Everyone who owns or manages a property has specific responsibilities to uphold. One of their chief obligations is to ensure that anyone visiting their premises remains free from harm. As such, property owners must establish conditions that promote the safety of everyone present. If they fail to take such steps, they may be legally responsible for any injuries resulting from their negligence.
When you visit someone else’s property, you have a right to expect that you will be safe. If you have suffered injuries on another person’s premises, the physical pain, psychological trauma, and financial expenses can feel overwhelming. Washington law permits you to seek compensation for any accident-related losses you incur due to another party’s negligence.
The Federal Way premises liability lawyers at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP will fight to pursue the full compensation you deserve for your premises liability injuries. Our legal team has successfully represented thousands of injured clients, and we are ready to put our experience to work for you. Call us or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
What Is a Federal Way Premises Liability Case?
Premises liability cases are personal injury claims in which someone suffers an injury on another person’s property due to the owner’s negligence. As long as the injured individual has a right to be on the premises, the owner owes them a duty of care. This means that the party responsible for the property is also responsible for the safety of those who visit it.
In practice, the property owner’s duty of care requires them to take the precautions that any reasonable person would take under similar circumstances. Therefore, the law does not require the owner to uphold a standard of absolute perfection. However, they may be legally liable for any harm to visitors when they do not meet a reasonable duty of care.
Determining whether an injury qualifies for a premises liability claim can present challenges to those unfamiliar with personal injury law. However, the premises liability attorneys at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP have the knowledge and skills necessary to inform you of the viability of your case, identify who is responsible for your losses, and seek the compensation you deserve.
Examples of Federal Way Premises Liability Cases
Several types of accidents and injuries can happen when a property owner is negligent in their duty of care. The attorneys at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP are capable of successfully tackling various premises liability scenarios, including the following:
Slip and Fall Cases
Falls happen so frequently that they are the most common form of premises liability claims.
They occur due to:
- Loose cables and wires
- Slick surfaces
- Broken tiles or cracks in the floor
- Stray equipment or goods
Property owners and managers must address any hazards on the floor as quickly as possible to prevent people from tripping or slipping. Failure to do so can lead to such injuries as broken bones, fractured skulls, and traumatic brain injuries.
Negligent Security
Owners have the responsibility to ensure that their properties are secure. Neglecting to provide adequate security can leave guests vulnerable to violent attacks. For example, if the vicinity has seen several recent attacks, a responsible business owner should hire additional security guards to protect visitors.
If you have suffered injuries because a property owner did not take measures to maintain the safety of their premises, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses.
Elevator and Escalator Accidents
Elevators and escalators require regular inspection to make them safe to ride.
Unsafe elevators and escalators can cause:
- Broken bones
- Severed limbs
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Death
If an elevator or escalator caused your injuries or took a loved one’s life, the attorneys at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP will investigate the inspection and maintenance history to determine whether you can seek compensation from the property owner.
Defective Stairwells
Property owners and managers must ensure that their stairwells are well-lit and free from debris and other hazards. Broken steps, defective handrails, and poorly lit stairwells can lead to catastrophic or fatal stairway falls.
Swimming Pool Accidents
Anyone who owns a swimming pool must take steps to prevent guests from slipping, falling, or suffering harm. Children are particularly vulnerable to swimming pool accidents, and owners must take measures to prevent kids from hurting or drowning themselves.
Dog Bites
If a dog or another pet attacks you on another person’s property, the owner may be liable for any injuries or losses that result from the attack. Speak to one of our seasoned injury attorneys to learn more about whether you might be eligible to seek compensation for your dog bite injuries.
Fires and Explosions
Many fires and explosions occur due to insufficient safety measures, and the consequences can be severe. If you have suffered injuries in a fire or explosion on someone else’s property, our attorneys will investigate to determine whether we can hold the owner liable for your losses.
Hotel Accidents
All of the above injuries can happen at hotels, and you could hold the owner or manager responsible for any losses you sustain in these incidents. Furthermore, you may be eligible to seek compensation if you have suffered harm from bed bugs at an unclean hotel.
Who Can You Sue in a Premises Liability Case?
Because premises liability law encompasses many scenarios, the range of potential defendants is broad.
