thanks to their dedication, I received the fair compensation I was entitled to, even though I didn't realize I was entitled to it. I recommend Hardt to anyone who needs help with personal injury cases.

Thanks again Team Hardt.