A fall can happen in a blink: a puddle by the freezer case, a loose stair tread, a frosty walkway on a January morning. The injury can last much longer. As a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer, Rich Martin has taken property owners to trial, including a case where a jury awarded $1 million for a fracture. Our Tacoma office is close by, and the first call is free.
Tacoma: local facts
- County
- Pierce County
- Court
- Pierce County Superior Court, County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma
- Major roads
- I-5, SR 16, SR 509, Pacific Avenue, South 38th Street
- Hospitals
- Tacoma General Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center
- Population
- 231,000 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Tacoma office is about 8 miles away (about 13 minutes without traffic).
Hurt in a fall in Tacoma?
Property owners and their insurers often start with the same line: you should have watched where you were going. Sometimes that’s true. Often it isn’t. The real question is whether the owner kept the place reasonably safe.
- We find out what the owner knew and how long the hazard was there.
- We ask for video and records before they’re deleted.
- We deal with the insurer, so you can focus on healing.
- No Win, No Fee. You pay no fee and no case costs unless we win.
Places Tacoma falls happen
- Grocery stores and big retailers, where spills and dropped items are common.
- Apartment buildings, with broken steps, loose railings, and dark stairwells.
- Restaurants and bars, with greasy or wet floors.
- Parking lots and garages, with potholes, curbs, and poor lighting.
- Sidewalks and building entries, slick from rain, ice, or moss.
- Hotels and offices, where polished floors get wet near the door.
Tacoma’s rules on snow, ice, and sidewalks
Tacoma’s city code makes the person in charge of a property clear snow and ice from the public sidewalk in front of it within 24 hours after it falls or forms (TMC 9.16.050). The code also makes it unlawful for an owner or occupant to leave a defective sidewalk next to their property (TMC 9.17.010).
The city says state law and its code put sidewalk repair on private owners in certain cases (City of Tacoma). Whether that makes the owner, a tenant, or the city responsible for your fall depends on the facts. We sort that out.
| Where you fell | Who may be responsible | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Inside a store, office, or apartment building | The owner, landlord, or business | A claim with their insurer |
| On a sidewalk in front of a business or home | The owner or occupant, the city, or both | We look at who controlled the spot |
| On a City of Tacoma street, sidewalk, park, or building | The city | A claim with the City Clerk, then a 60-day wait |
| On Pierce County property | The county | A claim with Pierce County Risk Management, then a 60-day wait |
Fell on ice? Take a photo of the walkway and note the date and time. Under Tacoma’s code, how long the ice was there can matter.
Your status on the property matters
An owner’s duty depends on the reason you came onto the land. The Washington Supreme Court explained this in Tincani v. Inland Empire Zoological Society (1994).
| Why you were there | Example | The owner’s duty |
|---|---|---|
| Business visitor | Shopping, eating out, visiting an office | Inspect for hazards, then fix them or warn you |
| Social guest | Visiting a friend’s home | Warn you about hazards the owner knows about |
| Trespasser | On the property without permission | Very limited |
Proof that wins fall cases
You usually need to show the owner caused the hazard, knew about it, or would have found it with reasonable care. These are the records that help.
- Store and building video showing when the hazard appeared.
- Floor-check and cleaning logs.
- Past complaints or falls in the same spot.
- Maintenance requests sent to a landlord.
- Weather records for ice and snow cases.
- Photos of the hazard before it’s fixed.
Self-service stores get a different rule. If the way a store runs makes spills and dropped goods predictable, the court may not require proof that staff knew about the particular hazard (Pimentel v. Roundup Co., 1983).
Common fall injuries
- Wrist and arm fractures from catching yourself.
- Hip fractures, often needing surgery.
- Twisted or broken ankles from a missed step.
- Concussions when your head strikes tile or concrete. See brain injury claims.
- Back and neck injuries.
Tacoma has two adult Level II trauma centers, Tacoma General Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center, plus Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital for kids, according to the state Department of Health.
Keep every bill and record. They show what the fall cost you.
What to do after a fall in Tacoma
- Tell the manager or landlord and ask for a written incident report.
