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 state’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 personal injury lawyers at Seattle Injury Law have over 100 years of combined experience protecting injury victims and have recovered over $500 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.
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Why Choose 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 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 operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win your case.
- Our Seattle slip and fall lawyers offer free initial case evaluations. We will answer your questions and explain your rights so you will know if you have a valid claim for damages.
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Seattle Slip and Fall Resources & FAQs
- Premises Liability Laws in Washington State
- How Much Is My Seattle Slip and Fall Case Worth?
- How Do I Win My Slip and Fall Accident Claim in Seattle?
- How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Seattle, WA?
- Common Injuries in Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents
- Recoverable Damages in Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents
- Will My Seattle Slip and Fall Case Go to Trial?
- How Should I Handle the Insurance Companies After a Seattle Slip and Fall Accident?
- Types of Slip and Fall Case We Handle in Seattle
- What If I’m Being Blamed for My Slip and Fall in Seattle?
- How Long Do I Have To File a Slip and Fall Claim?
- How a Seattle Slip and Fall Attorney Can Help
- Steps To Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Seattle, WA
- Contact Our Seattle Slip and Fall Attorneys Today
Premises Liability Laws in Washington State
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 in Washington state 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 property 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 premises liability lawyers will help establish your rights and the duty of care owed to you by the property owner to recover all damages you are owed.
How Much Is My Seattle Slip and Fall Case Worth?
Slip and fall cases can vary widely in value depending on the facts and circumstances of the claim at hand. One of the most important factors is who the at-fault party is, as claims against commercial property owners, large retailers, and property management companies tend to involve higher insurance coverage and greater resources to pay a fair settlement.
Beyond that, our legal team will evaluate things like:
- The severity of your injuries and whether they resulted in permanent impairment
- The total cost of your medical treatment, both past and future
- How much income you’ve lost and whether your earning capacity has been reduced
- Whether the property owner had prior knowledge of the hazard
- The nature of your pain and suffering
- The strength of the available evidence
- Whether you share any portion of the fault
Our slip and fall attorneys in Seattle will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident so that we can pursue the maximum amount of compensation available. We may also bring in safety experts and medical professionals to bolster the value of your claim.
How Do I Win My Slip and Fall Accident Claim in Seattle?
To win a slip and fall case in Washington, you need to establish that the property owner’s negligence caused your injuries. This comes down to proving several legal elements, each of which must be supported by evidence.
First, you need to show that the property owner owed you a duty of care. In most cases, this is straightforward. Property owners in Washington are required to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors.
Second, you need to demonstrate that a dangerous condition existed on the property. This could be anything from a wet floor with no warning sign to a broken stairway, an icy sidewalk that wasn’t salted, or a pothole in a parking lot.
Third, and often the most contested element, you must prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard. This is referred to as the “notice” requirement. Our attorneys can establish this through:
- Maintenance logs showing the owner failed to inspect the property
- Prior complaints from other visitors about the same condition
- Surveillance footage showing the hazard existed for an extended period before your fall
- Evidence that the owner created the dangerous condition themselves
Finally, you must show that the dangerous condition directly caused your fall and that you suffered actual damages as a result. Things like medical records, expert testimony, and documentation of lost wages can all be used to tie everything together.
Contact Our Seattle Slip and Fall Attorneys Today
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Seattle, WA?
Hiring a slip and fall accident attorney with Seattle Injury Law won’t cost you anything out of pocket. Our firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay any upfront fees, hourly rates, or retainers. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
You’ll sign a fee agreement at the start of your case that outlines the percentage, which is typically around 33%. If we don’t win, you owe us zero in attorney’s fees. This structure allows anyone to hire experienced legal representation without taking on financial risk during an already difficult time, plus it means we’ll be incentivized to recover as much as we can for you.
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.
If you have lost a loved one in a slip and fall accident, our legal team of Seattle wrongful death attorneys can help guide you through the legal process of filing a wrongful death claim.
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.
Will My Seattle Slip and Fall Case Go to Trial?
The majority of slip and fall cases in Seattle settle before reaching trial. Once your attorney sends a demand letter and begins negotiations with the property owner’s insurance company, most cases are resolved through a settlement agreement.
That said, there are situations where trial becomes necessary. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, disputes liability, or tries to pin too much of the blame on you, taking the case to court may be the only way to get what your claim is actually worth.
At Seattle Injury Law, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies pay attention to that. When the other side knows your legal team has real courtroom experience and a willingness to go the distance, they’re far more likely to come to the table with a reasonable offer before things ever go to a jury.
How Should I Handle the Insurance Companies After a Seattle Slip and Fall Accident?
The short answer is carefully. Insurance adjusters may seem friendly and cooperative, but their job is to protect the company’s bottom line. They’ll use a number of tactics to reduce the value of your claim or deny it altogether.
A few things to keep in mind when dealing with insurers after a slip and fall:
- Do not give a recorded statement without first speaking with an attorney
- Be cautious about signing any documents or medical authorizations the insurer sends you
- Don’t accept the first settlement offer without having a lawyer review it
- Avoid posting about your accident or injuries on social media
The safest move is to let our slip and fall attorneys handle all of the communications with the insurance company from the start. That way, nothing you say can be taken out of context and used against you later in the process.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Seattle
Slip and fall accidents can happen virtually anywhere in Seattle, including on both private and public property. A few examples include:
- Grocery stores
- Retail shops
- Restaurants
- Office buildings
- Apartment complexes
- Hotels
- Parking lots
- Public sidewalks
- Construction sites
- Government buildings
- Medical facilities
- Schools
We may be able to help regardless of where your slip and fall accident took place. Contact our slip and fall injury lawyers in Seattle today for more information.
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What if I’m Being Blamed for My Slip and Fall in Seattle?
Washington follows a pure comparative negligence standard under RCW 4.22.005. Unlike many other states, there is no threshold that bars you from recovering. Even if you’re found 80% at fault, you can still pursue the remaining 20% of your damages. That said, every percentage point of fault that gets assigned to you comes directly out of your recovery.
Our slip and fall lawyers know how to combat these blame-shifting tactics by building a case that puts the focus where it belongs, which is on the property owner’s failure to maintain a safe environment. We’ll gather evidence and document the property owner’s history of neglect to minimize your share of fault and protect the full value of your claim.
How Long Do I Have To File a Slip and Fall Claim?
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 hazards and preserve vital evidence, such as surveillance footage, to prove your claim. Your attorney can help establish all your current and future damages, including medical bills and lost wages, ensuring 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.
Steps To Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Seattle, WA
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, take these important steps to prioritize your physical and financial recovery:
- Seek prompt medical attention: After an accident, your health should be your number one priority. Even if you think your injuries are minor or you do not suspect you were injured at all, seeing a doctor is vital, as sometimes symptoms may not appear immediately.
- Document the scene: If you are able to, document the scene of the accident by taking photos or videos of any hazards that caused your fall.
- Report the incident: Contact the business owner or property manager immediately and request that a formal incident report be completed.
Contact Our Seattle Slip and Fall Attorneys Today
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 case evaluation to discuss your claim.
