Any type of physical accident poses the threat of serious injury, especially if it is a slip, trip and fall situation. Accidents of this kind can cause muscle or bone damage, and the recovery period can take many weeks — not to mention the hospital bills, which can rise into the thousands of dollars.
If the accident wasn’t your fault but was the result of some type of negligence, then you have a good shot at receiving compensation. Poorly salted sidewalks, bad construction, slippery floors, and cluttered stairways can all be categorized as negligence. If your slip, trip, or fall injury was from one of these situations or something similar, then read on so you can better understand your rights and the path you need to take to be compensated for your loss of time and money.
What Are “SLIP, TRIP AND FALL” Accidents?
As the name suggests, these are personal injury accidents that occur when somebody either slips, trips or falls and can happen as a result of hazardous conditions on someone else’s property.
These accidents can occur in a number of different ways, but some instances are more common than others. You can injure yourself when exiting a building, walking on a slippery sidewalk, walking on uneven floors or being unable to see in poor lighting. Causes of slips and falls could be bad weather, liquid spills, design flaws, or a foreign object that shouldn’t be on a walking surface.
When Is Another Party Responsible For An Accident?
If you just happened to slip and fall, it doesn’t mean the property owner is immediately at fault and responsible for your injury. There are a lot of other variables that go into deciding who is at fault. A lawyer must prove that there were dangerous conditions on the surface or in the area where you slipped. Additionally, a party must prove that the property owner was aware of the problem and chose to ignore it.
What To Do After A Slip And Fall Accident In Spokane
When it comes to the aftermath of a slip and fall accident, it can be a little complex from a legal standpoint. Make sure that you are well prepared for the upcoming legal processes by doing these three things immediately after an accident:
1. Report
Anybody who was involved in a slip and fall accident should report the accident to the individual in charge as soon as possible. You should not provide them with a detailed statement at this point – you can inform them of the accident, but do not give them a ton of details until after you have spoken with a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help guide you in the right direction.
2. Record
After you have reported the accident to the proper people, you need to detail what happened and take notes on the circumstances that led to the accident. You need these details so you can provide them to your attorney when you meet with him or her. Write down the date and time along with the location and names of witnesses that might have seen what happened. Additionally, you should get the name of the individual in charge, the conditions of the area where you fell, what shoes you were wearing and any other details you might deem necessary. If possible, keep any clothes or items that led to the fall as those can be used later on as evidence.
3. Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
Lastly, seek medical treatment for your condition following your fall. An emergency room doctor can examine you and diagnose an injury. Having a breadcrumb trail of medical reports increases the validity of your slip, trip, and fall case. An injury is no fun, but a lack of treatment by a medical professional may negate your case entirely. If you decide to wait for medical care, then it may come back to bite you later as a judge might rule that there is not enough correlation between your injuries and the accident. Don’t delay your medical care!
We’re Here to Help You
If you or your loved one have suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident, immediately begin the process of working with a personal injury attorney. Victims who choose to work with an attorney generally receive far better compensation for their injuries compared to people attempting to handle a case on their own. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we strive to make sure that our clients receive the best possible compensation you deserve.
At Russell and Hill, PLLC, we don’t require any upfront payment, period. You have no reason to worry about piling up attorney’s fees; our payment model comes from the contingency of your winning case. We earn our money as a percentage of the insurance payment you receive from the settlement of your case, essentially meaning your legal bill never affects your wallet.
For more information about our personal injury services for slip, trip and fall accidents in Spokane, don’t hesitate to contact us. Schedule a free consultation with us so we can learn the details of your case and explain your options. Call today, or fill out our online form to start the process. We look forward to hearing from you!
In the United States, more than 9 million people end up in emergency rooms with slip and fall-related injuries every year, while about half of all accidental deaths in the home are caused by falls. The statistics are quite startling, aren’t they?
But did you know that you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim and recover damages suffered by your slip and fall accident? A slip and fall accident can happen to anyone, especially in Spokane once the wet weather starts. Not all victims of slip and falls are eligible to seek compensation for their injury, but many of them are.
Today, our Spokane slip and fall attorney from Russell & Hill, PLLC, is going to explain everything you need to know about pursuing compensation for a slip and fall injury in Washington state.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Washington State?
Regardless of whether your slip and fall accident was caused by wet floors, spilled liquids, or other hazards on someone else’s property, you need to file a premises liability claim to recover damages before the statute of limitations expires.
Our experienced slip and fall lawyer in Spokane explains that the time limit for bringing a slip and fall-related claim in Washington state is three years from the date of your injury. However, depending on who owns or occupies the property where your slip and fall accident occurred, there may be other time limits imposed.
Are You Eligible to Recover Damages After a Slip and Fall Accident?
As we have mentioned earlier, not everyone is entitled to financial compensation after getting injured in a slip and fall accident. To be eligible to recover damages for your injury, your Spokane slip and fall lawyer will have to prove that the property owner or occupier owed you a duty of care and that duty of care was breached due to the failure to remedy an unreasonably dangerous condition on the property.
One of the first factors that will be considered when determining whether or not you are entitled to compensation after a slip and fall accident is where your injury occurred:
- At home. If a slip and fall accident occurred at home or on your own property, you will most likely be able to recover damages through your own insurance coverage. If the injury was caused by a defective or faulty product, you might be entitled to pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, seller, and other parties.
- At work. Most of the time, when an employee gets injured in the course of employment, he or she qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits. However, you may want to consult with an experienced slip and fall attorney in Spokane or elsewhere in Washington state to determine whether or not you qualify for workers’ comp.
