With spring in full bloom in the Pacific Northwest, more people are taking advantage of the warmer weather to spend time outside. Whatcom County is home to countless beautiful public outdoor locations from parks, to trails, boardwalks, docks, and beaches. As these outdoor spaces get busier, there is inevitably more crowding and debris that can lead to outdoor injuries.
If you or a loved one was injured in a public outdoor space, you have enough to deal with. Contact a local, experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights. An attorney can evaluate your case, explain your options, and handle the legal process so you can focus on recovery.
Types of Outdoor Injuries and Accidents in Public Spaces
While accidents in public outdoor spaces are relatively rare, these are the most common types of injuries and accidents:
- Spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries from falls on trails, docks, or boardwalks, slipping off boardwalk railings, or cliff jumping gone wrong.
- Laceration and puncture wounds from stepping, sitting, or falling on debris such as broken glass, nails, needles, metal shards, or other sharp objects.
- Slip and fall or trip and fall injuries on broken or loose boards or on debris such as gravel or fallen branches.
- Drowning injuries, including brain damage from lack of oxygen, when a swimmer gets caught in a riptide or other dangerous water.
Determining Liability in Outdoor Injuries on Public Property
An experienced personal injury attorney can thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident, identify all potentially liable parties, and build a claim that reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses. There are a few parties who may be liable for accidents that occur in public outdoor spaces:
- Other People Using Public Spaces
People using outdoor spaces may be liable for injuring others if they drop and leave dangerous hazards such as broken glass or behave in a reckless or violent manner.
How a personal injury attorney can help:
A personal injury attorney would work to prove liability by gathering witness statements, photos or videos of the hazard or behavior, and any available incident reports showing the individual’s actions. However, pursuing compensation from an individual can be challenging, as most wouldn’t have the financial resources to pay a claim and there may not be a relevant insurance policy. An attorney can evaluate potential sources of recovery and pursue compensation through negotiation or legal action when possible and appropriate.
- Local Municipalities Responsible for Maintaining Outdoor Spaces
Local municipalities may be liable for injuries if they fail to maintain outdoor spaces adequately, do not block off or warn the public about hazards, or fail to staff beaches with lifeguards if mandated.
How a personal injury attorney can help:
Pursuing an injury claim against a municipality is more challenging due to legal immunities and special notice requirements applicable to the government. A personal injury attorney can navigate these strict procedural rules and ensure all deadlines and notice requirements are met. They can also identify exceptions to immunity and advocate for full compensation through skilled negotiation or litigation if necessary.
- Private Property Owners
Property owners with beachfront property who caused dangerous conditions along the edge of their property.
How a personal injury attorney can help:
An injury attorney would investigate whether the property owner created or failed to address a hazardous condition by reviewing evidence such as photographs and property records. If liability is established, the attorney can pursue compensation through any applicable insurance coverage, such as the owner’s homeowner’s policy.
Seek the Help of a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
