Apartment Negligence Lawyer
If you suffered injuries at a Seattle-area apartment complex, you could have a case against the property owner. Complex owners have a responsibility to keep tenants and guests safe. When they get hurt because of an unreasonable hazard, that owner could be legally responsible for the victim’s treatment, lost income, and other damages. Our apartment negligence lawyer can handle your claim or lawsuit, pursuing fair compensation for you.
A personal injury lawyer from Herschensohn Law handles Washington state premises liability cases. Contact us online or call (206) 588-4344 for a free initial consultation. Our team will explain your rights and assess your options based on the case’s facts. Our apartment negligence lawyer can help you hold the property owner legally responsible in premises liability cases.
Damages Available in an Apartment Negligence Case
When we seek compensation for our clients hurt in a negligence injury case, we identify their expenses and losses. This part of these cases is always different; no two cases are the same. Each client has their own list of the money they spent, how much they may need to spend, and their non-financial losses.
We gather documentation to show these damages, which often include:
- Medical bills and related expenses
- Future care costs
- Ongoing care and support
- Lost income from all sources
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Miscellaneous expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages, if the victim passes away
We know how to calculate a fair settlement value in these cases. We add all the bills, expenses, and losses to date. Medical experts and economists help us understand the victim’s prognosis, lasting impairments, ongoing treatments, and more. We also use our knowledge and experience to estimate the value of the intangible losses, specifically your pain and suffering from the incident and your injuries.
Only once we know the fair settlement range of a case can we demand an appropriate payout from the property owner’s insurance provider. Alternatively, we can sue, prepare the case for trial, and present the evidence we have to support the claim to a judge and jury.
Actions We Take as an Apartment Negligence Attorney in Kent, Washington
When our attorney from Herschensohn Law represents clients, he handles all aspects of their cases. From managing all communication with the liable party and their insurer to gathering evidence to representing the client’s best interests, our lawyer takes care of it. The client can then focus on healing and their physical recovery.
Most of these cases end in a negotiated settlement when we win. Most cases only rarely go to trial, although a verdict and award are possible at trial. Even when we sue for compensation, the insurer often makes a fair settlement offer before the court date arrives. They generally know we have a strong case against their policyholder, and they do not want to spend money to go to trial only to lose and have to pay anyway.
Our team strongly believes that victims hurt because of someone else’s negligence should not have to pay bills and experience financial losses for injuries someone else caused. We seek compensation from the property owner to cover their damages and fight to ensure it is fair.
Timeline for Suing in a Personal Injury Case
Each state sets its own rules for how long you have to sue the at-fault party in an injury case. If we need to sue the property owner in your apartment negligence case, we likely only have three years to begin a lawsuit. Per RCW 4.16.080, this is the cut-off for suing the apartment complex owner, although exceptions exist.
Failure to negotiate an agreement or sue before this date jeopardizes your right to sue. We need to begin the lawsuit by filing the complaint in the appropriate local court before this date arrives. Act quickly after your accident to protect your rights.
Our Herschensohn Law Attorney Represents Apartment Negligence Victims
Lawyer Zach Herschensohn has a strong track record of winning payouts for clients. We have secured millions of dollars for our clients hurt by someone else’s negligence. This includes clients hurt because of unreasonable hazards in stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, and more. We serve clients in Kent, Auburn, Bellevue, Seattle, and beyond.
Our team knows how Washington state premises liability and tenant laws work, how they apply to your case, and what these laws mean for your financial recovery. We can help you navigate your claim and possibly secure compensation for your treatment, lost income, and more. You can look at our recent case results to learn about the outcomes of some recent cases.
Our attorney and legal team operate based on contingency fees. We do not ask our clients to pay us anything up front. We understand the dire financial situation injuries often cause. Instead, we charge attorney’s fees as a percentage of the money we recover for you in the case. We will answer any questions you have about this process during your initial free consultation.
Understanding Apartment Negligence and Liability in Washington State
When an injury occurs at a Seattle area apartment complex, the property owner could bear liability under WPI 120.06. Specifically, the property owner or party responsible for it are liable when they:
- Are aware of a hazard
- Should have been aware of a hazard
- Could reasonably foresee a hazard occurring
In any of these instances, the property owner must warn people of the danger, repair the unsafe situation promptly, or foresee the hazard and prevent it. Failure to do so means liability falls on them when:
- There is a dangerous condition.
- The danger causes someone to suffer injuries.
Whether you live in the complex or were there to see a friend, the owner could be legally responsible for any injuries and damages that occur because of these hazards. Our team can help you better understand your case, identify the liable party, and discuss your next steps during a free case consultation with our team.
What Kinds of Injuries Occur Because of Apartment Negligence?
A negligent apartment complex owner can leave their property with many dangerous conditions that could cause injuries. The injuries suffered could vary widely but include catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple fractures.
Some negligent accidents that might occur at an apartment complex include:
Falls
Trips, slips, falls on stairs, and falls from an elevated height are all common occurrences. There are many ways that hazards in common areas, on stairways, in parking lots, and in grassy areas can cause fall injuries. From poor lighting to broken handrails, property owners must be aware of the potential hazards on their property and keep tabs on whether tenants and guests are at risk.
Collapses
Sometimes, railings, decks, porches, and other structures collapse. This can occur because of a lack of maintenance, poor upkeep, bad construction, and other reasons. These incidents can lead to a sudden fall from an elevated height, causing serious injuries.
Fires
Apartment complex owners must ensure there are smoke detectors and take other steps to keep tenants safe in the event of a fire. A fire could lead to catastrophic injuries or death. Prevention includes eliminating or reducing fire hazards, installing safety features such as alarms and sprinklers, and following all required codes during building or renovation.
Criminal Acts
Unfortunately, some areas have more crime than others. If there is a history of criminal activity in the area, the property owner should be aware and anticipate more problems. When they fail to and something happens, they could face responsibility based on a negligent security claim.
Negligent security includes failing to repair parking lot lights, not hiring a trained security guard, allowing a gated entry to remain open, and more. When there is inadequate security, tenants and guests could face assaults, muggings, rape, and other criminal activity.
Construction, Renovation, and Landscaping Issues
Landscaping and outdoor areas can bring many injury risks. Cracked sidewalks, holes in grassy areas, potholes in the parking lot, and other similar issues commonly cause falls. Pools can pose drowning and diving hazards. Exposed electrical connections could lead to electrocution. Property owners must keep their land safe and foresee any possible hazards.
If there is ongoing construction or renovation, the property owner must carefully create areas that are off-limits to those not wearing the right protective equipment. There must be clear areas to walk safely, and all construction zone hazards must not be accessible to tenants.
Discuss Your Apartment Negligence Case With Our Team for Free
Herschensohn Law provides complimentary consultations for those hurt in an incident in a Washington state apartment. We handle these claims and lawsuits in Auburn, Bellevue, Kent, and Seattle. We can review your case with you and explain your options. We can also answer your questions about our team and services.
To get started, call (206) 588-4344 or use our contact form online.
Our results speak for themselves
After a worker was electrocuted on a construction site and suffered life-changing injuries, we fought and won on their behalf.
When a retired man was killed in a truck accident, we made sure his grieving family got fair compensation.
When a defective medical device harmed our client, we fought to ensure they had the financial compensation needed to recover.
Hurt? Let our law firm handle the details
When you request your free consultation, Kent personal injury attorney Zach Herschensohn will listen to you, answer your questions, lay out your legal options, and give you down-to-earth legal advice.
When you work with our law office, there are no obligations, hidden fees, or fine print. It’s that simple.