- Take photos of the hazard, the area, and your shoes.
- Get names of witnesses and employees.
- See a doctor the same day if you can.
- Keep your shoes and clothes as they were.
- Say no to a recorded call with the property’s insurance company.
Read what to do after a slip and fall and how long you have to file.
Partly at fault? You can still recover.
Washington uses pure comparative fault. If you were looking at your phone when you fell, your recovery may go down by your share of the blame. It doesn’t go to zero (RCW 4.22.005).
Falls in rentals
Landlords usually control common areas like stairs, hallways, laundry rooms, and parking lots. If you asked your landlord to fix a broken step or a burned-out light and they didn’t, that request can be strong proof. Save your texts, emails, and portal messages.
Older adults and serious falls
A fall that would bruise a younger person can break a hip in an older adult. Recovery may mean surgery, a rehab stay, and help at home. A fair claim has to account for that care, now and later.
Hurt on the job?
If you fell at work, you may have an L&I claim. If someone other than your employer caused the fall, like a building owner or a cleaning contractor, you may also have a separate claim against them (RCW 51.24.030). Tell us about both, because they affect each other.
What your Tacoma slip and fall case may be worth
The value depends on the injury, the proof that the owner was at fault, and the insurance. A claim can cover medical bills, future care, lost pay, and pain.
One example: a jury returned $1 million for our client after an unsafe property caused a broken bone. Every case is different, and past results don’t guarantee future results. Browse our case results.
Where your case would be filed
Most cases settle without a lawsuit. If yours doesn’t, a case from an injury in Tacoma can be filed in Pierce County, where it happened (RCW 4.12.020). Pierce County Superior Court is in the County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, in downtown Tacoma.
Most lawsuits must be filed within three years of the fall (RCW 4.16.080).
Visit our Tacoma office
Our Tacoma office is at 10116 36th Ave Ct SW, #206, Tacoma, WA 98499. The office line is (425) 449-1005. Call ahead and we’ll set a time to meet. If it’s hard for you to get out, we can start by phone.
Why fall victims call our firm
- Trial results against property owners, including a $1 million verdict.
- South Sound office. No trip to Seattle or Bellevue needed.
- Your lawyer, start to finish. Rich works the case himself.
- Nothing up front. No fee unless we win.
Read about Rich, check our Seattle fall page, or see client reviews.
Talk to a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer today
Store cameras often record over themselves. Call (425) 635-2000 or send us a message today.
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 Tacoma 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.
Who has to clear snow and ice from sidewalks in Tacoma?
Tacoma's code requires the person in charge of a property to clear the public sidewalk in front of it within 24 hours (TMC 9.16.050). Who is responsible for a fall depends on the facts.
I tripped on a broken sidewalk. Who is responsible?
It may be the owner or occupant next to it, the city, or both. Tacoma's code makes it unlawful to leave a defective sidewalk next to your property (TMC 9.17.010).
I slipped in a Tacoma city building. How do I start a claim?
Through the City Clerk's office, online or by mail. After filing, you must wait 60 days before suing (RCW 4.96.020).
Can I make a claim against a grocery store?
Possibly. The key is whether the store created the hazard or should have spotted it. Self-service stores face a stricter rule.
My landlord ignored a broken stair and I fell. Do I have a case?
Quite possibly. Landlords usually must keep common stairs and walkways safe. Save your repair requests.
Is there a time limit?
In most cases, three years from the date you fell (RCW 4.16.080). Start sooner if the city or county is involved.
Can I meet you in Tacoma?
Yes. Our Tacoma office is at 10116 36th Ave Ct SW, #206, Tacoma, WA 98499. Call (425) 449-1005 to set a time.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
Related pages
Helpful articles
Bellevue Slip and Fall Settlements
A sudden slip on a wet grocery store floor. A fall on icy apartment steps. A trip over uneven pavement outside a Bellevue office…
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
A slip and fall can happen in a second — on a wet grocery store floor, an icy Bellevue sidewalk, a poorly lit stairwell,…
How Long to File a Slip and Fall Claim in WA
How Long Do You Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Washington State? A sudden slip on a wet grocery store floor.…