Everett Slip and Fall Lawyers

When Will a Property Owner be Responsible for Your Slip and Fall Accident?

When you are visiting a business, someone’s home, or another property, you have the right to be warned of all potential hazards that may cause a slip and fall situation. If a known hazard is ignored, a reasonable person would assume that an accident may occur.

Sometimes, poor or no lighting can hide defects present on walking surfaces. Because of this, it is required that all areas where people may walk be well lit and easy to see. When thinking about liability cases, it has to be considered whether the property owner took reasonable precautions to avoid the potential of an accident.

The manager, owner, or employee at the property must have been able to reasonably expect that the failure to act could create a dangerous situation and that it may cause an injury.

Time is one of the most important factors that slip and fall lawyers in Everett, WA, will consider and look at in these situations. For example, if someone spills a drink in a retail store and just a few seconds after that, you step on the spill and fall, there’s no way the owner could have been expected to see and remove the hazard before your accident. However, if the spill occurred 30 minutes before, and two workers passed the spill without doing anything, you now have stronger proof of negligence. Suppose boxes are stacked unsafely in an area where customers commonly walk, and someone trips and falls because of them. In that case, this is another situation when the property owner would likely be considered negligent.

Because it can be challenging to prove negligence in these cases, it is good to call our Everett slip and fall accident lawyer. We can review the facts of the case, gather evidence, and talk to witnesses to prove that what you say happened, actually did.

Reasonable Care Defined

In slip and fall claims, a term often heard is “reasonable.” The court will determine whether the manager, owner, or an employee of the business acted as a reasonably prudent person in a similar situation would have.

For example, if someone were aware of the hazard that caused a slip and fall, then it would be reasonable that they should have fixed the problem or warned about it. When it comes to figuring out liability after a slip and fall accident, reasonableness is important. Another element to consider whether your behavior and actions were reasonable.

For example, imagine that snow and ice have been tracked into a grocery store. The owner was aware of the hazard, and they placed a noticeable warning sign and cones in the area. You were in a hurry and didn’t pay attention to these warnings, slipped and fell. In this situation, the owner would likely not be considered responsible for the injuries you suffered.

Our slip and fall accident lawyers in Everett, WA, will consider all the factors that led to the accident to help make a case for you and prove that someone else was liable for your accident and injuries.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents

While slip and fall accidents can occur almost anywhere and at any time, they often occur in theme parks, retail stores, grocery stores, restaurants, escalators and elevators, parking lots, and nightclubs. Another common area for these accidents to occur is around public swimming pools due to the wet surface. Winter weather also increases slip and fall accidents because the snow and ice are usually tracked into entryways, which causes people to slip and fall.

Main Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Everett, WA

While there are many reasons a slip and fall accident may occur, some are more common than others. Some of the most common reasons they occur include:

• Recessed or raised edges on flooring
• Changes in the flooring level
• Rugs placed on slippery surfaces
• Loose or torn carpeting
• Changes in the floor surface
• Water, grease, ice, or other spills that cause slippery areas on the floor
• Unexpected slope or raised area on the floor
• Abrupt changes in floor surfaces
• Potholes in parking lots
• Cracked or broken sidewalks
• Obstructions in the walking path
• Poor lighting
• Strobe lighting
• No handrails on the stairs
• Steep stairs.

Many other factors may lead to a slip and fall accident, so it is in your best interests to contact our Everett, WA, slip and fall attorney any time you find yourself in this situation.

What Should You Do After Being Involved in a Slip and Fall Accident?

You can help your Everett slip and fall accident attorney by documenting everything about the accident and your injuries. After the accident occurs, it’s a good idea to take photos (if you can) of the accident scene. Be sure you show what caused you to slip, whether liquid on the floor or uneven flooring, a broken step, ice, or something else.

It would help to let a supervisor, property owner, or manager know that you fell. If your fall happened in a commercial business, make sure you have them fill out an incident report. You should also request a copy of the report when it is complete. This will be helpful evidence if you decide to file a lawsuit for compensation.

You should also document all the details you can remember about the incident. This is just as important as the official incident report. By writing down everything you remember, you can give it to your attorney and then use the information to build your case. Some of the details you need to document include what caused your slip, trip, or fall, whether there were any signs about the existence of the danger and where they were located.

It would help if you also took pictures of any injuries you sustained. If someone saw the incident, ask them for their contact information and see if they will give you a statement or provide one to your attorney.

Another important step that you should take is to get medical assistance. Even if you think your injuries are minor, it is important to have documentation from a doctor about the injuries you sustained. Also, some minor injuries may become more serious if you don’t seek treatment right away. You can avoid this situation by getting a medical evaluation right after your accident.

Avoid Providing a Statement About the Incident

An insurance adjuster for the property owner will contact you in some cases. If they do, they will likely request a statement. Instead of giving this statement, request that the insurance company talk to your slip and fall attorney.

It’s also best to avoid posting about the situation on social media. Most insurance companies will look on social media sites to see if you have posted anything they can use against you. Even going to dinner with friends or your spouse may be used against you to show that you were not seriously hurt and don’t deserve the amount of compensation you have requested.

Common Injuries That Occur in an Everett Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and fall accident injuries are varied. The circumstances of your accident will, in large part, determine the injuries you sustain.

For example, you could try to catch yourself as you fall, breaking your wrist, or you may hit your head on a sharp corner. Some injuries more common than others in these types of accident. The most common are:

• Cuts, scrapes, and scratches
• Bruises and bumps
• Eye and face injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Road rash
• Soft tissue injuries or torn and pulled muscles
• Crush injuries
• Compound or simple fractures
• Internal injuries
• Spinal cord or back injuries
• Shoulder, neck, and head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

In some situations, you could experience secondary injuries, too, like an infection. This is a common issue for those who have a compromised immune system. Also, the injuries that you experience in a fall may aggravate any preexisting illness or condition. In this case, the defendant will be responsible for the secondary injuries and the pain and suffering you experience.