A sudden fall is one of life’s most unpleasant experiences. When a slip-and-fall accident occurs and causes serious injuries, it’s traumatic and painful. When it occurs in a commercial business or public location, embarrassment adds another level of distress. You may even feel justifiably angry when it’s clear that the fall was preventable if only an individual, business manager, or property owner had made reasonable efforts to prevent a safety hazard to others.
Slip-and-fall accidents can cause serious injuries with life-altering implications. Even less severe injuries can quickly cause financial hardship if they prevent a prompt return to work and require expensive medical treatment. A slip-and-fall lawyer in Snohomish can help. Let us be your legal advocates to secure the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing from your injuries. Call the Snohomish personal injury attorneys today so we can hear about your case and develop a personalized strategy to recover your losses.
Why Choose Us for Your Slip and Fall Lawyers in Snohomish?
At Wells Trumbull, we offer legal counsel and guidance through every step of the Washington personal injury claim process. We have combined decades of experience and a track record of securing millions of dollars in settlements and court awards for injured clients, including those who experienced devastating slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents. We’ll provide the following advantages to your claim:
- Free case consultations and no fees unless we win your case
- Access to the best medical experts to prove the impacts of your injury on your life and ability to earn a living
- A thorough investigation of the accident to document evidence of liability
- A careful calculation of your damages so you don’t miss any avenue for compensation
- A compelling case for your full compensation and negotiations with the insurance company to maximize your financial recovery
Our team of personal injury attorneys in Snohomish believes in personalized attention. We get to know our clients so we can witness the impact of the injury on their lives and families and make the most compelling case possible for an ample settlement.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Snohomish
When something breaks a person’s normal stride, the resulting misstep can cause a hard fall and a serious injury, especially when the victim encounters obstacles as they fall, or when they make a hard impact on the floor or ground. Common causes of slip-and-fall injuries in commercial businesses like stores, restaurants, cafes, bus stops, and hotels, include the following:
- Wet floors or puddles
- Mud, ice, or snow
- Uneven ground surface, sidewalks, or walkways
- Poor lighting
- Loose carpets or floor mats
- Uneven floorboards
- Unmarked floor-level changes (like step-downs)
- Debris or clutter on the floor
- Loose or dangling cords
- Broken or uneven floorboards
- Lack of handrails
In a slip-and-fall case, it’s typically necessary to prove that the property owner or manager was aware of the safety hazard and failed to promptly address it to prevent injuries.
Proving Liability in Snohomish Slip and Fall Cases
All business owners and property managers have a duty to quickly address and repair slip and all hazards on their premises, especially when they invite others to the property for commercial purposes. If they fail to take the measures to prevent harm that a reasonable person would have under the same circumstances, they are liable for damages. Proving liability in a slip-and-fall case requires documenting evidence to show the following:
- That the property owner/manager owed a duty of care to take reasonable measures to prevent injuries to those lawfully on the property
- They breached this duty through an act of negligence
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the fall injuries
- The injury victim suffered significant damages from the injury
The consequences of an injury to a victim are known as “damages” in a personal injury claim such as a slip-and-fall accident. Damages in slip-and-fall cases include both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Do Slip and Fall Accidents Really Cause Serious Injuries?
Many people are under the misconception that a same-level fall cannot cause serious harm. Sadly, this isn’t the case. Elderly people are at a high risk of life-altering injuries in falls, but a serious injury can happen to an individual of any age. Slip-and-fall accidents are the second-highest cause of brain injuries in the U.S. after Snohomish car accidents. Common injuries claimed in slip-and-fall cases in Snohomish include the following:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Broken bones, including of the limbs, hips, ribs, pelvis, and collarbones
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Bruises and lacerations
- Broken teeth and facial injuries
These injuries have a significant impact on the victim’s life. When someone else is responsible for the fall, they must provide compensation. Compensation in slip-and-fall accidents usually comes from the property owner’s premises liability insurance.
What Damages Can I Recover in My Snohomish Slip and Fall Claim?
Serious injuries quickly become costly, especially if they prevent a return to work at the same time that medical bills begin coming in. An experienced Snohomish slip-and-fall lawyer can help hold the careless property owner liable. Washington’s civil law requires the at-fault party to provide compensation for the following damages through their premises liability insurance:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs for any further necessary treatment related to the injury
- Lost income
- Future income loss
- Diminished earning capacity due to injury-related disability
- Pain and suffering
- Any other non-economic damages that apply such as emotional trauma, PTSD, or loss of enjoyment of life
A skilled slip and fall attorney in Snohomish can carefully calculate your damages to maximize the amount of compensation you can recover for your economic and non-economic damages.
Call the Snohomish Slip and Fall Lawyers at Wells Trumbull Today
Insurance companies rarely pay out the full value of a claim easily. They require clear, compelling evidence of liability and damages as well as a skilled negotiator to work toward the largest possible settlement. If the insurer fails to offer an acceptable settlement or wrongfully denies a valid claim, the experienced slip and fall lawyers in Snohomish from Wells Trumbull are ready to help. We have a passion for client advocacy when insurers protect their profits at a client’s expense. Call our Snohomish law office today so we can work on your financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery.