Vancouver, Washington Slip & Fall Attorneys
Slip and falls can cause serious injury, especially for the elderly. The legal issues in these cases center on the liability of the premises owner to keep the premises in a safe condition. Traditionally, in order to hold the premises owner liable, the injured party would need to prove that the owner was aware of the danger before the accident.
In many cases the injured party is not in a position to know if the owner was aware of a dangerous condition before the loss. Sometimes, knowlege can be implied based on the time the danger was present. For example, if a person falls and is injured on a broken stairway, which has been in the defective condition for a significant period, that could be sufficient to prove liability.
When a slip and fall occurs in self-service restaurants and stores, the injured party can hold the owner liable for an accident from a dangerous condition, even when unable to prove how long the defect was present. For example, if a fall occurs on food in a fast food restaurant, and the restaurant does not have a maintenance long to prove when the area was last cleaned, liability against the restaurant may be proven.
Medical bills in trip and fall cases can be significant. Often premises owners carry “med-pay” coverage, which can pay bills, regardless of fault, similar to PIP insurance in auto liability coverage. This can help pay bills or deductibles as they arise even if a liability claim for pain, suffering and disability is also being pursued.
Premises Liability Attorneys in Vancouver, WA
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident and you would like to discuss it with our experienced personal injury lawyers, please call our Vancouver, WA injury law firm today.
