Two Red Flags Hidden Inside Indemnification Clauses

This is Part 2 of my four‑part series on indemnification clauses. In Part 1, we looked at what indemnification is and why it matters; here, we focus on specific red flags I routinely see in Washington contracts.

Indemnification clauses are rarely written in plain English. They're dense, technical, and often intentionally broad. But buried inside them are red flags that every Washington business owner should be able to spot.

Here are the two that show up most often in the contracts I review. These are also areas where a lawyer can add immediate value by narrowing, clarifying, or re‑balancing the language before you sign, regardless of whether you're the party giving or receiving indemnity.