Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents occur at a relatively high rate on a day-to-day basis. In the Seattle area, where highly trafficked areas are frequently wet due to the weather, slips and falls happen even more often.

The term “slip and fall” refers to a category of accidents. Any incident occurring on someone else’s property and leading to a fall or an injury can be considered a slip and fall case. If you’re injured after slipping or tripping on someone else’s property, there is a possibility that you’re entitled to recover compensation for your damages. This, however, is contingent on numerous factors that are unique to your situation. A Seattle slip and fall accident lawyer will be critical in evaluating your case and determining whether you qualify for compensation.

If you’re looking to get compensated for your Seattle slip and fall, it is a good idea to contact Emerald City Law Group. Our Seattle premises liability lawyers have the knowledge and experience to understand the law governing slip and fall compensation. We can make sure you don’t face the consequences of your accident alone. Free, no-risk consultations are always available. Schedule yours today through our online form, or by calling us at 206-973-0407.

You Must File Your Slip and Fall Claim Within a Certain Amount of Time

The first thing you need to consider when deciding whether or not to engage a lawyer after your slip and fall is the Washington statute of limitations on slip and fall cases.

A statute of limitations is a specified length of time, after which you cannot recover for a certain act or occurrence. For example, if you were robbed, and the statute of limitations for robbery was one year, after a year you would no longer be able to bring a charge of robbery against the person who stole from you.

The statute of limitations for slips and falls in Washington is three years. This means that if you’re injured by tripping and falling on someone else’s property, to recover any compensation for your injuries, you must file a case against them no more than three years after your accident.

There Are Several Common Defenses That Property Owners Employ in Slip and Fall Cases

Trips and falls are a commonplace occurrence. To recover compensation for the damages your trip and fall caused, you will have to prove that those damages were the result of negligence on behalf of the property owner. A common tactic used by property owners to try and diminish their blame in a slip and fall case is to try and shift some of the responsibility for the fall on to you. They may make arguments such as:

• The condition that led to your fall should have been obvious to you
• There was an adequate warning of possible danger, such as a warning sign, or marking indicating where the dangerous area was
• Your accident was due to a lack of awareness on your part
• Your accident was caused by inappropriate behavior or dress on your part

In discussions with your Seattle slip and fall attorney, make sure they have all relevant information that shows a lack of your responsibility for the accident that caused your injury. This will make it harder for the property owner to place blame on you.

Contributory Negligence Could Limit Your Compensation

Like some other states, Washington law follows a comparative negligence rule concerning a slip and fall case. Under comparative negligence, you are only entitled to recover the percentage of your damages the other party is responsible for. For example, if it’s found that the property owner bears 75 percent of the responsibility for your fall, then you’re only entitled to recover 75 percent of what your total damages were.

Communication with your Seattle personal injury lawyer is critical in comparative negligence cases. A skilled personal injury attorney with an understanding of the law that governs such cases will know how to best frame the circumstances, so the opposition is assigned maximum liability.

Talk to a Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer Today

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall in the Seattle area, you’ll want a Seattle slip and fall attorney who will help you recover as much as possible. At Emerald City Law Group, our lawyers know the path to getting compensated and can guide you along every step of the way.

If you’re thinking that it’s unfair for you to be stuck with the expenses and hassles of an injury because of someone else’s carelessness, we agree. Schedule a consultation free of charge at 206-973-0407 today to see how we can help you.