Seattle Slip and Fall Lawyer

Slips and falls can cause serious injuries. While some people may effortlessly get up and continue their day, there are also situations where someone could suffer a severe injury and irreversible damage just because of a slip and fall.

At Bungay Law, we can represent you if you have suffered an injury in a slip-and-fall accident on someone else's property. Learn more about how our Seattle slip and fall lawyers can help you, and give us a call to schedule a case consultation.

Secure Legal Representation From Seattle Slip and Fall Lawyer

If you find yourself involved in a slip-and-fall accident, you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Then, it would be best if you worked with our Seattle slip and fall attorneys to protect your rights.

If you slip and fall due to someone else's negligence, you should not be responsible for medical expenses arising from the accident.

Our legal team understands how to conduct a full investigation, and we can pursue all compensation you are entitled to. Call us to schedule a case consultation if you have encountered a similar incident.

About Slip and Fall Accidents

You can file a lawsuit following a slip and fall accident if you have suffered an injury on someone else's property and incurred damages. For example, you incur medical expenses or may lose income because you cannot return to work.

You are entitled to compensation if we prove that someone else should have taken better care of the property.

At Bungay Law, we can investigate your slip and fall accident thoroughly to see if someone should be held responsible for the injuries you have sustained.

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

There are various reasons why one could suffer a slip and fall accident. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents in Seattle include:

• Someone may have spilled a slippery substance in a local business establishment, such as a restaurant, and the establishment failed to put up a sign about the slippery floors or clean it up.  
• You may have slipped and fallen on an icy sidewalk that the property owner should have marked as hazardous or taken better care of.
• There could also be equipment or cords that need to be properly kept and stored. It can cause trips, falls, and other kinds of injuries. 

These are just a few of the many reasons why someone may suffer a slip and fall accident. Remember to go to the doctor immediately if you suffer a slip and fall accident. Then, call us to schedule a free legal consultation with our team.

Common Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents

Sometimes, a slip and fall accident will appear minor, leading you to believe you can take it lightly. However, it is still crucial for you to see a doctor after the accident. Most slip-and-fall accidents can result in severe injuries. Some of the most common examples include:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

If you slip and fall, you could strike your head on the ground, leading to a traumatic brain injury. There are different types of traumatic brain injuries you may suffer. For example, you may suffer a skull fracture or be diagnosed with a cerebral contusion. There is also a high risk that you may be diagnosed with a severe internal brain bleed, which could lead to permanent complications.

Hip and Other Bone Fractures

You can also suffer a variety of bone fractures in a slip-and-fall accident. For example, if you land on your hip, you might be diagnosed with a hip fracture. You may suffer a wrist fracture if you catch yourself while slipping and falling by extending your arms. Some of these fractures may require surgery, which can be very expensive.

Ankle Injuries

Ankle or leg injuries are also prevalent in slip and fall accidents. While an ankle sprain can seem relatively minor, a severe accident could result in an ankle fracture. You could be on crutches for a while. Some ankle or leg fractures may require surgery. It is another reason your physician must evaluate and treat you immediately.

Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

Finally, if you land directly on your back, you could also suffer a severe back or spinal cord injury. For instance, you could suffer compression fractures in your back that require medical attention. There could also be a situation where an injury gravely affects your spinal cord, leading to significant motor and sensory issues.

These are a few examples of injuries you may suffer in a slip and fall accident. When you experience one of these, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately.

What To Do After You Have a Slip and Fall Accident

If you get involved in a slip-and-fall accident, there are several steps you need to take. They include:

• When your situation permits, take pictures of the scene where you had your slip and fall accident.
• Then, contact your doctor and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. It would help if you were evaluated for potential injuries.
• After your doctor evaluates your physical condition, remember to ask for a copy of your medical records. You might need them for filing a personal injury claim down the road.
• Upon having a medical recovery and treatment plan, contact us to schedule a free case consultation.

We can help you navigate your case and ensure you are well compensated for the injuries you have incurred.

