Slip and fall accidents often cause severe injuries. If you have been injured by a slip and fall accident, you may have the right to recover compensation for your damages.
However, not all slip and fall accidents are the fault of another party. A slip and fall claim must meet specific requirements to be covered under Washington’s premises liability laws. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will try to shift the blame to the injury victim to avoid liability.
You need the help of a Seattle slip and fall lawyer with a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation to help protect your rights. The Seattle personal injury lawyers at Seattle Injury Law have over 100 years of combined experience protecting injury victims and have recovered over $300 million for our clients. We want to help you get maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (800) 928-5486 or visit our contact page now and schedule a free consultation with our Seattle slip and fall lawyer.
Proven Benefits of Choosing Seattle Injury Law
Choosing the right legal team can make all the difference in the outcome of your slip and fall case. Here’s why injury victims across Seattle consistently turn to Seattle Injury Law for help:
- Our firm has the experience, skills, and resources to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
- Some of our slip and fall attorneys are former defense attorneys, which gives us insider knowledge of how the other side will try to defend against your claim, allowing us to be best prepared.
- We pay all upfront costs of pursuing your claim, and you only pay when we recover your compensation.
- You can meet with a Seattle slip and fall lawyer free of charge. They will answer your questions and explain your rights so you will know if you have a valid claim for damages.
Washington’s Premises Liability Law
Slip-and-fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability case. Premises liability means that a property owner owes a duty of care to their visitors, and the type of duty owed depends on the visitor’s status.
Visitors are categorized into categories:
- Invitees– An invitee is a person on the property to do business. For example, if you are a store customer or have been hired to do a job at someone’s home, you would be considered an invitee. An invitee is owed the highest duty of care. The owner must keep their property in a reasonably safe condition, regularly inspect the property for hazards, and either fix the danger or adequately caution visitors to the hazard with warnings posted in plain sight.
- Licensees– A licensee visits the owner’s property with the owner’s implied consent. For example, family members and friends who see you in your home are considered licensees. They are there as social guests. A property owner owes a duty of care to licensees to take action to make the property safe or to warn them of the hazardous condition.
- Trespassers– A trespasser enters a property without permission. The property owner has no duty of care to the trespasser except that it is illegal for the owner to attempt to harm the trespasser intentionally. For example, booby traps are prohibited.
- Children– Children are owed a duty of care even if they are trespassers on the property. An owner must keep the property reasonably safe and free from attractive nuisances such as swimming pools that a child’s natural curiosity may cause them to explore and be injured.
Our Seattle slip and fall lawyer will help establish your rights and the duty of care owed to you by the property owner to recover all damages you are owed.
Common Injuries in Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall injuries can be severe or even fatal. Some of the most common injuries caused by Seattle slip and fall accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other head injuries. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury in the United States
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries may result in paralysis or other permanent damage
- Back and neck injuries, including whiplash and other soft tissue damage
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Road rash
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder and other emotional trauma
Even if you don’t think your injuries are severe, you should have a complete medical evaluation after a slip and fall accident. Many serious injuries are not immediately apparent.
Recoverable Damages in Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents
The amount and type of damages you may recover in a Seattle slip and fall accident claim depend on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries. In a successful Seattle slip and fall case, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs and losses incurred by your accident. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement, permanent disability, and other intangible damages.
At Seattle Injury Law, our Seattle slip and fall accident attorneys work hard to ensure all your current and future damages are included and accurately valued to determine a fair settlement of your claim.
Seattle Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is the law that sets a deadline for filing a claim to recover damages in a personal injury case. If you miss your filing deadline, you cannot recover damages.
As outlined in Revised Code of Washington §4.16.080, most personal injury claims have a statute of limitations of three years. That means you must file your claim within three years of your slip and fall accident.
There are rare exceptions to the three-year deadline, so you must promptly consult an experienced Seattle slip and fall attorney to determine your filing deadline.
Another reason you want to consult an attorney right away is to help preserve evidence from your slip-and-fall accident. Evidence can quickly be destroyed, lost, or otherwise disappear over time. For example, a surveillance camera that captured your accident may be overwritten within a few days unless steps are taken to preserve that evidence.
The sooner you contact Seattle Injury Law, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights and building your strongest case to recover maximum compensation for your damages.
How a Seattle Slip and Fall Attorney Can Help
A Seattle slip and fall attorney can investigate your case to determine causation and liability. They can conduct discovery to uncover vital evidence to prove your claim. Your attorney can help establish all your current and future damages and ensure they are accurately valued.
An experienced Seattle slip and fall attorney will work to negotiate a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible. If a fair settlement is not reached, they can take your case to trial to demand compensation for your damages.
Being represented by a Seattle slip and fall attorney significantly increases your chances of recovering maximum compensation. It also lets you focus on healing, knowing that your claim is handled effectively.
Contact Seattle Injury Law For Help With Your Slip and Fall Accident Claim
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
Our Seattle slip and fall attorneys have the experience and legal prowess to help you recover the full compensation you deserve. Call (800) 928-5486 or complete the form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.