Federal Way Premises Liability Lawyer

Federal Way property owners must take reasonable measures to keep their guests safe. If they fail in this duty, victims may be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim. Have you have been hurt on someone else’s property? If so, call a Federal Way premises liability lawyer from our team for help. One of our attorneys can hear what happened and let you know what legal options you have.

When is a Property Owner Liable?

Before we delve into this topic, we should state upfront that just because you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property does not mean they are responsible. Certain conditions must be met for you to file a personal injury claim. Let’s look at some of these.

  • You were an invited guest. Invited guests could include customers, employees, volunteers, and contract workers. If you were trespassing? Don’t bother calling; you don’t have a case.
  • The property owner had knowledge of the hazard. It’s important for property owners to maintain their premises. If they were aware that a sidewalk needed repair, didn’t fix it, and you break your ankle, they could be liable.
  • There were no signs warning of any danger. At the very least, a property owner should warn you of hazards until they can be repaired. For instance, you may see “warning – wet floor” signs propped up in stores following a spill or during a clean-up.
  • You weren’t taking unusual risks on their property. This should probably go without saying, but we’ll say it. You most likely do not have a case if you were behaving recklessly on someone else’s property and got hurt.

These are some basic guidelines, but every situation is different. Premises liability cases are often complex, so it’s best to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Taking Pictures After an Accident

If possible, we encourage you to take pictures immediately following your accident. (A loved one or witness could help if you’re unable to do this.) The reason here is simple: evidence in premises liability cases may be quickly lost. A property owner may be quick to patch up whatever triggered your fall or injury. Or a warning sign may be added a day or two later.

Some pictures to gather include:

  • The hazard that caused your injury (both close-up and at a distance)
  • Any signage (or lack thereof)
  • Your injuries immediately after and during the healing process

Photos can be taken with a phone. In fact, these are helpful as they usually contain date, time, and location data.

Why Work with a Lawyer

While you could file a personal injury claim on your own, we highly recommend that you work with a qualified attorney on your premises liability case. You should expect that the property owner will come to the table with aggressive legal representation to defend their interests. Instead of navigating complicated legal proceedings and documents, let us handle it so you can focus on your healing. Here’s the other part you should know: you pay us nothing upfront. That’s because Ladenburg Law works on a contingency basis. If we take on your case, it’s because we believe we have  a good chance at winning you a settlement. You pay us a fee when we’re successful. And if we’re not? You owe us nothing.

Ready to Talk to a Lawyer?

After finding our page today, maybe we’ve convinced you that talking to a Federal Way premises liability lawyer is the right next step. We’d love to hear from you and schedule a free case review. You’re under no obligation by accepting the review, and our conversation will be held confidential.

Unable to make it to our office? Just let us know when you call. We’re happy to coordinate a meeting with you at your home, hospital, or other preferred location.

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