With the Redmond area having many malls, such as Redmond Center and Overlake Fashion Plaza, malls in Redmond get a lot of foot traffic. People shop, eat, meet friends, and go to events. With that many people walking around, things get missed. Floors get wet, food gets spilled, floor mats shift, and many other hazards. When problems are not handled quickly, people fall and some of those falls cause serious injuries.
Slip and fall accidents happen often in Washington and mall owners are expected to keep public areas safe. When they do not, injuries can happen during an ordinary visit.
Redmond has several shopping areas where people spend time indoors and outdoors. These include:
These places have walkways, parking areas, food spots, and shared spaces. All of them can become unsafe if hazards are ignored.
Most mall falls are caused by everyday issues. Examples include rain getting tracked in from outside, drinks spilling near food areas, floors being freshly cleaned and left slick, trash ending up in walkways, cracked pavement, loose carpets that are easy to trip on, and escalator areas collecting water.
None of this is unusual. What matters is whether it was fixed in time.
The Washington Supreme Court, in Ingersoll v. DeBartolo, Inc., 123 Wn.2d 649, 869 P.2d 1014 (1994), held that mall owners have a duty to keep the property reasonably safe for its visitors. Mall owners and operators are expected to look for hazards, fix problems, and warn people when something is dangerous.
They are expected to check common areas, fix problems, and warn people when something is dangerous. This applies to walkways, food courts, parking garages, and outdoor plazas.
Falls at malls can cause real injuries. Broken bones, head and spinal injuries, neck pain, muscle injuries that do not heal quickly and many more. For some people, a fall leads to medical bills, missed work, and limits on daily life.
Mall owners and insurance companies often push back on claims. They may say the hazard was only there briefly. They may say it was easy to see. Sometimes they say there is no proof of what caused the fall.
Video footage, reports, and cleaning logs matter in these cases. That information can be lost if no one acts quickly.
If you fall at a mall, do not brush it off.
A lawyer can review what happened and explain whether the mall owner may be responsible. This often comes down to evidence and timing. Local experience helps.
Slip and fall cases depend on details. If you were injured at a mall in Redmond, talking with a lawyer can help you understand your options. Contact Attorney Gurj Narwal at Narwal Injury Law to speak about your slip and fall accident.When you hire us, you pay nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis which means that we only get paid if you get your money.