Across Washington State, intense rainfall and flooding are creating dangerous conditions for homeowners, drivers, and entire communities. When the ground becomes saturated, hillsides can fail without warning. Landslides and mudslides often follow major floods, causing catastrophic injuries, property destruction, and loss of life.
While these events are often described as natural disasters, many landslide and mudslide injuries are preventable. In Washington, liability may exist when flooding exposes unsafe development, poor drainage systems, unstable slopes, or ignored geological warnings.
Flooding and landslides are closely connected
Heavy rainfall does more than cause flooding. It destabilizes soil, increases groundwater pressure, and weakens slopes that may already be compromised. In both urban and rural areas, landslides frequently occur after prolonged or intense rain events.
Common contributing factors include:
- Improper stormwater management
- Inadequate slope reinforcement or retaining structures
- Development on known landslide-prone terrain
- Failure to follow geotechnical recommendations
- Poor maintenance of drainage systems
- Roadway design that channels water into unstable areas
When these risks are ignored, flooding can be the trigger that turns a known hazard into a devastating event.
When a landslide injury may involve legal responsibility
Not every landslide leads to a valid legal claim. But many do. Property owners, developers, government agencies, and utilities may be responsible when they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.
Potentially responsible parties can include:
- Developers who built on unstable land without proper safeguards
- Municipalities responsible for roads, drainage, or hillside maintenance
- Government agencies that approved unsafe development
- Property owners who altered slopes or drainage patterns
- Companies performing excavation or construction work
Determining liability requires detailed investigation, expert analysis, and experience handling complex cases against well-funded defendants.
Serious injuries and long-term consequences
Landslides and mudslides often cause severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, and wrongful death. Even when people survive, the financial and emotional toll can be overwhelming.
Insurance coverage is often limited, disputed, or denied entirely. Victims may be told that no one is responsible because the event was caused by weather. That is not always true.
PCVA’s experience with landslide and natural disaster cases
Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala represents people harmed by catastrophic events throughout Washington. Our attorneys have experience handling complex injury cases involving landslides, mudslides, flooding, and other large-scale disasters, like the Oso landslide that occurred near Oso, WA in 2014.
We understand how these cases are built, how responsibility is established, and how to stand up to powerful defendants and insurers. Most importantly, we understand the trauma our clients are going through and treat their cases with care, discretion, and respect.
If you were injured during flooding, a landslide, or a mudslide
If you or a loved one was injured during recent flooding or a related landslide or mudslide, you may have legal options. These cases are time-sensitive, and early investigation can make a critical difference.
You can learn more about our approach on our Landslide Injuries and Natural Disasters practice pages, or contact PCVA for a confidential consultation.