If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property, recovering your damages starts with determining the cause of the accident. Many different factors can lead to slip and fall accidents. Potentially your losses may be covered by homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or commercial property insurance.
Why Do You Need to Prove the Cause of Your Slip and Fall Accident?
Before we talk about the common causes of slip and fall accidents, it is worth spending a moment on the topic of why determining the specific cause is important. Slip and fall accident attorneys need to investigate the cause because:
- Determining the cause of your accident also determines who may be liable for your injuries
AND - In order to file a successful premises liability claim, you need proof of how you were injured
In order words, it is not enough simply to be able to prove that you slipped and fell on someone else’s property. You must also be able to prove that the property owner and/or another party is liable. With proof of who is at fault for your accident, a claim for damages can be filed, and an attorney can advise you regarding the financial compensation you deserve.
When Can You Seek Financial Compensation for a Slip and Fall Accident?
There are many different causes of slip and fall accidents for which victims may be entitled to seek compensation for their injury-related losses. For example, you may be able to recover compensation if you slipped and fell due to:
- A Recent Cleaning – Recently cleaned floors can be slippery, and many slip and fall accidents result from the failure of the property owner or management company to prevent access to a floor that hasn’t dried. If a floor surface is slippery when wet, the property owner or occupant must generally place signs warning guests not to enter following a cleaning.
- A Missing or Broken Handrail or Guardrail or Defective Stair – Handrails and guardrails exist for a reason. If you slipped and fell because a handrail or guardrail was either missing or broken, there are several parties that could potentially be liable for your injury-related losses. Rotten wooden steps and slippery stairs also cause these types of accidents/injuries.
- Faulty Construction – From dangerously sloped walking surfaces to the improper selection of flooring finishes or materials, various construction issues can cause and contribute to slip and fall accidents. If your accident was the result of a construction defect, then the property and one or more parties involved in construction of the floor may be liable.
- Inadequate Lighting – In addition to preventing slip hazards, property owners and management companies also have an obligation to ensure that guests can see any hazards that may arise. If you slipped and fell because you could not see a property hazard, you could have a claim for financial compensation.
- Precipitation – We get plenty of precipitation here in Washington, and ice and snow can present dangerous slip and fall hazards. Some premises liability cases involve claims arising out of a property owner or occupant’s failure to adequately address the injury risks associated with ice and snow accumulation.
As you can see, negligence on the part of a property owner or the occupant of a property can take a host of different forms. Many dangerous conditions, however, may be swiftly removed or repaired after an accident. Therefore, it is important to contact a slip and fall accident attorney as soon as possible to begin building your case.
If I File a Claim, Will I Be Blamed for My Own Injuries?
One common concern we hear from prospective clients is that they are worried they will be blamed for their own injuries. While blaming victims is a common insurance defense tactic, the reality is that many slip and fall accidents are preventable through diligence and timely action by the property owner or occupant.
As a result, you should not assume that your injuries from a slip and fall accident are your fault. An experienced attorney will investigate to determine what caused the accident and advise you of your legal options.
Contact Our Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Today
Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in Olympia or Tacoma? If so, it is in your best interest to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Fuller & Fuller has been serving clients in premises liability claims since 1972, and attorney Marya Fuller draws on her extensive experience to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Please call (800) 570-4878 today. If you’ve been injured, Marya Fuller can help.