Always Speak With a Slip and Fall Attorney First

If the other party knows they are responsible for your injuries, they may call you to offer you a financial settlement. You may even get a call from their insurance company to discuss a settlement agreement with you. 

While it can be enticing to receive these offers, it is always better for you to speak to an attorney first. Once a lawyer has thoroughly evaluated the facts and damages of your potential claim, you may have a more realistic idea of the amount of well deserved compensation you could recover. 

Assigning Liability in Slip and Fall Accidents

How do you know who is at fault following a slip and fall accident? The most obvious place to start is the owner of the property. A property owner is required to take adequate care and maintain their property.

If we prove that they failed to perform their responsibilities as a property owner, you could be entitled to compensation.

After conducting a full investigation, other parties responsible for your injuries could be identified and brought into the lawsuit. 

We can investigate if someone has a duty of care that they violated, leading to a slip and fall accident.

How To Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents

Just because you fell on someone's property doesn't necessarily mean they should be automatically responsible for your injuries. There are critical steps to take in preventing slip and fall accidents from happening in the first place.

Some of the most critical steps to take include the following:

Property Owners

Property owners must ensure they stay up to date on all routine maintenance related to their property. They must remove all trip hazards from the floors and wipe all liquid spills dry as quickly as possible. If they are unable to, they must quickly identify these hazard areas with a visible marking or sign to warn people of the hazard. 

Any areas outside and surrounding the building must also be properly maintained. If a hazard appears such as ice on the sidewalk, a hole, a crack, etc., these hazards must also be marked to caution people if they cannot be immediately remedied or removed.

Visitors

Visitors are likewise duty-bound to ensure they pay attention and adhere to all marked signs on the property. If there is a hazard mark on the floor, visitors must avoid it.

Visitors must also watch where they are walking, meaning they must take their eyes off their phones and focus on where they are heading.

How Washington Protects the Victims of Slip and Fall Accidents

There are various measures in Washington to help protect the victims of slip and fall accidents. Some of the essential provisions you need to know to include the following:

Statute of Limitations

If you find yourself involved in a slip and fall accident leading to severe injuries, you must file your claim as quickly as possible. Washington's statute of limitations on slip and fall injury claims is three years. It means that even if you have a valid claim, it will be dismissed if you file it beyond this period.

Comparative Negligence

Washington is also a comparative negligence state. It means the other party is not always to blame for 100% of the injuries. For example, if a judge or jury decides you are 20% responsible for the accident, they will reduce your award by 20%. 

To prevent this from happening, our legal counsel at Bungay Law will investigate your case thoroughly and ensure you get the best possible outcome. 

Premises Liability

There are also premises liability laws that could apply to your situation. These laws clearly state what the property owner is responsible for and what constitutes responsible property ownership.

We can prove that the property owner has somehow neglected his responsibility to take care of the property while you are within it. In that case, we could strengthen your case and pursue additional compensation.

We Can Help if a Slip and Fall Hurt You

If you get involved in a slip-and-fall accident, we can help you with your case. We can pursue compensation on your behalf. In line with this, there are specific damages that we may be able to recover. They include:

• Compensation that can help you cover your medical expenses.
• Compensation for additional medical expenses when your doctor requires you to undergo ongoing treatment due to your accident related injuries. Your speedy recovery should be a top priority.
• Compensation for lost income if you miss work due to your injuries.
• Compensation for pain and suffering for the significant emotional distress you suffer following the accident.

Contact our office to schedule a case consultation to determine how much your case may potentially be worth.

Contact Bungay Law After a Slip and Fall Accident in Seattle, WA To Evaluate Your Case

You never know when a slip-and-fall accident will occur. In these cases, you must seek medical care immediately after the accident.

Reach out to Bungay Law for a free case consultation. We can examine your case and see if you are entitled to compensation. Then, once we prove that you are entitled to damages, we can file a slip-and-fall lawsuit on your behalf.

Count on a Bungay Law fall accident lawyer to help you. Contact us today to speak to our team and learn more about how we can assist you.