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Should I Sue For Slip and Fall in Seattle, WA?

gosankolaw • November 23, 2021

If you have seriously hurt yourself in a slip and fall accident , you may have a case against the property owner or manager that can help you deal with your damages from the incident. Property owners have a duty to keep their property safe for their visitors and guests and, if they neglect this duty, they can end up being legally responsible for those who end up hurt as a result of that neglect.

At the same time, suing for a slip and fall accident is not necessarily a simple or easy process. While a successful lawsuit can be life-changing, there are best practices and expectations when it comes to filing a slip and fall claim in Seattle. This is why it is important to enlist the legal expertise of a slip and fall accident attorney who can advise you of the recommended steps to take after these kinds of accidents.

When you should sue for a slip and fall claim

Virtually all cases are subject to a statute of limitations, which is the time limit that you would have to start the lawsuit. In the state of Washington, slip and fall claims have a statute of limitations of three years, though it may be shorter if you’re going against a public entity.

Cases that are started after this deadline have a high chance of getting dismissed, so be sure to speak with a slip and fall attorney as soon as possible so you can have an understanding of whether the deadline has passed for you or not.

Proving your slip and fall claim

Just because you slip, fell, and injured yourself doesn’t guarantee that you have a strong case against the property owner or manager. You will have to be able to prove the following in order to have a successful claim:

  • The owner has a legal obligation to keep their property safe for you. Typically, owners are expected to maintain a safe environment for their guests and visitors, but this doesn’t necessarily apply to trespassers.
  • The owner violated that obligation to keep their property safe. Perhaps, they neglected cleaning the property or knew of a dangerous condition but did nothing about it to protect others.
  • That violation directly caused the slip and fall accident. You must be able to prove that your accident was a result of the owner neglecting their duty of care.
  • The slip and fall resulted in damages. Some kind of injury or damage must have occurred for there to be a case.

There are several steps in suing for a slip and fall accident in Seattle, WA. An experienced slip and fall accident attorney can help you with the process. Contact Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC at 206-275-0700 to get advice on your situation.

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