Can You Sue the City Of Seattle If You Slipped And Fell On A Sidewalk?

If you recently slipped and fell on a sidewalk in the city of Seattle, Washington, you may be wondering if you can sue the city for your injuries. The answer depends on whether or not the city was negligent.

Contact our Seattle sidewalk slip and fall lawyers at Emerald Law Group to discuss the circumstances surrounding your accident and determine if you can sue the city of Seattle for your injury. Our knowledgeable lawyers will help you navigate the claims process from start to finish to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

How Negligence Applies in Slip and Fall Cases

In order to successfully sue the city of Seattle for a slip and fall accident, you must be able to prove that they were negligent in their upkeep of the sidewalk. Negligence is defined as an unintentional tort (a civil wrong) that occurs when an individual or entity fails to act with reasonable care and causes another person harm. When it comes to slip and fall accidents, negligence can include failure to properly maintain the sidewalks, failure to warn people of potential hazards, or failure to repair hazardous conditions in a timely manner.

Did the City Know About the Hazard?

A city is not automatically liable for every sidewalk injury. To hold the city of Seattle responsible, you generally must show that the city knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to repair it or warn people within a reasonable time. Lawyers call this actual or constructive notice.

For example, if a city crew inspected or worked in the area where you fell but left the hazard in place, that can show the city knew about it.

Records of earlier complaints or repair requests about the same stretch of sidewalk, or a defect that existed long enough that the city should have discovered it, can also establish notice. Keep in mind that in Seattle the owner of the adjoining property may share responsibility for sidewalk upkeep, so more than one party may be liable.

What If You Were Partly at Fault?

The city may argue that you were careless, for example that you were looking at your phone or should have seen the hazard. That does not bar your claim. Washington follows pure comparative fault under RCW 4.22.005, so any share of fault assigned to you reduces your compensation by that percentage, but you can still recover the rest. This is one reason to document the scene and the hazard carefully right after a fall.

How to File a Claim Against the City of Seattle?

Under RCW § 4.96.020, all claims against government entities in Washington, including government employees, must be filed within applicable statutes of limitations. Like other municipalities in Washington, the city of Seattle sets forth notice requirements for claims filed against the city. It is critical to follow these rules to ensure that your claim for damages is not dismissed. Speak with a knowledgeable attorney to learn more about the notice requirements and the statute of limitations.

Contact Emerald Law Group for Legal Counsel

Slip and fall accidents can cause serious physical damage as well as emotional trauma, depending on how severe your injuries are following such incidents. As such, if you recently suffered from an accident due to dangerous conditions found on a sidewalk owned by the city of Seattle, then it is vital for you to understand what factors need to be established to successfully sue the city for your damages.

Contact our sidewalk slip and fall lawyers at Emerald Law Group for legal guidance and assistance with your claim. Call 206-826-5160 to schedule a free consultation.