Personal Injury /

Slip & Fall / Premises Liability

Tacoma Slip and Fall Attorneys

Have you suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident on someone’s property in or around Tacoma? A negligent property owner or another party might be liable and you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, PLLC, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a slip and fall accident can take on your life. Our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys in Tacoma is here to help you navigate the legal process, seek justice, and secure the compensation you deserve.

Schedule a free consultation with a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer to learn more about when you can file a slip and fall case.

 

Common Slip and Fall Types of Injuries

Slip and fall accidents can range from minor bumps and bruises to debilitating and serious injuries. The severity of your injuries will depend on various factors, including your age, overall health, and the force of the fall. Some of the most common slip and fall injuries in Tacoma include:

  • Broken bones: Fractures in the wrists, arms, legs, hips, and ankles are frequent outcomes of slip and fall accidents.
  • Head injuries: Concussions, cuts, and even more serious head trauma can occur, necessitating immediate medical attention.
  • Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears in muscles, tendons, and ligaments are common, causing pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
  • Back and neck injuries: Spinal cord injuries where falls can damage the spinal cord, discs, and nerves, leading to chronic pain, numbness, and weakness.
  • Joint injuries: Dislocations and tears in the knees, shoulders, and other joints can significantly impact mobility and require extensive rehabilitation.

 

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Washington State

Property and business owners have a duty to take precautions to maximize the safety of customers, tenants and guests. Slips and falls are common premises injuries, but premises liability deals with a wide array of faulty and dangerous conditions, including:

  • Slippery floors
  • Objects or debris left on floors
  • Unsafe store displays including merchandise stacked too high on shelves
  • Parking lot hazards
  • Faulty stairways, handrails and walkways
  • Inadequate lighting in parking lots and building entryways
  • Inadequate security contributing to assaults at hotels, apartments, businesses, malls and other establishments in any area where crime is a problem
  • Faulty conditions in common areas of housing developments such as apartments and condominiums
  • Faulty elevators or escalators
  • Unsafe golf course design
  • Swimming pool injuries

A person who is injured by a faulty condition on another person’s property may be entitled to recover compensation for their injuries from the property owner. As in all cases involving negligence, liability depends on whether the property owner owed the injured person a duty of care and whether that duty of care was breached.

 

Where Slip and Falls Take Place

Slip and falls are one of the most common types of premises liability accidents, and they can happen anywhere, including:

  • Grocery stores
  • Gas stations and convenience stores
  • Retail stores and malls
  • Office buildings
  • Doctor’s offices
  • Parks and playgrounds
  • Single-family homes
  • Apartments and apartment complexes
  • Sidewalks
  • Parking lots and parking garages
  • Gyms and other recreational locations
  • Theaters
  • Stadiums

 

What is Premises Liability?

Before diving into the specifics of your situation, it’s important to understand the legal concept at play – premises liability. This area of law holds property owners responsible for injuries sustained on their property due to unsafe conditions or negligence. The key factor determining the owner’s responsibility relies on your legal status at the time of the incident.

 

Your Status on the Property Matters

In the state of Washington, the degree of responsibility a property owner holds depends on your status at the time of the fall. Here’s a breakdown:

Invitee: This is the highest level of duty. If you were there for business or using the property for its intended purpose (e.g., customer in a store), the owner owes you a high degree of care to maintain safe conditions. They must actively identify and fix hazards and warn you of any unfixable problems.

Licensee: A lower duty applies to guests on private property with permission (e.g., visiting a friend’s house). The owner must simply avoid creating hidden dangers and warn you of known ones. A property owner’s duty of care to their licensees is less than that owed by property owners to invitees.

Trespasser: The lowest duty applies here. While there’s no obligation to warn of natural dangers, the owner cannot intentionally harm you or create hidden man-made hazards.

 

Proving Liability in Slip and Fall Cases

Even within these categories, establishing liability requires demonstrating:

The owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. This requires gathering evidence like incident reports and witness statements promptly, before they disappear.

The dangerous condition caused your fall and resulting injuries.

These cases can be complex, so seeking legal representation through a credible law firm quickly is crucial to preserving evidence and protecting your right to compensation.

 

Don’t Wait To Get Legal Advice From Our Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyers

Our slip and fall accident attorneys are well versed in premises liability law and can assess for you what your status on the property was – invitee, licensee, or trespasser – and the nature and extent of the owner’s duty to you. If a duty owed to you was violated, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including, but not limited to, your medical expenses, your lost income and your pain and suffering. In many cases, the liable party is covered by their insurance company, which our slip and fall attorneys can help you navigate. If your fall claim cannot be resolved through this process, we will fight for you in court.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a faulty or dangerous condition on another’s property, please contact the Tacoma based attorneys of Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, PLLC at (253) 242-2284 or click here to schedule your consultation.

