Although the convenience of online shopping has reduced the number of shopping malls in operation across the country, many shoppers still enjoy visiting their local mall from time to time. According to recent estimates, shopping malls are more than twice as likely as the average retail space to be vacant—malls had as high as an 8.6 percent vacancy rate as of 2023. However, several malls and shopping centers continue to keep their doors open for customers who prefer to shop in person. Most visits to the mall conclude without incident, but there are times when poorly maintained floors or other safety hazards can cause painful slip and fall accident injuries. Shopping mall owners are obligated to keep their premises free from hazards. Failure to maintain the safety of the property can leave the owner of a shopping center legally and financially liable for injuries that customers suffer while visiting the property.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident because of a poorly maintained or otherwise hazardous floor or walkway at the mall, you may be entitled to file a premises liability claim to recover the compensation you need to account for the medical bills, lost wages, and other unanticipated expenses associated with the incident. Enlisting the guidance and support of a highly skilled and knowledgeable Seattle premises liability attorney is the best way to understand your legal options and identify the most strategic path forward. Let’s take a look at how premises liability claims typically unfold in Washington state and some of the steps you can take to maximize your chances of obtaining a fair and favorable outcome.
What is a Slip and Fall Injury?
Slip and fall injuries happen when someone loses their footing on a slick or uneven surface. For example, if a shopper is walking in a certain area of a store where something has been spilled, the wet surface can cause the person to slip, lose their balance, and fall down. Depending on the circumstances of the slip and fall accident, a number of injuries can occur. Broken bones, head injuries, neck and back injuries, and muscle strains or sprains are common injuries associated with slip and fall accidents. These injuries can cause short-term complications or present long-term health issues that can interfere with your ability to work or perform your daily tasks. In addition to coping with an unexpected physical recovery, it’s natural to become concerned about the financial impact of the slip and fall accident. Suddenly, you’re facing costly medical bills, physical therapy costs, and lost wages because of the injury, and you may worry about how you will be able to afford these unanticipated expenses. Fortunately, Washington state laws allow injured parties to recover compensation if they can prove that the party responsible for the accident acted negligently.
Elements of a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Washington State
Slip and fall accidents can happen in many ways. Whether your injuries were caused by uneven stairs, slick floors, or icy sidewalks, the property owner’s failure to keep their premises safe and free from hazards may constitute negligence. However, providing clear and compelling evidence that demonstrates negligence on behalf of the shopping center owner can be challenging. A successful premises liability claim needs to demonstrate that the property was improperly maintained or dangerous to lawful visitors and that the owner either knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. Moreover, as a result of the owner’s failure to address or fix the hazardous condition, a lawful visitor suffered an injury. For example, if a large quantity of water or cleaning liquid spilled across a walkway in the mall, the owner should recognize that this hazard has arisen and take active steps to clean up the spill before anyone slips and falls. If you slipped and fell because of this slick surface, your slip and fall personal injury lawyer can help you find evidence that the owner was aware of the hazard and failed to respond accordingly. Timing is important in these situations. You cannot expect a spill to be immediately cleaned by staff. A period of time usually must elapse before to give notice to the owner. However, if the mall created the spill, it’s different. Also, perhaps a mall employee reported the spill right away, but the owner or manager did not respond in a timely manner to this potential hazard. As a result of their failure to clean up the spill, any injuries caused by this negligence may be compensable. It’s best to discuss the specific details of your slip and fall accident with a knowledgeable and caring Seattle premises liability attorney in order to determine whether you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries.
Learn More About Slip and Fall Negligence Cases
One of the most challenging aspects of building a successful premises liability claim in the greater Seattle area is establishing legal liability and providing proof of negligence on the part of the property owner for any injuries that happen on their premises. When you file a premises liability claim against the owner of a mall or shopping center, their legal team will do everything in its power to deny any wrongdoing. As you cope with your physical recovery and financial anxiety in the aftermath of a slip and fall accident, the prospect of engaging in a tense and stressful legal battle with a large company can seem daunting and intimidating. However, when you entrust your case to highly experienced and knowledgeable Seattle slip and fall injury lawyers, you can rest assured that these dedicated legal advocates will work hard to secure a fair and favorable outcome. To learn more about typical slip and fall cases settlement amounts and what to expect during every phase of the claims process, reach out to a qualified and caring personal injury attorney for the customized legal guidance you deserve.
The highly qualified and experienced personal injury attorneys at Scott & Scott, PLLC, are ready to help victims of slip and fall accidents recover the compensation they’re owed. Please call our Seattle office today at (206) 622-2200 to discuss your case with a knowledgeable and dedicated premises liability lawyer.
