With more than 100,000 small businesses and thousands of large companies, it is no secret that Seattle ranks among the top ten cities in the country for starting a small business. While most business owners take the safety of their workers and customers seriously, accidents may happen.
If you are involved in a slip and fall accident, seek advice and guidance from a premises liability attorney in Seattle immediately. Our team at the Bernard Law Group can help you understand your rights and take the steps necessary to protect them.
Common Causes of Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents
There are several common factors that lead to slip and fall accidents. Some of the most common include:
- Slippery surfaces: Wet or uneven floors, spills, or lack of proper maintenance can result in slip-and-fall accidents. Unshoveled sidewalks can sometimes be incredibly slippery and lead to serious fall accidents.
- Poor lighting: Insufficient lighting in parking lots, stairways, or hallways increases the risk of trips and falls. As you can imagine, being unable to see a ground surface increases the risk of stepping on an object or into a hole, resulting in a serious fall.
- Hazardous walkways: Hazardous walkways are another common cause of Seattle slip and fall accidents. Cracked pavements, potholes, loose handrails, or debris obstructing pathways can all create hazardous conditions that lead to serious slip-and-fall accidents.
- Lack of warning signs: When property owners or managers fail to provide clear signage about potential dangers like wet floors or construction zones, fall accidents increase.
If you have been harmed in a slip and fall accident, knowing who can be held liable for your resulting damages and injuries can be challenging. Our premises liability attorney in Seattle can help you pursue legal action once we identify who is responsible.
Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident
When it comes to maintaining the safety of commercial properties in Seattle, there are various parties who share this responsibility. These include:
The Property Owner or Tenant
The property owner must ensure that their premise are safe and free from hazards. They should perform regular inspections and address any problems promptly.
When a property is leased or rented by another party, the tenant and the property owner share responsibility for maintaining the safety of the property. The lease agreement between them will typically outline who is responsible for various aspects of maintenance for the building.
Contractor or Third-party Vendor
Additionally, there may be cases where contractors or third-party vendors are also responsible for maintaining safe conditions within a commercial property. This is particularly true in cases where they are hired to perform work on the premises.
If you have been hurt in a slip-and-fall accident while visiting a business in Seattle, you have legal rights. Our experienced attorneys can gather evidence to show you are a protected class of guest on the property and deserve compensation for your injuries and damages.
Protected Guests in Seattle Slip and Fall Accidents
When entering a premises, there are three specific types of guests that you may be classified as. These include:
Invitee
An invitee is a person who is invited onto the property for a specific purpose. This is generally a business or public purpose that benefits the owner or manager of the property. Property owners are responsible for ensuring the property is safe for any invitee.
Licensee
A licensee is a person who enters a property with permission from the owner. However, the person is not specifically there for the property owner’s benefit. For example, this could be someone on a property for a party or a public gathering. The property owner must exercise reasonable care to address any unsafe conditions to ensure licensees are safe.
Trespasser
Trespassers are individuals who enter a property without the permission of a property owner or manager. In general, trespassers have the least amount of protection. However, a property owner cannot intentionally create unsafe conditions that could cause someone harm.
It is important to note that Washington follows a comparative fault system, meaning that the negligence of the property owner and the injured party will be considered when determining liability. If you have been hurt due to a Seattle slip and fall accident, you can contact our premises liability attorney in Seattle immediately. Our team will help to prove that you are a protected guest and seek the maximum possible compensation for your damages.
Call Our Premises Liability Attorney in Seattle For Guidance
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer is crucial if you have been injured in a Seattle slip and fall accident. For over 30 years, the Bernard Law Group has fought tirelessly for our clients and achieved results that speak for themselves: $500 million in compensation and a remarkable 98% success rate.
Our experienced premises liability attorney in Seattle is committed to getting you the justice and compensation you deserve. With our dedicated legal advocates on your side, you can trust that your case will be handled with expertise and determination. Get started on your path toward recovery today by reaching out to our law firm for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
