Slip and Fall Accident
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SEATTLE SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT LAWYER
Hundreds of people slip and fall every year. While elderly persons are the most at-risk group for a slip and fall accident, as well as injuries that require medical attention from a slip and fall, anyone can experience a slip and fall when conditions are unsafe. While some slip and fall accidents are relatively harmless, even bordering on humorous when the person is unscathed, slip and falls can be very serious. If you are severely injured in a slip and fall accident in Washington, the Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Khan Injury Law can help you to understand premises liability law.
Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
As stated above, some slip and falls that happen leave the victim unharmed, or with injuries that are no more serious than slight bruising. But these slip and fall victims are the lucky ones; many are not nearly as fortunate. When a slip and fall is extremely serious, a victim may incur:
Traumatic brain injury
If the head is impacted in a fall, the victim may sustain a concussion or another type of traumatic brain injury, depending on the force with which the head is hit.
Fractured bones
Fractured bones are common in slip and fall accidents, especially amongst older persons. Common areas of fracture include the wrist or the elbow, as a person may attempt to brace themselves against the fall by placing their hand on the ground. The hip is also another common area for fracture.
Back injuries
If a person lands on their back when the fall, they may sustain a back injury. In addition to just being sore, a muscle, tendon, or ligament strain the back or neck may also occur. In serious cases, a vertebra in the back may fracture, and in the most severe of cases, the spinal cord may be impacted, which can result in paralysis.
Of course, a person may also suffer from lacerations, bruising, internal injuries, and more in a slip and fall depending upon the severity of the fall and the person’s own health.
CAUSES OF SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS
Slip and falls are not always preventable – for example, a person may trip and experience a fall simply because they are clumsy. In most cases though, slip and fall accidents occur because a dangerous situation exists and a party does not exercise the property degree of care to prevent the slip and fall from happening. Some common things that can contribute to the likelihood of, or cause, a slip and fall accident include:
- Spills on floors of restaurants, commercial businesses, schools, etc.;
- Broken stairs;
- Torn carpet;
- Snow or ice.
- Lack of handrails;
- Uneven walking surfaces;
- Debris/objects in walking areas; and
In addition to the above, and slip and fall accident may also be a result of a healthcare professional failing to assist a nursing home, elderly, or disabled patient in moving.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
What to Do After a Slip and Fall
If you slip and fall on your own property, you are probably out of luck when it comes to recovering compensation for your injuries. However, if you slip and fall on someone else’s property as a result of another person’s negligence, then you may be able to hold this party liable for damages. In order to do so, you will need to prove that the property owner had a duty to keep their property in a safe and reasonably hazard-free condition (often implied, unless you were trespassing at the time of accident), that a dangerous condition existed on the property, that the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition, that the property owner failed to take measures to correct the hazard, and that the hazard was the cause of your slip and fall accident and therefore your injures. Some things that you should do after a slip and fall to substantiate your claim include:
Head to the hospital
If you do not have proof that you suffered injuries, then receiving compensation for these injuries is unlikely. It is best to seek treatment as soon as possible not only for the sake of your own health, but because a defendant may try to say that the injuries for which you are seeking damages were not related to the slip and fall if you wait too long.
Gather evidence
Remember, in order to get damages after a slip and fall, you will need to prove the negligence of the property owner. To do this, all evidence related to your accident will be essential. This might include photographs, testimony from witnesses, video surveillance, and anything else relevant to the crash.
Contact an attorney
After a slip and fall accident, do not hesitate to contact an attorney if your injuries are serious. Even if the insurance company tells you that they will pay, do not trust that they will offer you a full settlement amount. Contact an experienced Seattle slip and fall lawyer who can negotiate on your behalf.
WE KNOW HOW TO RECOVER DAMAGES
Our Attorneys Will Help You
Getting the compensation that you deserve is not as simple as just filing a claim; it takes strategy and targeted efforts to hold a party liable for harm after a slip and fall. The attorneys at the Khan Injury Law will help you by:
- Providing you with support throughout the process;
- Advising you regarding against whom to file your claim;
- Gathering evidence on your behalf;
- Working with your doctors and other medical experts to substantiate your damages;
- Negotiating your claim;
- Filing your claim within the statute of limitations;
- Organizing all documents related to your claim in a convincing and compelling manner.
Too often, people assume that when they slip and fall it is their own fault, and they have nowhere to turn. In most cases, there is someone who acted negligently and who should be held liable. Call our Seattle personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation to learn more.
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Best law firm in Seattle!! All the staff is very professional and warm. They were always informative and called us right back.
RP