Falling can be embarrassing; it can also be deadly. Thousands of people are killed and hundreds of thousands more injured significantly when they fall each year. If you have fallen as the result of someone’s negligence, and you sustain a serious injury as a result, then you may have grounds for a slip and fall accident claim. Some scenarios where you might fall and find yourself seeking damages from the liable party include:
In a nutshell, if you trip or slip and all and you sustain an injury because of it, you may be entitled to collect damages. However, the property owner must have known that the hazardous condition (insufficient lighting, uneven pavement, frayed rug, unmarked wet surface, merchandise stacked haphazardly) existed or should have known that it existed. In addition, your injury must have been significant enough to warrant the payment of damages.
Falls may seem simple enough, but the body can twist and turn into unnatural positions during a fall, resulting in significant back and neck injuries. You can also hit your head during a fall, and if you hit it hard enough, you can sustain a traumatic brain injury. In addition, falls put unnatural pressure on various bones, especially if you try to “catch yourself” as you fall, leading to broken arms, wrists, ankles, legs and hips. With serious falls, you may find yourself spending weeks, months or longer recovering and may require surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Some falls are so significant that the victim is left with permanent impairments and disabilities. Because of this, receiving the maximum compensation for your losses is important, including any medical bills, lost income, and future costs of care.
There is an established “duty of care” in Washington and other states; property owners must maintain their properties in a way that those who are invited into them (including business invitees) are not harmed by hazardous conditions. When property owners deviate from maintaining their properties and someone is injured, they breach this legal duty of care and can be held liable to pay you for any losses that you sustain. These types of premises liability injuries result in complex claims that are nearly always aggressively defended by big insurance companies looking to pay your claim for pennies on the dollar. A knowledgeable slip and fall attorney can help you stand up against the big insurers and their lawyers.
Contact Russell and Hill for compassionate and aggressive negotiation and litigation of your case. Our Auburn personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for you to help you get the money you deserve so that you can move on with your life after your accident.
