| Can I sue a store or property owner for a slip and fall in Tacoma? You may have a claim against the owner if they knew about the danger, or should have, and didn’t fix it or warn you. A Tacoma premises liability lawyer can help you figure out if that’s what happened. Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule (RCW 4.22.005), you can still recover money even if you were partly at fault. For a fall at a place like the Tacoma Mall or on an icy downtown sidewalk, a big question is how long the hazard was there before you fell. |
You fell. You’re hurt. And now the property owner is telling a different story than yours. The insurance company may call before you’ve even seen a doctor. They may ask what happened, what you were doing, or whether you saw the hazard.
Details matter, so be careful what you say. You need someone who knows what to look for and moves quickly when the evidence matters. The Tacoma slip and fall accident lawyers at Bernard Law Group can help.
Washington is our home. For more than 30 years, we’ve been helping injured people across the state, including our neighbors in Tacoma and Pierce County. Whether you slipped in a grocery aisle or tripped on a broken apartment stair, we’ve handled Tacoma premises liability cases like yours, and we know how to build them.
At Bernard Law Group, our mission hasn’t changed over time: treat every fall as a case worth proving, not a file to close.
- $500 Million+ Recovered. We’ve won some of the biggest personal injury verdicts and settlements in Washington history. See our case results.
- 10,000+ Clients Served. That’s more than 10,000 Washington families who didn’t have to go through an injury claim alone. Read what they say in our client reviews.
- 98% Case Success Rate. When we take a case, we put in the work. That record covers slip and falls, Tacoma car accident claims, and other injury cases we’ve settled and tried.
- No Fee Unless We Win. Our attorney fees come from a percentage of the settlement we successfully win for you.
- Here 24/7. Falls don’t happen on a schedule, and we don’t keep one. Contact us any time for a free case review.
Our work has also been recognized in Washington’s legal community. Our founder, Kirk Bernard, has been a WSAJ Foundation member since 2002.
What should you do in the first hours after falling?
Get medical care, report the fall, and save proof before the spot gets cleaned up or repaired. Stored video may only be kept for a short time, so it helps to act quickly. Here’s what to do, what to report, and who to call.
What to Do
- Take photos. Get the wet floor, ice, spill, torn mat, broken step, missing handrail, or dim lighting. Take a picture of your shoes too.
- Keep your shoes and clothes. Don’t wash or throw them out. Write down the date, time, and exact spot where you fell.
- Get witness names. Ask anyone who saw your fall, or saw the hazard before you did, for their name and phone number.
What to Report
- Tell a manager or the owner before you leave. Ask them to write an incident report. Get a copy, or at least the name of the person who wrote it.
- If you fell on a city sidewalk, note the nearest address or cross street. You can also report the hazard to Tacoma FIRST 311 so it gets fixed before someone else gets hurt.
- Stick to the facts if an insurance adjuster calls. You don’t have to give a recorded statement right away. A quick comment like “I wasn’t looking” can be used later to argue the fall was your fault. It’s fine to say you’d like to talk to a lawyer first.
Who to Call
- 911, if you’re badly hurt. Tacoma Fire Department crews and paramedics can check you out and get you to a hospital.
- A doctor, the same day. Adrenaline can hide a concussion, broken bone, or a back injury. Go to a place like Multicare Tacoma General Hospital or St. Joseph Medical Center. Getting checked out also gives your doctor a chance to document your injuries while they’re fresh.
- Tacoma Police, if a crime or safety problem was involved. If you were hurt in a dark lot or stairwell where something else went wrong, a police report puts it on record.
What really happens once you report a Tacoma fall?
The property owner usually passes the report to their insurance company, and an adjuster is assigned. The adjuster may ask for a recorded statement, your medical records, or your account of what you were doing when you fell.
When you hire us, we handle those calls and letters. We ask the property in writing to save its video, incident reports, and cleaning and inspection logs. We gather your medical records as you heal. When your treatment is far enough along, we send the insurance company a demand showing your bills, lost pay, and how the injury has affected your daily life.
Many injury cases settle before trial. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we can file your case in Pierce County Superior Court.
What kinds of slip and fall cases are common in Tacoma?
Slip and fall cases are part of an area of law called premises liability. That’s a fancy way of saying property owners have to keep their property reasonably safe for the people they let in. We handle falls like these:
- Wet floors. Rain tracked in, spills, or freshly mopped tile with no sign.
- Ice and snow. Entryways, sidewalks, and parking lots that weren’t cleared or salted.
- Uneven or broken ground. Cracked sidewalks, potholes, raised thresholds, and loose flooring.
- Stairs and handrails. Missing rails, broken steps, and dark stairwells.
- Poor lighting. Garages, hallways, and lots too dim to see where you’re stepping.
- Grocery and retail stores. Spilled drinks or dropped produce that wasn’t picked up.
