A slip and fall accident can happen in seconds, but the consequences can last for months or even years. What starts as a routine trip to the grocery store or a walk through a parking lot can end with a broken hip, a head injury, or a painful recovery that keeps you out of work and away from the activities you love.
Whether your fall happened on an icy sidewalk in downtown Spokane, inside a poorly maintained apartment building in the South Hill neighborhood, or at a retail store near NorthTown Mall, property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises safe. When they fail to meet that responsibility, Brett McCandlis Brown & Connor works to hold them accountable.
Our Spokane slip and fall lawyers build strong cases that expose unsafe conditions, inadequate maintenance, and missing hazard warnings. We know how to counter claims that blame victims for accidents that never should have happened, and we fight for full compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Spokane slip and fall attorney.
Where Do Spokane Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Slip and fall accidents occur throughout Spokane in places where people go about their daily lives. These incidents happen in locations that should be safe but become dangerous due to poor maintenance, negligent management, or ignored hazards:
- Retail stores and shopping centers at River Park Square, NorthTown Mall, and Spokane Valley Mall, where spills go unwiped, floors get waxed without warning signs, or merchandise blocks walkways;
- Grocery stores and supermarkets where water from produce sections pools on floors, freezer leaks create ice patches, or cleaning crews leave surfaces slick without posting notices;
- Restaurants and bars in downtown Spokane and along Division Street, where grease accumulates in kitchens, bathrooms lack proper drainage, or outdoor patios become slippery during rain;
- Apartment buildings and condos throughout neighborhoods like Browne’s Addition and Logan, where broken handrails go unfixed, stairwells lack proper lighting, or winter ice removal gets neglected;
- Parking lots and sidewalks at commercial properties, where potholes develop, pavement cracks, or snow and ice are left untreated during Spokane’s harsh winters;
- Hotels and lodging facilities near Spokane International Airport and downtown, where carpets hide hazards, lobbies become slippery from tracked-in rain or snow, or pool areas lack proper drainage; and
- Office buildings and workplaces where spills in common areas are ignored, elevator thresholds create tripping hazards, or janitorial work leaves floors dangerously wet.
Property owners throughout Spokane must regularly inspect their premises, fix known hazards, and warn visitors about temporary dangers. When they fail to do so, injured people have legal recourse.
What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents in Spokane?
Most slip and fall accidents result from conditions that property owners either created or failed to address. Common causes are:
- Wet or slippery floors from recent mopping, leaking refrigeration units, roof leaks, tracked-in rain or snow, or spills that staff members notice but don’t clean up;
- Ice and snow accumulation on walkways, parking lots, building entrances, and stairs during Spokane’s winter months, when temperatures drop and precipitation creates hazardous conditions;
- Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, parking structures, and entryways that prevents people from seeing changes in elevation or spotting hazards on the ground;
- Uneven surfaces, such as cracked pavement, torn carpeting, loose floorboards, broken tiles, or transitions between different flooring materials that create tripping hazards;
- Missing or broken handrails on staircases, ramps, and elevated walkways that should provide support but are absent or too damaged to use safely;
- Cluttered walkways where merchandise, equipment, cleaning supplies, or other items block paths and force people to walk around obstacles;
- Defective flooring, including polished surfaces that become slick when wet, worn mats that bunch up, or tiles that come loose and create uneven footing; and
- Inadequate warning signs when property owners know about hazards like wet floors or construction zones but fail to alert visitors.
Identifying the specific cause of your fall helps establish liability and strengthens your claim against the responsible property owner.
Serious Injuries From Spokane Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents cause serious injuries that require immediate medical attention and often lead to lengthy recoveries. The force of impact when hitting hard surfaces can result in trauma that affects multiple body systems. Injuries our clients frequently suffer include:
- Broken bones, particularly in the wrists, arms, hips, and ankles, which usually require surgery, pins, plates, or extended immobilization;
- Head injuries and TBIs when people strike their heads on floors, walls, or fixtures during a fall, leading to concussions, bleeding, or lasting cognitive problems;
- Spinal cord injuries that result in herniated discs, nerve damage, chronic pain, or, in severe cases, partial or complete paralysis;
- Knee injuries with torn ligaments, damaged cartilage, or fractured kneecaps that may require surgery and months of physical rehabilitation;
- Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, dislocations, or fractures that limit arm movement and make daily tasks difficult;
- Hip fractures, which are especially serious for older adults and often require surgery, hospitalization, and extended rehabilitation or nursing care; and
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and bruising, which may seem minor initially but can cause lasting pain and mobility limitations.
These injuries disrupt lives, create financial burdens, and cause physical and emotional suffering. Medical bills accumulate quickly, and many victims cannot return to work for weeks or months. Some never fully recover.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall?
Compensation in a slip and fall case aims to make victims as whole as possible after an accident that should never have happened. State law recognizes various types of damages to address both economic losses and the personal toll of your injuries. Slip and fall victims may recover:
- Medical expenses for emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, prescription medications, physical therapy, medical equipment, and future medical care;
- Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery, including sick leave, vacation time used, and self-employment income lost due to the injury;
- Lost earning capacity when injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your ability to earn income in the future;
- Pain and suffering to compensate for physical pain, discomfort, and the loss of enjoyment of life caused by the injury;
- Emotional distress for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or other psychological effects resulting from the slip and fall;
- Loss of consortium, allowing spouses to recover for the loss of companionship, affection, and support when their partner suffers serious injuries; and
- Permanent disability or disfigurement when injuries cause lasting physical limitations, visible scarring, or other permanent effects.
The value of a slip and fall case depends on the severity of injuries, the extent of medical treatment required, how long recovery takes, and how the injuries affect your life. An experienced Spokane slip and fall attorney can evaluate your case and help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to receive.
How Long Do You Have To File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Spokane?
You have three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline, known as the statute of limitations, applies to most slip and fall cases in Spokane and throughout the state.
Failing to file within this timeframe usually means losing your right to pursue compensation, regardless of how severe your injuries are or how clear the property owner’s negligence may be. However, waiting until the deadline approaches creates problems:
- Evidence disappears as surveillance footage gets deleted, witnesses forget details, or become difficult to locate, and property owners repair hazardous conditions.
- Medical records become harder to obtain as healthcare providers archive files or go out of business.
- Insurance companies become less willing to negotiate when they know you’re running out of time to file a lawsuit.
Building a strong case takes time and requires investigation, expert consultation, medical record review, and legal preparation.
Additionally, if you’re making a claim against a government entity such as the City of Spokane, Spokane County, or a state agency, much shorter notice requirements apply. You typically must file a formal claim within 120 days of the injury, or you may lose your right to sue entirely.
Contacting a Spokane personal injury attorney soon after your accident helps ensure your case receives the attention it needs while evidence is fresh and legal deadlines are met.
Get Help from Experienced Spokane Slip and Fall Lawyers
Brett McCandlis Brown & Connor has recovered over $100 million for injured clients throughout Washington State. Our results in slip and fall cases include $450,000 for a woman who suffered a broken leg in a fall at a race track and $175,000 for a client who sustained a badly fractured ankle in a fall on ice.
When you hire our Spokane slip and fall attorneys, you gain partners who handle every aspect of your claim while you heal. We deal with insurance companies, gather evidence, negotiate settlements, and prepare for trial if necessary. Your job is to recover—our job is to secure the compensation you need.
Reach out now for a free consultation to discuss your slip and fall case. We’re ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