- On other private or public properties. If your slip and fall injury occurred on the property owned, occupied, rented, or managed by someone else, you are most likely entitled to pursue a premises liability claim against the owner or occupier of that property. The same applies to public and government properties (do note that the statute of limitations and other rules for claims against government entities differ from those that apply to claims against private entities).
What Evidence is Needed for a Slip and Fall Claim?
Some of you might be wondering what pieces of evidence are necessary to strengthen a slip and fall claim. Our Spokane slip and fall accident attorney outlines the most important pieces of evidence that should be collected in the legal process:
- Photos and videos at the scene of the accident
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Other pieces of evidence that demonstrate the other party’s fault
Consult with our premises liability lawyers at Russell & Hill, PLLC, to determine liability in your case, collect evidence, and calculate how much your slip and fall claim is worth. Call our offices at 800-529-0842 or 509-204-9701 to schedule a free consultation.
j
Date published: 2019-11-09
5 out of 5
Russell & Hill, PLLC are very professional and knowledgeable. Jim Hill and Diana represented me in my automobile accident. After 2 years of dealing with an insurance company their best offer was $3,600, I enlisted Jim Hill to represent me. When it was all said and done I received a net check in the amount of $107,000. I highly recommend Russell & Hill, PLLC.
V
Date published: 2019-08-09
5 out of 5
I had a very supportive experience working with Mr. Jim Hill and the rest of the wonderful people at this law firm. They helped me get a settlement throughout a very arduous process, helping me maintain my confidence and esteem. If you come here to have them help with your case, you will not regret it! Also, Ms. Tammy is amazing and won’t get mad at you, even if you bug her daily, like I did on some weeks 🙂 Thank you for everything!
R
Date published: 2019-11-09
5 out of 5
Jim and the team at Russell & Hill are awesome. I was in tough position and they were extremely responsive, navigated the legal challenges, and negotiated a settlement that was better than anticipated. Upfront, honest, great communication, and delivered results. I could not have asked for more!
T
Date published: 2019-03-09
5 out of 5
I have been working with Russell & Hill for over a year and a half. I personally worked with Eric. My case was very complicated. He worked with me. I was approved for disability. He asked me tough questions, he checked in. He cared. I’m so grateful to have worked with him. Thank you so much for your hard work. I appreciate you so very much.
d
Date published: 2019-02-09
5 out of 5
Facing the overwhelming task of filing for disability is not for the faint of heart. My task was to research several disability attorneys. My choice, RUSSELL & HILL, Personal Injury and Disability Attorneys, was a smart one. Thank you, Elizabeth, for info gathering and the time, energy, and frustration you saved me. Thank you, Eric, for doing everything else, submitting my case, resubmitting my case, preparing for trial, preparing me for trial, gathering medical records. I was astounded, relieved, and elated when the Judge approved my disability on the spot, simply based on the brief you wrote. I am now forever grateful. I recommend RUSSELL & HILL to all.
C
Date published: 2019-02-09
5 out of 5
Eric Bessent represented me for my disability hearing and I want to give kudos where they are desreved. He is very patient and answers questions thoroughly. He handled himself very professionally and presented my case with a favorable decision. Thank you to Eric (lawyer), Gabriella (case manager), his firm (Russell and Hill) and all the other staff who’s behind the scenes 😊
A
Date published: 2019-03-09
5 out of 5
Jim and his team are excellent at what they do and also great at communicating what is going on
V
Date published: 2019-02-09
5 out of 5
Eric bessett did a good job on helping me out on my disability was well pleased would recommend them to anybody
s
Date published: 2019-03-09
5 out of 5
Eric Bessent at Russell & Hill was so helpful and resilient in helping me to obtain Social Security after suffering a head injury from being hit ny a drunk driver. His concern for health as well as being conforting and informative regarding the process that takes place to obtain SS was an A+. He walked me step by step through the process encouraging me even when my application had been turned down the first time. Eric walked me through the appeal process with encouragement and still caring about my well being.
After receiving such personal care I whole heartedly recommend Russell & Hill, PLLC to anyone seeking personalized caring attorneys.
Verna Luther
T
Date published: 2019-02-09
5 out of 5
I applied For Disability April 2017 I started with Russell & Hill from the get go. I was denied on Intial and Recon I thankfully got a Alj hearing quickly and we won with a Bench Decision thank you to Kim for dealing with all my stress with me and getting my updated records every three months helped a ton. I would also like to Thank Eric Basset that contacted me when I got my court date to update records and make sure I wasn’t messing anything and met with me in person, I met Eric Agian the day of hearing ahead of time to answer any questions before we went in I was very nervous we won and were told right then, thank you to the firm for working so hard and not giving up when I was filled with anxiety, I would recommend Russle & Hill staff to anyone needing help mine was a disability case. They called me back in a timely fashion and a good bye me tell the finish line. Thanks a ton! My best advise they know what they are doing ride the wave it paid off for me in the end. Thanks Agian
a
Date published: 2019-02-09
5 out of 5
Erik did a great job and was willing to take all my calls and questions. He got the job done quickly!!!
b
Date published: 2019-03-09
5 out of 5
Jim is awesome if anything ever happens to me again in the future hes going to be my go to
E
Date published: 2017-12-09
5 out of 5
Jim and Dradin were great to work with! They communicated with me in terms I could understand, and they were able to resolve my case with the best possible outcome! I would recommend them to anyone needing assistance.
D
Date published: 2016-12-09
5 out of 5
I chose Russell and Hill to file my disability paperwork and was approved in around six months without paying a dime. I couldn’t have made a better choice! Due to their knowledge and proficiency (and my bad back), my paperwork sailed through the system in record time. Thank you R&H for your excellent services!
B
Date published: 2019-03-09
5 out of 5
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