- Apartments and shared spaces. Walkways, lobbies, and laundry rooms a landlord didn’t keep up.
- Public sidewalks and buildings. Problems on city-maintained walkways or inside government buildings.
- Negligent security. Injuries in dark or poorly kept areas where the owner should have done more to keep people safe.
Why do slip and fall accidents happen in the first place?
Many falls come back to something the owner could have fixed or warned about. Figuring out the real cause is the first step in showing who’s responsible.
- Water and moisture. Rain tracked across entrances and unmarked wet floors are among the most common causes in a city this wet.
- Ice. Owners who skip salting or clearing steps and lots leave visitors exposed on freezing mornings.
- Broken surfaces. Cracked pavement, torn carpet, potholes, and raised mats catch a foot before anyone can react.
- Lighting problems. A hazard that would be easy to avoid in daylight becomes invisible in a dim stairwell or garage.
- Nobody checking. When staff does not check for and clear spills on a reasonable schedule, a small hazard becomes a serious fall.
What injuries do these falls cause?
Slip and fall injuries range from bruises to life-changing harm. Broken bones, head injuries, spinal damage, and soft-tissue injuries are the most common, and their effects can last long after the fall.
- Broken bones. Wrists, hips, and ankles often break as people try to catch themselves. Hip fractures are especially serious for older adults.
- Head and brain injuries. A head striking tile or concrete can cause a concussion or a more serious brain injury, even without an obvious wound. Cognitive and mood changes must be fully documented.
- Spinal and back injuries. Herniated discs, nerve damage, and, in severe cases, paralysis. These often mean surgery, long rehab, and lasting limits.
- Soft-tissue injuries. Sprains, torn muscles, and deep bruising that insurers like to call minor but that can keep you off work and in pain.
Who is responsible for a slip and fall in Tacoma?
Usually, it’s whoever was in charge of the property. Washington doesn’t have one slip and fall law. Instead, courts look at why you were on the property to decide how careful the owner had to be.
Washington sorts visitors into three groups:
- Invitee. You were a customer or other member of the public on property open for business. The owner’s duties are generally greatest here. They may need to reasonably inspect for hazards and fix or warn you about dangerous conditions.
- Licensee. You were a social guest, like at a friend’s house. The owner generally must warn you about dangerous conditions they know about that you aren’t likely to notice yourself.
- Trespasser. You didn’t have permission to be there. The owner’s duties are much more limited, though Washington law gives children extra protection in some situations.
Your visitor status helps determine what responsibility the property owner had in the first place. From there, a slip and fall claim generally comes down to four things:
- The owner had a responsibility to keep the property reasonably safe.
- The owner failed to meet that responsibility.
- That failure caused your fall.
- You were injured as a result.
The owner isn’t always the only one responsible. A property manager, cleaning company, business renting the space, or local government could share the blame.
A Legal Tip From Our Attorney
One of the biggest questions in a fall case is notice. Did the owner know about the hazard, or should they have known in time to do something? A spill that hit the floor 30 seconds before you fell is very different from one that sat there for an hour while employees walked past it. Cleaning schedules, inspection logs, and store video can help answer that question, which is why we ask for them early.
What is a Tacoma slip and fall case worth?
It depends on your injuries, your bills, and how the fall has changed your life. In Washington, you can ask for money for both what you lost and what you went through. For most injury cases, the state doesn’t cap how much you can recover.
What the fall cost you (economic damages):
- Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, and follow-up treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Future medical costs for ongoing care
- Lost wages during recovery
- Reduced earning ability if the injury lasts
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to the fall
How the fall changed your life (non-economic damages):
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of activities you did before
- Loss of consortium, the effect on your relationship with a spouse
Pain and life changes don’t come with a receipt, so they’re easy to downplay. Keeping a simple journal of your pain, missed events, and daily struggles can help show what you’ve been through.
How long do you have to file a slip and fall claim in Washington?
You generally have three years from the date of your fall to file a lawsuit, under RCW 4.16.080. If you miss that deadline, you can lose your right to sue.
Pitfall Alert: Falls on public property carry an extra step
If you fell on a city sidewalk, in a government building, or on other public property in Tacoma, the three-year clock is not the only deadline. Before you can sue a local government, you have to file a written claim with them first. Then you have to wait 60 days before filing a lawsuit, under RCW 4.96.020. For the City of Tacoma, that claim goes to the Office of the City Clerk. People sometimes lose good claims because they didn’t know about this step or filled out the form wrong.
Do you really need a lawyer for a slip and fall?
Not always. If you had a small bruise, didn’t need much treatment, and the property owner’s insurance is treating you fairly, you may be able to handle it yourself.
