Shiny lobby floors on a rainy day. A spill in a grocery aisle. Icy steps at an apartment complex. Falls happen fast, and the injuries can last for months. Bellevue slip and fall lawyer Rich Martin once convinced a jury to award $1 million to a client whose bone was broken because of a dangerous property condition. Our office is here in Bellevue.
Bellevue: local facts
- County
- King County
- Court
- King County Superior Court, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle (crashes in the Seattle case area)
- Major roads
- I-405, I-90, SR 520, Bellevue Way NE, NE 8th Street
- Hospitals
- Overlake Medical Center (Level III trauma center)
- Population
- 158,300 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is in town, at 11811 NE 1st Street.
Hurt in a fall in Bellevue?
If a store, landlord, or building owner left a hazard in your way, they may owe you for your injuries. Expect their insurer to say you weren’t watching your step. That’s their job. Ours is to find out what the owner knew and when.
Where Bellevue falls happen
- Shopping centers and malls, where spills, wet entryways, and escalators cause falls.
- Grocery and big-box stores, with spills, dropped produce, and cluttered aisles.
- Office tower lobbies, where polished floors get slick from rain.
- Apartment complexes, with broken stairs, loose railings, and icy walkways.
- Parking garages and lots, with poor lighting, potholes, and wet ramps.
- Sidewalks and building sites, where construction leaves uneven ground.
What a property owner owes you
Your reason for being there sets the owner’s duty. The state Supreme Court laid out the three groups in a 1994 case, Tincani v. Inland Empire Zoological Society.
| You were… | For example | The owner must… |
|---|---|---|
| A customer or business visitor | Shopping, dining, at a tenant’s building | Inspect, repair, or post a warning |
| A social guest | Visiting a friend | Tell you about hidden dangers they’re aware of |
| A trespasser | There without permission | Owe very little |
Proving the owner knew
Most fall claims turn on knowledge. Did the owner create the danger, see it, or have enough time that a careful owner would have spotted it? These are the records that answer that question.
- Video showing how long a spill or hazard was there.
- Cleaning and inspection logs.
- Earlier complaints or falls in the same spot.
- Repair requests a landlord ignored.
- Missing warning signs, cones, or lighting.
Self-service stores get special treatment. If spills and dropped goods are a predictable result of the way a store is run, a shopper may skip proving the store knew about that particular spill (Pimentel v. Roundup Co., 1983). You still have to show the store didn’t take reasonable care.
Many businesses tape over their camera footage within days or weeks. An early call lets us ask them to keep it.
Snow, ice, and rain in Bellevue
Bellevue’s rainy months make entryways slick. When snow and ice hit, the city has told property owners they’re responsible for clearing the sidewalks next to their homes and businesses (City of Bellevue).
Some states excuse owners for ice that forms on its own. Washington’s Supreme Court declined to do that in Iwai v. State (1996): an owner’s duty to customers in a parking lot covers natural snow and ice like any other hazard. The owner still had to know, or should have known, and failed to act reasonably.
Which party is responsible turns on the spot where you went down and who controlled it. Store entrances belong to the store. Shared walkways at an apartment complex belong to the landlord. Some public property is the city’s.
Falls on city property
Hurt because of a city street, sidewalk, park, or vehicle? A claim against the City of Bellevue starts with a claim filed with the City Clerk, usually online through the city’s damage claim page. State law then requires a 60-day wait before you can sue (RCW 4.96.020).
| Where you fell | First step |
|---|---|
| A store, office, or apartment | A claim with the owner’s insurance company |
| A City of Bellevue park, building, or sidewalk | A claim filed with the Bellevue City Clerk, then a 60-day wait |
| King County or state property | A claim with that government, then a 60-day wait |
Common injuries from falls
- Broken wrists and arms from trying to catch yourself.
- Hip fractures, especially in older adults.
- Twisted knees and broken ankles, often from a missed step or a curb.
- Concussions when the head strikes tile or concrete. See brain injuries.
- Back injuries.
Serious fall injuries in Bellevue are often treated at Overlake Medical Center. Keep every record and bill. They’re the proof of what the fall cost you.
What to do after a fall
- Tell a manager or the landlord before you leave, and request a copy of their incident report.
- Snap pictures of the spill, step, or ice before anyone cleans it.
- Get witness names.
- Keep your shoes in a bag.
- See a doctor the same day if you can.
- Decline a recorded interview with the property’s insurance company.
