Tacoma, WA Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Washington State Slip and Fall Attorney Representing Injured Plaintiffs in Tacoma

Slips and falls can happen almost anywhere, and they can occur at nearly any time of the day regardless of the amount of daylight or the weather. While more outdoor slips and falls may occur when there is ice in the winter or a significant rainfall, indoor slips, trips, and falls are not limited in terms of location or season. Slip and fall accidents happen from many different reasons, from liquid spills in restaurants and stores that are not cleaned up quickly to torn carpeting or insufficient lighting inside an office building or a residence.

Most slip and fall accidents happen because of someone else’s negligence. To be sure, property owners in Tacoma, Washington have a duty to make sure that there are no unreasonable hazards on their property that could lead to a slip and fall accident. If a person does get hurt in a slip and fall, the property owner may be liable for injuries. An experienced Tacoma, WA slip and fall accident lawyer can speak with you today about your options for filing a claim for compensation.

Learning More About Tacoma, WA Slips and Falls

How often do slip and fall accidents happen in Tacoma, Washington, and where do they often occur? Are some people more likely than others to get hurt in a dangerous slip and fall accident? The following are facts and figures from the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI):

Women tend to slip and fall more often than men, although fatal falls are divided nearly equally between men and women;
Falls in general result in more than 8 million visits to emergency departments every year and are, in fact, the leading reason that people seek treatment in emergency departments;
Of all emergency department visits for falls, slips and falls specifically account for more than 1 million of those cases or approximately 12 percent of all fall-related injuries;
Fractures are the most serious type of injury to result from a slip and fall in most cases;
Fractures account for about 5 percent of all fall injuries;
Slips and falls are a leading cause of occupational injuries and are the leading cause of lost workdays;
Slip and fall accidents at work are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims;
Floors and flooring materials are a factor in approximately 2 million fall injuries every year;
About 50 percent of accidental deaths that occur in the home result from falls;
Hip fractures are among the most serious kind of fracture to result from a slip and fall, leaving many older adults debilitated;
Falls are the second leading cause of injury-related deaths for adults between the ages of 65-84;
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults aged 85 and older;
More than 60 percent of patients in a nursing home will fall in any given year; and
Falls account for about 40 percent of all nursing home admissions—prior to the fall, the patient did not require nursing home care.

Common Types of Injuries in a Tacoma, WA Slip and Fall Accident

Injuries in a Tacoma slip and fall accident can vary widely depending upon the severity of the accident and any conditions suffered by the injured person, such as osteoporosis or another underlying issue. Examples of common injuries in slips and falls include but are not limited to:

Fractures, or broken bones;
Bruises;
Cuts and lacerations;
Sprains;
Strains;
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions;
Back injuries;
Neck injuries, including spinal cord injuries (SCIs); and
Shoulder injuries.

Elements of a Tacoma Slip and Fall Claim

To win a slip and fall claim in Tacoma, a plaintiff typically will need to be able to prove the following elements:

Defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, which is established when a person goes onto another’s land or property for business purposes, recreational purposes, and other reasons;
Defendant breached the duty of care (or was negligent) by failing to use ordinary care in keeping the property in a reasonably safe condition or failing to warn others on the property about a known risk of injury;
Plaintiff suffered an injury in a slip and fall; and
Plaintiff’s slip and fall injury resulted from the defendant’s breach of the duty of care (also known as the defendant’s negligence).

Statute of Limitations in a Slip and Fall Accident in Tacoma

If you do get hurt in a slip and fall accident in Tacoma, it is essential to remember that you will only have a short amount of time to file a lawsuit against the negligent property owner according to Washington State law. The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including slip and fall accidents, is three years. What does this mean, and when does the clock start “ticking” on this deadline?

In short, a person who is injured in a slip and fall accident in Tacoma will have three years from the date of the slip and fall accident to file a claim for compensation. If you do not file within that three-year period, you will not be able to file a lawsuit at all.

How Contributory Fault Can Affect a Slip and Fall Accident Claim in Tacoma, WA

Even if you think your own negligence played a role in your slip and fall injuries, it is important to know that Washington State’s contributory fault law allows you to recover damages even if you are partially at fault. As a “pure comparative fault” state, Washington allows a plaintiff to recover regardless of his or her amount of fault, but that damages award ultimately will be reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.

Contact a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Tacoma

Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in or around Tacoma, WA? Was someone you love injured after slipping, tripping, or falling in Tacoma? It is important to learn more about your options for filing a claim for financial compensation. One of the experienced Tacoma slip and fall accident attorneys at our firm can discuss your case with you today. Contact Khan Injury Law PLLC to learn more about the personal injury services our attorneys provide to clients in Washington State.