You might hold at-fault:
- A shopping center
- A university or educational institution
- A restaurant owner
- A municipal government
- A hotel owner
- A retail store
- An amusement park
- A homeowner
If you seek compensation from a large business, corporation, or government entity, you will probably face intense opposition from the defendant’s powerful legal team. The premises liability lawyers at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP have a successful history of taking on these types of defendants and are ready to fight for your best interests.How to Win a Premises Liability Case
Winning a premises liability case entails demonstrating that the property owner did not take reasonable steps to keep you safe. To be clear, they do not need to guarantee your safety. The law recognizes that some accidents are effectively unpreventable. However, if the owner or manager could or should have prevented the harm you suffered, you can hold them responsible for the consequences.
A successful case will depend on your attorney’s ability to gather evidence of what occurred and show that the owner should have done more to keep you safe. For example, if you broke your hip in a slip-and-fall accident, your lawyer will need to prove that the owner failed to clean up a spill or warn the public of a slippery floor within a reasonable time.
If the property owner successfully argues that they did not or could not have known that the hazard was present, they may not be legally responsible for your losses. Our team will use evidence to demonstrate that a reasonable owner would have taken care of the danger before it caused you harm.
Many premises liability cases present distinct challenges. The Park Chenaur & Associates LLP attorneys have a deep understanding of premises liability law and a track record of success in these complex cases. We can use our skills and experience to protect your rights and interests.
What to Do After Suffering a Premises Liability Injury
The first thing you should do after suffering injuries in a premises liability accident is to seek immediate medical attention. In most cases, early medical intervention will improve your chances of recovering swiftly and effectively. A qualified physician can examine you to determine whether you have sustained any injuries that were not apparent immediately after the incident that injured you.
If you wait too long to get medical care, even if your delay is because you did not know about your injuries, the insurance company could attempt to dispute any connection between the accident and your injuries.
For example, if you slip and hit your head at a grocery store but fail to see a doctor, the insurance adjuster could use the gap between the incident and your medical care to argue that your concussion occurred at a different time and place. Seeking immediate medical attention can prevent insurers from employing this tactic, thus protecting your claim.
Your other priority after suffering an injury should be to contact an experienced premises liability attorney to handle your case. Many believe they can file a claim themselves, but insurance companies like to take advantage of people’s inexperience.
They may try to convince you that your claim is not worth as much as you think or that you were at fault for your injuries. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses whose goal is to save money, so they find ways to minimize or deny claims. The insurer will significantly decrease your payout or deny your claim.
The experienced attorneys at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP have spent years dealing with insurance companies, and we know how to handle their tactics. We know how much our clients deserve, and we will pursue the maximum settlement to cover all losses.
What Compensation Can I Expect for a Premises Liability Claim?
If you have suffered injuries on another party’s premises, your life probably turned upside-down instantly. In addition to the intense physical pain you are suffering, you may also face overwhelming psychological trauma and seemingly insurmountable financial challenges. The attorneys at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP will work to redress your losses so you can move on with dignity.
While every premises liability case is unique, you may be eligible to recover compensation for losses such as:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages due to missed time at work while you heal
- Property damage
- Reduced earning capacity if you suffered a disability or disfigurement in the accident
- Rehabilitation, including physical and occupational therapy
- Mental health treatment costs
- Physical and psychological pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you have lost a loved one in a premises liability accident, our attorneys can file a wrongful death claim on your behalf.
You may recover compensation for:
- Medical costs for treatment of your loved one’s fatal injury or illness
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost income or benefits for surviving dependents
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Your loss of companionship
Some of these expenses are easy to calculate because they have a dollar value. Others, however, are less tangible. While the insurance company will know how much you stand to gain in compensation, you might be unaware of how much your non-economic losses are worth. Our attorneys will calculate the amount you deserve to recover and work to obtain a fair settlement.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
In addition to calculating the value of your losses, our attorneys can:
- Listen compassionately to your story so we can know how best to represent you
- Investigate the accident to determine what happened and who is liable
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement
- Take the at-fault party to court if the insurer refuses to offer you the compensation you deserve
Taking on big business, they’re high-powered defense lawyers, and their insurers requires a great deal of work. You should not have to worry about the intricacies of filing a claim while you are healing from your injuries. Let us handle the legal details so you can focus on your health. For more information, reach out to a Federal Way personal injury lawyer.
Contact Our Federal Way Premises Liability Attorneys
If you have suffered injuries on someone else’s property, you deserve compensation for your losses. The experienced Washington State premises liability lawyers at Park Chenaur & Associates LLP will stand up for your rights and aggressively protect your interests. Speak with us as soon as possible so we can get started on recovering the financial award you deserve. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer.
Call us today at (253) 839-9440 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
Federal Location:
2505 S 320th Suite 100
Federal Way, WA 98003
Phone: 253 839 9440
