There are currently over 800,000 people living in Seattle and whether you are visiting the emerald city or just going about your day, property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions especially for people who enter their premises.
If someone gets injured due to negligent maintenance, unsafe property conditions, or a failure to warn about hazards leads to injuries, victims may be entitled to compensation by filing a premises liability claim. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Seattle premises liability attorneys are here to help injury victims get the compensation they deserve and hold negligent property owners accountable.
Whether your injury occurred at a retail store in Downtown Seattle, an apartment complex in Capitol Hill, a hotel near Pike Place Market, or a shopping center in South Lake Union, our legal team understands the local conditions and laws that impact premises liability claims in Washington.
Call us today at (213) 927-3700ย or fill out our online contact form for a free case consultation!
What is Premise Liability
Premises liability is an area of personal injury law that holds property owners responsible when unsafe conditions on their property cause harm to others. Under Washington premises liability law, property owners and occupiers must maintain reasonably safe conditions and either repair dangerous hazards or provide adequate warnings about them. When they fail to do so, they may be legally liable for injuries that occur.
These cases often involve situations where the property owner knew or reasonably should have known about a dangerous condition but failed to correct it. Because Seattle experiences over 150 rainy days per year, slippery surfaces and wet floors are a common factor in many premises liability accidents and they can happen anywhere such as:
- Grocery stores and retail shops
- Restaurants and bars
- Apartment complexes and rental properties
- Parking garages and parking lots
- Office buildings and workplaces
- Hotels and entertainment venues
- Public walkways and commercial properties
Who Can Be Held Liable for Premises Liability
Several parties may be held responsible depending on who owned, controlled, or maintained the property where the injury occurred under Washington State law. Potentially liable parties may include property owners, property management companies, maintenance contractors, and even security companies.
For example, if a tenant in a Seattle shopping center fails to clean a spill that causes a customer to slip and fall, both the tenant and property owner may share liability depending on their responsibilities under the lease agreement. Determining liability in these cases typically requires careful investigation and hiring an experienced premises liability attorney can make or break the difference.
How Often Do These Claims Occur?
No matter which part of Seattle you are in premises liability accidents occur at a moment’s notice. Businesses in busy areas like Belltown, Pioneer Square, and the University District see far more slip and fall accidents than people realize.
According to sources such as the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, slip and fall accidents at a workplace occur more in Washington State than the national average. In addition, according to the State’s Department of Health 49% of all injury-related deaths for adults aged 60 years and older are due to unintentional falls.
With these staggering numbers in mind, the chances of getting involved in a premises liability accident increases as you get older and should that happen, it is vital to have quality legal representation watching out for your best interests.
How Do You Win a Premises Liability Claim in Seattle?
To successfully win a premises liability case in Washington, the injured party must typically prove several key elements. These include:
- The property owner owed a duty of care to maintain reasonably safe conditions
- The owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition
- The owner failed to repair the hazard or provide proper warning
- The dangerous condition directly caused the injury
If the accident victim backs these factors with compelling evidence either in the form of surveillance footage, accident reports, medical records, witness testimony, or even detailed photos and videos, it may serve enough to begin the legal process. However, if there are multiple at-fault parties, the state follows a comparative negligence rule, which means that liability will be split based on the degree of responsibility.
What You Can Recover in a Premises Liability Claim
Victims injured in premises liability accidents may be entitled to several types of compensation depending on the severity of their injuries. Recoverable damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
While the value of the claim will vary on a case-by-case basis, serious premises liability accidents such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage will take into the long-term effects of these injuries and an attorney will ensure the maximum compensation will be awarded appropriately.
The Benefits of Hiring an Attorney
Property owners and their insurers frequently attempt to deny responsibility or argue that the injured person was at fault in these types of cases. However, by hiring an experienced premises liability lawyer for your cases, they can investigate the accident thoroughly, help gather and preserve vital evidence, calculate the full value of your claim, and negotiate with opposing counsel on your behalf.
While it is not mandatory to hire an attorney for a personal injury claim, it is highly recommended to do so, because injury victims may accept settlements that are far lower than what they deserve.
Why Choose West Coast Trial Lawyers For Your Premises Liability Lawsuit?
Choosing the right attorney after a premises liability accident can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we bring extensive experience, resources, and a client-focused approach to every case we handle. Our firm is trusted by injury victims because we:
- Provide personalized legal strategies tailored to the circumstances of each case
- Conduct thorough investigations to uncover negligence and unsafe conditions
- Work with industry experts, safety specialists, and medical professionals to strengthen claims
- Have experience negotiating aggressively with insurance companies and property owners
- Prepare every case as if it may go to trial to maximize results
We understand how disruptive a serious injury can be and how much it burdens a person’s life, so don’t hesitate to call our team today and get the help you deserve. On top of it all, we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay anything until we win!
Call us today at (213) 927-3700 or fill out our online contact form for a free case consultation!
