Slip-and-Fall Lawyers Serving Seattle, WA
A slip-and-fall can happen anywhere to anyone. People can slip and fall in parking lots, businesses, or private residences. It only takes a moment to slip and fall, but your life can change in an instant if you’re injured. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, slip-and-fall accidents account for over a million hospital emergency visits annually.
If you sustained an injury on someone else’s property due to a slip-and-fall, you may be able to file a premises liability claim. You need the assistance of dedicated, skilled personal injury attorneys to represent you and fight for your rights.
The slip-and-fall lawyers in Seattle at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner will vigorously pursue the responsible party for your losses and work on your behalf to get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for legal guidance on your slip-and-fall case.
What Is a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall accident occurs when someone slips or trips and suffers an injury. Slip-and-fall accidents can occur for a wide variety of reasons. Accidents can happen, even in ideal conditions. But some accidents happen because a property owner fails to remove or repair a safety hazard. Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Uneven sidewalks or floors;
- Slippery floors;
- Failure to post warning signs;
- Improper lighting;
- Lack of maintenance of handrails;
- Torn carpet or broken stairs;
- Snow, ice, or other weather issues;
- Debris or other obstructions in the walking path; and
- Potholes in parking lots.
Each situation can become a hazard under the right set of circumstances. Let the slip-and-fall attorneys in Seattle at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner provide guidance for your claim.
What Are Common Slip-and-Fall Injuries?
A minor fall can result in severe injuries, especially in older people or those who have previously suffered injuries. The most common slip-and-fall injuries include:
- Hip fractures,
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI),
- Back and spinal cord injuries, and
- Ankle injuries.
Slip-and-fall accidents can result in serious injuries. To increase your chances of recovering compensation, engaging legal representation is imperative. Contact a Seattle slip-and-fall attorney to help you navigate the complexities of your claim.
What Are Washington Premises Liability Laws?
A property owner is not responsible for all injuries on the property. The injured person’s status determines the scope of the duty owed to the person. There are three types of visitors: (1) invitees, (2) licensees, and (3) trespassers.
Invitee
An invitee is a person who is invited onto the property, often to do business. An owner owes the invitee the highest duty of care. Business owners must exercise ordinary care to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition. To discharge duties owed to invitees, a business owner must inspect their property for dangerous conditions and correct them. A plaintiff must prove it is reasonably foreseeable that a dangerous condition existed based on the circumstances.
Licensee
A licensee often visits the owner’s property with the owner’s implied consent. Someone visiting a friend as a social guest is a licensee. The duty owed to a licensee is to take actions that make the property safe or to warn the licensee of hazardous conditions.
Trespasser
A trespasser is someone who has no right to be on an owner’s property. Trespassers are visitors who are on the property without permission. Owners do not owe a trespasser a duty of care, but an owner cannot intentionally or willfully harm trespassers.
Who Is Liable for Your Slip-and-Fall Injury?
A property owner is not responsible for all falls that occur on the owner’s property. But if the owner was aware (or should have been aware) of a hazard and failed to address it, they could be responsible for the damages if someone gets injured.
To prove a property owner is liable for your slip-and-fall, you must prove that the owner’s negligence was a factor in causing the accident.
Under Washington law, a defendant is liable for negligence when the owner fails to take adequate care in a particular situation.
To prevail in a slip-and-fall claim, your lawyer will need to prove:
- The duty the defendant owed to you based on your status as an invitee, licensee, or trespasser,
- That the defendant breached their duty by failing to take required steps to keep their property safe;
- That the dangerous condition caused or contributed to your injury; and
- That you suffered physical injuries in the fall.
You can prevail on your slip-and-fall claim only if it is timely. The statute of limitations for your slip-and-fall premises liability lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident. Courts will dismiss any action that occurs outside this window.
If the claim is against the State of Washington, you must submit a tort claim to initiate an action against an at-fault governmental entity. You must then wait for 60 days before filing a lawsuit.
What Compensation Is Available to Injured Victims?
If you sustained an injury in a slip-and-fall due to a property owner’s negligence, you may be able to recover damages, including:
- Lost wages,
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Lost future earning capacity,
- Pain and suffering,
- Mental anguish,
- Scarring and disfigurement, and
- Out-of-pocket expenses.
You deserve full and fair compensation for your losses, but it can be difficult to obtain. Businesses and insurance companies are likely to fight your claim at every turn.
Preservation of evidence in your case is important. It would be helpful for you to collect:
- Medical records,
- Photographs of the place where the injury occurred,
- A written report of the accident, and
- Contact information for any witnesses.
This evidence will increase your chances of obtaining compensation for your injuries.
Your Seattle slip-and-fall lawyer at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner will do everything they can to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries. We will research every aspect of your case to help ensure you receive just compensation.
Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner Can Help
At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, we will use the full extent of our resources to help you pursue your claim. You need an experienced Seattle slip-and-fall lawyer on your side. Working with an attorney can increase your chances of receiving a favorable settlement. In cases where you need to go to trial, we stand prepared with experienced trial lawyers.
At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, we have been helping injured parties recover since 1972. We are a full-service injury law firm known for outstanding representation and personalized legal services. For a free consultation, contact us online or by phone.
