Slip and fall accidents are surprisingly common and can have life-altering implications depending on the extent of your injuries. If the accident was caused by someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation to help you cover things like medical bills and lost wages.
These lawsuits are quite straightforward, but you still want to make sure you follow the right steps to set yourself up for a successful case. To do this, you need to hire an experienced law firm like Henderson Taylor Law Firm, which can provide an experienced attorney who has a proven track record of success with slip and fall lawsuits. Keep reading to find out more about this process and settlement amounts.
Understanding Slip and Fall Lawsuits
A slip and fall accident is defined as a personal injury lawsuit when someone slips, trips, or falls on someone else’s property. For it to qualify as this type of accident, the accident must be caused by someone else’s negligence, and you must have injuries as a result of the accident.
The settlement amounts for these types of accidents vary quite a lot since it is completely dependent on the situation. For a successful lawsuit that results in a large settlement, you must be able to present plenty of evidence that the accident was due to negligence. You also need to have proof backing up your claim that you were significantly injured in the accident.
Something else to keep in mind is that the statute of limitations in Washington for slip and fall accidents is three years. Because of this, you must file your claim before the three years are up. Otherwise, you won’t qualify for compensation.
Another detail to note is that slips, trips, and false settlements in Washington are constantly evolving. In some instances, it may be difficult to win one of these lawsuits if it is determined that the defendant had no duty to warn the victim about clearly obvious hazards. There may also be instances where the defendant is found to not be responsible for protecting third parties in certain situations.
How Are Slip and Fall Settlement Amounts Determined?
If you are filing a lawsuit for a personal injury as a result of a slip, trip, or fall accident, you are probably curious about how much of a settlement you could receive. Here are some factors that influence these types of settlements.
Injuries
If you have had an accident on someone else’s property but aren’t injured, your lawsuit isn’t going to qualify for a settlement. This is because your personal injuries have a huge impact on the settlement amount and will either make or break your lawsuit.
Some examples of common slip and fall injuries include:
- Spinal injuries
- Paralysis or nerve damage
- Concussion
- Broken or fractured bones
- Bruising or lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Torn or strained muscles and ligaments
The injuries you have sustained are important since these will indicate the impact the accident has had on your life. The court will take into account things like the cost of medical treatment, future medical expenses, lost wages, and lower earning capacity.
Impact on Quality of Life
Another aspect of your case is going to be the impact the accident has had on your life. This goes hand-in-hand with the injuries you have sustained since these will be your main source of proof. You may have been left disabled or unable to work due to extensive injuries, which has had a negative impact on your life.
In some instances, you may have experienced mental anguish after the accident or other negative implications, like chronic pain, that have impacted your quality of life.
Liability
Without negligence, you won’t have a slip and fall case, so this is the most critical aspect of your settlement. Negligence is the failure to take action to prevent injury or harm, which also goes hand-in-hand with liability.
You will need to prove that someone else was liable for the accident and your injuries due to their negligence. Some examples of this include a property owner who was aware of hazards on their property but did not do anything to fix those hazards.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
After getting into a slip, trip, or fall accident, there are certain steps you want to take to help build your case. These types of lawsuits are not always the easiest to win, so you want to make sure you set yourself up for as much success as possible.
Seek Medical Care
After getting into an accident on someone else’s property, you should get medical care as soon as possible. Even if you seem uninjured, this is a vital step as it provides medical documentation.
Gather Evidence
If possible, you should gather evidence at the scene of the accident so that nothing is lost before it is documented. You should take photos and videos of the accident scene, making sure to focus on areas that directly caused the accident. For instance, there may have been a dip in a sidewalk where water accumulated, causing a slipping hazard. Or there may have been a hidden step without a warning sign.
Hire an Attorney
Slip and fall accidents can become quite complex when it comes to determining the extent of your injuries and proving negligence. Because of this, you need to hire a slip and fall attorney who can provide you with legal representation throughout this process. They will help you document evidence and present your case in the best light possible.
Hire a Slip and Fall Attorney at Henderson Taylor Law Firm
Slip, trip, and fall accidents can leave you feeling overwhelmed, especially if you have sustained serious injuries. To get the compensation you deserve, you need to act fast and hire legal representation to help you navigate this complex process.
At Henderson Taylor Law Firm, we are committed to defending the downtrodden and ensuring our clients get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today at Henderson Taylor Law Firm by sending us a message online or by calling us directly at 360-737-1478.