Our initial consultation is free of charge and if we accept your case, we only get paid for our services if you receive monetary compensation.

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At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC we have the skill and experience to take on a wide range of personal injury cases throughout Washington state. From motor vehicle accidents to workplace injuries – our reputation and success rates keep opposing counsel on edge.

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$515,000
Client suffered a slip and fall as a result of a dangerous condition that was not readily visible.
$350,000
Client was staying at a local hotel that provided security personnel and had fallen off a balcony. Hotel security personnel failed to properly monitor the property and did not get medical attention in time to prevent client’s death.
$300,000
Client was servicing commercial landowner’s property and fell when the landing of a staircase into landowner’s basement collapsed. Client’ sustained torn distal tricep tendon in left elbow requiring surgery.
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  • Our experience with Dan Kyler and Vern Harkins was excellent from the beginning and we were very satisfied with the end results.
  • Dan Kyler and Mike Fisher were professional and dedicated throughout the entire process. I would recommend this law firm to anyone.
  • Vern Harkins perseverance and hard work made it possible to get the maximum settlement from the insurance company. I know he had my interest in mind as demonstrated by his actions.
  • Dan Hannula’s hard work helped to settle my auto accident case.
  • Michael was outstanding. He was always professional, prepared, available for questions, and on top of my case. I highly recommend him and will always consider him to be my first choice for legal matters I need resolved.
  • Mr. Fisher has helped me in the past and is very trustworthy and sincere. I would recommend Michael and of course anyone else at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler.
  • My father was sick and dying, I needed assistance and I need it fast. With a single call to Mr. Fisher’s office, I was warmly welcomed, swiftly assisted and free of the concerns... I am forever grateful to Mr. Fisher for his exquisite services in my time of need.
  • The office staff were courteous, pleasant and kept me informed as to what was going on throughout the whole ordeal.
  • I am extremely satisfied with the service I experienced with this firm and I would recommend them to anyone that needs legal representation. Michael Fisher and his staff are great people.
  • John Wilson demonstrated his professionalism by keeping us current on our case, explaining our options, giving us realistic expectations and demonstrating the highest level of ethics and integrity beyond reproach. We have the highest confidence that we were well represented.
  • I have been a client of Dan Kyler’s since 1996. Having had numerous car accidents, I rely upon the Tacoma auto accident attorneys at RHHK to help me through them. The most obscure questions have been answered and help is given on all levels.
  • Mr. Fisher has helped me in the past and is very trustworthy and sincere. I would recommend Michael and of course anyone else at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler.
  • Our experience with Dan Kyler and Vern Harkins was excellent from the beginning and we were very satisfied with the end results.
  • The office staff were courteous, pleasant and kept me informed as to what was going on throughout the whole ordeal.
  • Having a motorcycle accident was bad enough, let alone dealing with insurance companies. John Wilson and his staff made everything easy to understand and hassle free.
  • John Wilson demonstrated his professionalism by keeping us current on our case, explaining our options, giving us realistic expectations and demonstrating the highest level of ethics and integrity beyond reproach. We have the highest confidence that we were well represented.
  • Michael was outstanding. He was always professional, prepared, available for questions, and on top of my case. I highly recommend him and will always consider him to be my first choice for legal matters I need resolved.
  • Mr. Fisher is an outstanding lawyer. He’s knowledgeable, responsive, and kept me informed at all times. I would definitely recommend him to anyone in need of a good attorney.
  • My father was sick and dying, I needed assistance and I need it fast. With a single call to Mr. Fisher’s office, I was warmly welcomed, swiftly assisted and free of the concerns... I am forever grateful to Mr. Fisher for his exquisite services in my time of need.
  • Mike Fisher is an example of a quality attorney who sets high standards in servicing his clients in the highest regard as an attorney and he is part of a great firm.
  • Vern Harkins perseverance and hard work made it possible to get the maximum settlement from the insurance company. I know he had my interest in mind as demonstrated by his actions.
  • I am extremely satisfied with the service I experienced with this firm and I would recommend them to anyone that needs legal representation. Michael Fisher and his staff are great people.
  • Having a motorcycle accident was bad enough, let alone dealing with insurance companies. John Wilson and his staff made everything easy to understand and hassle free.
  • Dan Hannula’s hard work helped to settle my auto accident case.
  • John Wilson demonstrated his professionalism by keeping us current on our case, explaining our options, giving us realistic expectations and demonstrating the highest level of ethics and integrity beyond reproach. We have the highest confidence that we were well represented.
  • I have been a client of Dan Kyler’s since 1996. Having had numerous car accidents, I rely upon the Tacoma auto accident attorneys at RHHK to help me through them. The most obscure questions have been answered and help is given on all levels.
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