If you sustained injuries on someone else’s commercial or residential property, you’re going to need an experienced legal team from Tamaki Law to represent you in your case. You might be entitled to compensation, and we could help you hold the negligent homeowner or business owner liable for the harm you suffered.
Property owners must regularly maintain their properties so guests don’t encounter hazards and other dangerous conditions. They should know about any problem areas and circumstances that can lead to injury or even death. If they notice that a light bulb blew out or the elevator started malfunctioning, they should promptly address it.
Unfortunately, some owners don’t immediately repair damage or provide adequate warning signs near hazardous parts of the property. When they fail in their duties to protect guests, severe injuries can occur that could make them liable for the victim’s resulting expenses.
The Washington personal injury lawyers of Tamaki Law can work together to try to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. We have over 100 years of combined experience and use all available resources to seek the justice you deserve. You shouldn’t be forced to face the complex legal process alone. Let us take on the responsibility for your case and get you on the road to recovery.
To learn more about our services or for a free consultation, call Tamaki Law at (800) 801-9564 today.
Why You Need a Premises Liability Attorney
An experienced lawyer can help you seek the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, surgical costs, and other expenses. You might not understand your rights or know who you can hold accountable for your injuries if you face a premises liability case on your own. Additionally, there are obstacles you might encounter that you don’t know how to handle.
When you have a Washington premises liability attorney on your side, you can focus solely on recovering. You won’t have to communicate with the insurance company, gather evidence, or complete confusing paperwork. We can handle everything on your behalf, so you won’t feel burdened by the legal aspects of your case.
Severe injuries can result in loss of mobility and even permanent disability. If you can’t return to work while you’re healing, you’ll lose out on the necessary income to afford your medical treatment. You shouldn’t be forced to pay for any expenses out of pocket when someone else should have repaired or warned you of the dangerous conditions on their property. We might be able to recover any wages you lost because of the accident through an insurance claim. Many businesses have insurance policies that will cover an injured victim’s past and future lost wages if the owner’s negligence caused the incident.
It can seem overwhelming when you’re facing an uphill legal battle. You might feel bad about seeking compensation from your friend if you got hurt at their home. However, you should know that the first option is typically to file an insurance claim. We won’t go directly after your friend for the losses you suffered. Instead, we could negotiate a settlement with their homeowner’s insurance company. We might need to file a lawsuit if the insurance adjuster denies your claim or refuses to settle for an adequate amount. The strategy we use will depend on the specifics of your case.
What You Should Do Following a Premises Liability Accident
The decision to pursue legal action against a property owner, business owner, or homeowner isn’t one you should take lightly. You might think it’s a straightforward process, but different variables could interfere with the progress of your insurance claim or negatively impact the financial award you receive in a lawsuit.
It’s critical that you take immediate action if you suffered injuries on another person’s property. After leaving the scene, go to a hospital or schedule an appointment with your family doctor. Don’t wait too long before your initial appointment. Insurance companies can use significant gaps in treatment as evidence that your injury isn’t serious enough to justify a settlement or doesn’t exist at all.
The physician should evaluate your injuries, diagnose your condition, and recommend a treatment plan to follow. You should regularly attend all doctor’s appointments until you recover or reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).
MMI means it’s unlikely that you’ll improve with additional medical intervention. At that stage in the process, we can request copies of your medical records and obtain other necessary evidence to prove who was at fault for the incident and the expenses you incurred as a result.
Without their hard work, I would have been completely taken advantage of by the insurance company.- Kelcy
Common Causes of Premises Liability Accidents
Property owners must ensure the safety of their guests at all times. That means maintaining the exterior and interior of the property, adhering to health and safety codes, and repairing damage or defects. A property owner’s negligence can result in injuries or death if the owner fails to fulfill their legal obligation to visitors.
The most common causes of premises liability accidents are:
- Inadequate security – Secluded and dark areas of the property should have security cameras or personnel to keep people safe.
- Poor maintenance – Routine maintenance is necessary to address dangers on the property. The owner should immediately fix any damage they find or place warning signs.
- Cracked or uneven sidewalks – Sidewalks aren’t safe for people to walk on if large cracks, holes, or uneven areas create trip hazards.
- Loose mats, rugs, and carpeting – Sometimes, the flooring requires adhesive or another type of material to keep it firmly in place, so it doesn’t move when people walk on it.
- Missing or damaged handrails – Railings should be sturdy and secure on balconies, stairwells, and other areas of the property where people might need to use them to avoid falling.
- Slippery or wet floors – Owners should promptly address a burst pipe, spilled liquid, and other substances that can cause a person to slip and fall.
- Lack of warning signs – Dangers are inevitable on commercial properties, especially if there’s ongoing construction. Warning signs, cones, and tape should explicitly inform guests that they’re not allowed on specific parts of the property because it’s too dangerous.
- Poor lighting – Parking lots, stairwells, and other dark areas on the property should have enough lighting to lead visitors safely to their destinations.
Various factors can contribute to an injury at another person’s home or business. If any of these or another scenario caused an accident, you should contact Tamaki Law immediately.
Leave the Accident Investigation to Tamaki Law
If your injury isn’t too serious, you could collect evidence at the accident scene. You can take pictures of the damaged property or hazards in the middle of the floor. You could also report the incident to the owner and complete an incident report for your records.
However, it might not be safe for you to get up and walk if your injury is severe. Tamaki Law can revisit the accident scene and gather all the evidence we need to build a solid case. During our investigation, we might need:
- Copies of your medical records and medical bills
- Police/incident reports
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Maintenance and repair records
- Inspection reports
- Accident scene photos
- Pictures of your visible injuries
- Security camera footage
- Copy of the property owner’s insurance policy
Our Washington premises liability attorneys are familiar with insurance claims. We can file the claim on your behalf and aggressively seek the maximum available insurance coverage. You deserve to receive compensation that fully compensates you for your past and future losses, so you don’t become financially responsible for any expenses.
Compensation You Might Be Entitled to in a Premises Liability Case
When you suffer injuries on public or private property, you’ll likely end up with physical, emotional, and financial losses. You could recover compensation for these losses in an insurance claim or lawsuit. However, insurance companies and defense attorneys won’t accept liability without a fight. They will investigate the case and look for evidence that they can use against you.
The types of losses you may be eligible to pursue compensation for are:
- Medical bills
- Disfigurement
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The monetary value of your case should be enough to compensate you for your past and future losses. Even if you require medical treatment long after your case ends, you should receive enough money to continue to pay your medical bills if your injury resulted in a permanent disability.
Premises Liability Lawsuits in Washington
If you want to sue the property owner or a homeowner for your losses, you must comply with the statute of limitations in Washington. This is a strict timeframe for seeking legal action against another party. The statute of limitations is three years, meaning you have three years from the accident date to file your lawsuit if you want to pursue compensation in court.
If a jury decides you were partially at fault for your injuries, they could diminish your financial award under the pure comparative negligence statute. For instance, let’s say the monetary value of your case is $40,000. If the property owner was 100 percent to blame for the accident, you could seek $40,000 in compensation. However, if a jury determines you share 25 percent of the fault for the accident, you could only seek up to $30,000 for your losses.
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Contact Us
The Washington premises liability attorneys of Tamaki Law are ready to take on the negligent premises owner and hold them liable for their wrongdoing. Since 1994, we have successfully represented clients throughout Washington in their insurance claims and lawsuits.
If you suffered injuries in a premises liability accident, call us at (800) 801-9564 for your free consultation and let us help you get your life back on track.