Read more: Bellevue slip and fall guide, slip and fall injuries, and filing deadlines.
Partly at fault? You can still recover.
Washington doesn’t make you choose between all or nothing. A jury assigns percentages, and your share comes off the award (RCW 4.22.005). The filing deadline for most fall cases is three years (RCW 4.16.080).
Falls in apartments and rentals
State law requires landlords to keep shared areas reasonably safe from defects that make accidents more likely (RCW 59.18.060). That covers stairways, halls, walkways, and parking areas the landlord controls. Reported a broken step or a burned-out stair light and nothing happened? Keep the emails and texts. They show the landlord knew.
What your Bellevue slip and fall case may be worth
The answer depends on three things: the seriousness of the injury, the evidence of what the owner knew, and the insurance in place. Most fall claims include medical bills, future treatment, missed paychecks, and the pain you’ve lived with.
In one property case, a jury returned a $1 million verdict for our client’s fracture. Past results don’t guarantee future results. See all results and our slip and fall settlement guide.
Where your case would be filed
Most cases settle without a lawsuit. If yours goes to court, an injury that happened in Bellevue is assigned to King County Superior Court’s Seattle case area, so it’s heard in Seattle (King County LCR 82).
Falls and older adults
A fall at 75 is not the same as a fall at 35. A hip fracture may mean surgery, days in the hospital, and a long stretch in rehab, and some people never return to living fully on their own. When that happens, the cost of ongoing care belongs in the claim.
Hurt while working?
If you were on the job when you were hurt, you may have two claims. Workers’ compensation through L&I pays some medical bills and lost wages. But if someone outside your company caused the injury, Washington law lets you also seek damages from that person or company (RCW 51.24.030). That second claim can cover losses L&I doesn’t, like pain and suffering.
These two claims affect each other, so the order and timing matter. Tell us right away if you were working when you got hurt.
Visit our Bellevue office
Our office is in the Eastridge Corporate Center at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, Bellevue, WA 98005, near I-405 and Main Street. Call ahead and we’ll set a time to meet. If you can’t come in, we can talk by phone.
Why people choose Rich Martin
- A $1 million jury verdict in a property case.
- Local. Our office is in Bellevue.
- Personal. Rich handles your case himself.
- No Win, No Fee. No recovery, no fee, and no bill for costs.
Meet Rich Martin or see our Seattle slip and fall lawyer page.
Speak with a Bellevue slip and fall lawyer
Tell us how you fell. The conversation costs nothing. Phone (425) 635-2000 or write to us.
Slip & Fall: results for our clients
Past results don't guarantee future results. Every case is different. See all results →
Your attorney: Rich Martin
28 years. More than 2,000 injury cases. More than 30 jury trials. When you call, you talk to Rich, and he handles your case himself.
About Rich Martin →Questions about Bellevue slip & fall
What does No Win, No Fee mean?
You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we win for you. No hourly bills. No retainer. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. Not even the case costs.
Can I bring a claim against a Bellevue store after a fall?
It's possible. The store must have caused the hazard, known about it, or had time to find it. Self-service stores can be easier, because you may not need to prove notice of the exact spill.
Who clears snow and ice from sidewalks in Bellevue?
The City of Bellevue has said property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks next to their homes and businesses. Each case depends on the facts.
Is my landlord responsible for a fall at my apartment?
Often, when it happens in a shared area. Washington landlords must keep common areas reasonably safe from defects (RCW 59.18.060).
I fell on city property. What do I do?
File a claim with the Bellevue City Clerk first. State law requires a 60-day wait before you can sue (RCW 4.96.020).
Is a lawyer worth it for a small fall?
Sometimes not. A fracture, an operation, or lost work time changes that. A free call can help you decide.
What's the deadline after a fall?
In most cases, three years from the date you fell (RCW 4.16.080).
The owner's insurer wants a statement. Should I give one?
Talk to us first. Recorded statements and signed forms tend to help the insurer, not you.
Do I have to go to your office?
No. Many clients start with a phone call. If you'd like to meet, our office is at 11811 NE 1st Street in Bellevue. Call ahead to set a time.
What if I was hurt while working?
You may have an L&I claim and a separate claim against whoever caused the injury (RCW 51.24.030). The two affect each other, so tell us early.
The store blames me for not looking. Is my claim over?
No. Shared blame reduces the award by your percentage. It doesn't erase the claim (RCW 4.22.005).
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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