Dividing Creek, NJ Personal Injury Law Firms & Lawyers

If the wind blew the trampoline into your yard, damaging your home, his insurance company should pay. However, as we all know, insurance companies do not part with money unless you're on the verge of prying it from their fingers. Go ahead and file in small claims court, unless the value of the damage to your home exceeds $5,000, in which case you'll have to file in County Court. You can't sue the insurance company directly, only your neighbor, and the insurance company will provide a defense. I would discuss this with your neighbor first and tell him (or her) that their insurance company is making you do this because they refuse to pay. (in the interest of domestic tranquility)

This is not simply a personal injury matter, it is worker's compensation.  You need to find a workers comp attorney as that is a very specific area of the law

The answer to your question, "How do I protect properties and myself if my alcoholic housemate hurts someone?" is to not co-own anything with her, including the house and car. In addition, have her obtain her own car insurance. If your ex-girlfriend does cause a car accident while driving drunk, you would only be liable if you, yourself, were negligent. You might be negligent if you had her run an errand for you when you knew she was drunk. Otherwise, if you are not negligent, you likely would not be responsible for any damages she causes. However, if she causes damages in excess of the insurance coverage, the person she harms can, assume they obtain a judgment and follow legal procedure, attempt to seize the vehicle and house and have them sold to satisfy the judgment. If you co-own these with her, you would then likely lose them when they were sold. You would still get some money from the sale, in proportion to your ownership interest, but you could lose the house or vehicle.