It’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer if:
- You broke a bone, hit your head, or need ongoing treatment
- The owner or insurance company says the fall was your fault
- You fell on a city or other government property
- More than one business could be responsible, like a landlord and a cleaning company
- You’re missing work, and the bills are stacking up.
How Can a Slip and Fall Lawyer Help?
A lawyer can take some of the pressure off while you focus on recovering. They can investigate what caused your fall, identify who may be responsible, and gather evidence such as photos, witness statements, incident reports, medical records, and surveillance footage.
They can also deal with the insurance company on your behalf, respond to arguments that you caused the fall, and help document how the injury has affected your work and daily life. If the case cannot be resolved through negotiations, your lawyer can prepare it for court.
What to Watch For
In fall cases, the property owner’s side often raises the same few arguments. It helps to know them ahead of time:
- “It was open and obvious.” They’ll say the hazard was easy to see and you should have stepped around it.
- “We didn’t have time to notice.” They’ll say the spill or damage happened too recently for the staff to catch.
- “You were just a guest.” They’ll try to call you a licensee instead of an invitee, which lowers how careful they had to be.
- “You were partly to blame.” Under Washington’s comparative negligence rule (RCW 4.22.005), your money is reduced by your share of fault. So they may point to your shoes, your phone, or where you were looking.
Photos, witness names, and the incident report you gathered in those first hours are often what answer these arguments. Your case review is free, and you don’t pay a fee unless we recover money for you.
What makes a Tacoma slip and fall case complicated?
A fall can seem simple, but a few things often make these cases harder than people expect:
- Proving the owner knew. The records that show this, like cleaning logs, are usually in the owner’s hands.
- Short timelines for evidence. Video may be recorded over, and hazards get cleaned up or repaired.
- Your visitor status. Whether you were a customer or a guest changes what the owner owed you.
- More than one party. The owner, a tenant business, a property manager, and a cleaning company might each share responsibility.
- Government property rules. Public-property falls require the written claim and 60-day wait first.
How does Bernard Law Group prepare a case for trial?
Many cases settle, but we prepare each one as if it could go in front of a Pierce County jury.
- Experts when needed. A safety expert or engineer can explain why a stair, floor, or walkway was unsafe. Doctors can explain your injuries and what care you’ll need later.
- A full record of your losses. We track your bills, missed work, and how the injury affects your day-to-day life.
- Ready for court. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we’re prepared to take your case to Pierce County Superior Court. We’ve tried cases in front of Washington juries, and the insurance companies know it.
What does the claim process look like from start to finish?
A slip and fall claim doesn’t have to feel like a mystery. We’ll walk you through what happens next, from your first call to a settlement or trial. Most cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it could go to court.
Step 1: Free Consultation. You call or fill out our contact form. We’ll listen to what happened, look at the details, and give you an honest assessment of your claim. There’s no cost and no obligation.
Step 2: Investigation. We get to work on the evidence. That can include requesting security video, incident reports, inspection and cleaning logs, and other records. We also talk to witnesses and gather your medical records. It’s important to do this early because evidence can disappear.
Step 3: Medical Treatment. Get medical care as soon as you can and follow your doctor’s advice. Your health comes first. We’ll keep track of your treatment and the costs as you recover. Settling too early can leave out medical expenses you may face later.
Step 4: Demand Package. Once your condition is clear, we put together the details of your claim. We document your medical bills, lost wages, other financial losses, pain, and how the injury has affected your daily life. Then we send the demand to the insurance company.
Step 5: Negotiation. We handle the calls, letters, and back-and-forth with the insurer. We’ll explain the offers to you and help you decide what makes sense for your situation.
Step 6: Settlement or Trial. Many cases settle without going to court. If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, we’re prepared to take your case to Pierce County Superior Court. You’ll know what’s happening at each step, and we’ll be there with you through the process.
How do you pick the right slip and fall lawyer in Tacoma?
The right slip and fall lawyer should have experience with cases like yours, know the local courts, be prepared to take your case to trial if needed, and give you a clear point of contact throughout the process. Before you hire anyone, ask a few straight questions to make sure you understand who will handle your case and how they’ll help.
Do they handle fall cases like mine? Some firms mostly take car crashes. Ask how often they handle slip-and-fall and property injury claims. We’ve helped injured Washingtonians for more than 30 years across many kinds of injury cases.
Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its own facts.
Do they know the local courts? A lawyer who has worked in Pierce County Superior Court knows how cases move through it.
Are they ready to go to trial? Ask whether they get cases ready for court, not just for settlement talks. We prepare every claim as if a jury may decide it.
Who will I actually talk to? Ask who returns your calls and how often you’ll hear about your case.
A fall can leave you with painful injuries, surprise bills, and a lot of questions. You don’t have to sort it out alone. We’ll look into what happened, gather the records, figure out who’s responsible, and help you recover money for your medical bills, lost pay, and pain, whether that happens through a settlement or in court.
