How to Sue for a Slip and Fall in Mercer Island
Posted Friday, May 20, 2022 by Chris Thayer
Slipping and falling might seem like a relatively innocuous accident… until you are dealing with a fractured hip, a traumatic head injury, or broken wrists. Make no mistake – these injuries can be devastating and life-changing, and you deserve the right to explore your legal options if you need compensation. If you are dealing with these injuries, compensation is probably much-needed due to the expensive nature of healthcare in the United States. On top of these costs, you might also be struggling with missed wages due to your injuries. So how do you sue for a slip and fall in Mercer Island?
The first step is to get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney in Mercer Island. Our legal professionals can carefully assess your unique situation during a consultation. From there, we can provide you with solid legal advice. You can then decide whether you would like to move forward with a personal injury lawsuit. If you do, we will be with you every step of the way, guiding you toward a fair settlement. You can use your settlement to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more.
*What is a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?*A slip and fall lawsuit is a common type of premise liability claim. This occurs when a member of the public becomes injured due to the negligence of a property owner. In the context of a slip and fall, this usually means that the property owner has allowed hazardous walking conditions to manifest on their premises. Examples include:
- Icy sidewalks and parking lots
- Snowy sidewalks and parking lots
- Liquid spills on the premises
- Debris left scattered across floors
- Broken staircases
- Dimly-lit hallways and stairwells
- Uneven ground
*How Do You Prove Negligence?*In order to prove that a property owner is liable for your injuries, you need to consider the four basic elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: First, you need to show that the property owner actually had a responsibility to keep you safe. If you were injured at a major store like Walmart, Target, or Home Depot, this should be easy.
- Breach of Duty: You also need to prove that the defendant actually breached their duty of care. For example, they might have left a spill unattended for a long period of time.
- Causation: Next, you will need to show that your injuries were the direct result of this breach of duty. For example, if you slipped on a slippery floor, you cannot say that your injury was caused by ice in the parking lot.
- Damages: Finally, you will need to prove that injuries actually occurred. This is relatively easy if you get the medical treatment you need and collect the resulting medical records.
*Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today*If you have been searching for a personal injury attorney in Mercer Island, look no further than Pivotal Law Group. Over the years, we have assisted numerous injured plaintiffs in Washington state, and we can help you, too. Remember, the statute of limitations can prevent you from suing if you wait too long. It is best to get started as soon as possible with an effective action plan. Internet research can only get you so far, so book your consultation today and take action.