What our clients say
“I was stopped, and a lady rear-ended me. When I called Bernard Law Group, they took care of everything. I never had to deal with the insurance company again. I didn’t have to deal with any of my medical bills again. I would highly recommend Bernard Law Group.”
– Lonnie Humpal
“I was in a head-on car accident, and the person that hit me had no car insurance. I had uninsured motorist insurance, but my insurance company didn’t return my phone calls, didn’t seem to care, so I called Kirk Bernard. Kirk Bernard did more than get justice for me. He hit a home run!”
– James Parshall
“As a result of the settlement that Bernard Law Group won for me, I’m able to put myself through school and plan a wedding. I’m doing really well financially!”
– Kirk Henderson
You can read verified reviews on our testimonials page.
Disclaimer: Client reviews are individual experiences and are not a guarantee of any particular result.
You Were Hurt. We Can Help.
Over $500 Million recovered for our past clients. Let us help YOU! Call 24/7 for your FREE injury consultation.
Our Case Results
These are slip and fall cases our attorneys have handled, from a hospital room floor to a broken tile at a family home.
- $185,003.14 — Jury Verdict. A patient slipped and fell on a dangerously slippery hospital room floor while getting ready for kidney surgery. The fall caused a fractured hip and fractured ribs.
- $150,000.00 — Jury Verdict. A woman was leaving her sister’s rental home on her wedding day when she caught her heel on a broken tile in the entryway, fell, and broke her leg. The injury required surgery.
- $70,000.00 — Settlement. A woman working aboard a crab boat off the Alaska coast slipped and fell into plastic tubs and hurt her back. Short-handed, the boat made her keep working, which made the injury worse. She was later diagnosed with a bulged disc in her lower back. The boat denied fault, but she settled the claim at mediation.
Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a future outcome. Every case is unique and depends on its own facts and legal circumstances.
Areas We Serve
As your Washington slip and fall lawyer, Bernard Law Group represents fall victims across the following locations:
- Seattle
- Bellevue
- Bellingham
- Everett
- Federal Way
- Kent
- Kirkland
- Olympia
- Redmond
- Renton
- Spokane
- Tacoma
- Vancouver
- Wenatchee
- Yakima
Local Resources After a Tacoma Slip and Fall
The resources below may help after a fall in Tacoma or Pierce County. Bernard Law Group does not endorse or profit from any of these organizations.
Courts
- Pierce County Superior Court: County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402
- Pierce County District Court: 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 239, Tacoma, WA 98402
Reporting a Fall on Public Property
- City of Tacoma, Office of the City Clerk – Claim for Damages: 747 Market Street, Room 220, Tacoma, WA 98402
- Tacoma FIRST 311 (report sidewalk and street hazards)
Medical Care
- MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital: 315 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA 98405
- St. Joseph Medical Center: 1717 S J St, Tacoma, WA 98405
- MultiCare Allenmore Hospital: 1901 S Union Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405
- Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital (for injured minors): 317 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA 98405
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I got hurt in a fall at work in Tacoma?
If you fell on the job, you likely have a workers’ comp claim through the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. If another company controlled the spot where you fell, you might also have a separate claim against them. A Tacoma premises liability lawyer can look at both.
Is there any upfront cost to hire a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer?
No. We take slip and fall cases on contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you. Your case review is free, and you don’t have to hire us after you call.
How long does a Tacoma slip and fall case usually take?
It depends on your injuries and whether the case settles. Some claims wrap up in a few months. Cases with serious injuries, or cases filed in Pierce County Superior Court, can take a year or more. We generally recommend waiting until you know how your recovery is going before settling, so your future care is part of the picture.
How do I prove a property owner was responsible for my fall?
Evidence such as photos of the hazard, surveillance footage, incident reports, witness statements, and maintenance records can help show what caused your fall and whether the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. A Tacoma slip and fall lawyer can investigate the circumstances and help determine whether you have a premises liability claim.
Ready to Talk? Get Your Free Case Review.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a slip and fall in Tacoma, do not wait. The property’s insurer is already building its case. Let us build yours.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or fill out our online contact form, and we will call you right back. There is no fee unless we win.
Bernard Law Group – Tacoma Office
401 Broadway STE 100, Tacoma, WA 98402, United States
Phone: 206-350-2205
This content is for general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case depends on its own facts.
Attorney Review & Office Information
This page has been prepared for review by Washington-licensed attorneys at Bernard Law Group to reflect current Washington law, including RCW 4.16.080 (statute of limitations), RCW 4.22.005 (pure comparative negligence), and RCW 4.96.020 (claims against local government). Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed in the State of Washington and California.
Tacoma Office: 401 Broadway STE 100, Tacoma, WA 98402 | Phone: +1 206-350-2205
