Falls get brushed off as clumsiness. But a broken wrist, a torn knee, or a head injury from a fall can mean surgery and weeks off work. If the hazard was someone else’s responsibility, you shouldn’t carry those costs alone. Rich Martin is a Kent slip and fall lawyer who once won a $1 million jury verdict for a client whose fracture was caused by a dangerous property. The first call is free.
Kent: local facts
- County
- King County
- Court
- King County Superior Court, Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Avenue North, Kent (crashes in the Kent case area)
- Major roads
- SR 167, SR 516 (Kent-Des Moines Road and Kent-Kangley Road), West Valley Highway, Central Avenue, I-5 on the west side
- Hospitals
- Valley Medical Center in Renton (Level III trauma center) and MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
- Population
- 140,400 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 18 miles away (about 26 minutes without traffic).
Three questions every fall case turns on
1. Why were you there?
Washington sorts visitors into groups, and each is owed a different level of care. A customer in a store is owed the most: the owner must look for hazards and fix them or warn you. A social guest is owed a warning about known dangers. A trespasser is owed very little. The state Supreme Court explained these rules in Tincani v. Inland Empire Zoological Society (1994).
2. Did the owner know, or should they have?
Usually you must show the owner created the hazard, knew about it, or would have found it with reasonable inspections. Stores that let customers serve themselves face a stricter rule. When spills and dropped items are a predictable part of how the store runs, you may not need to prove anyone knew about the specific hazard (Pimentel v. Roundup Co., 1983).
3. How much of it was on you?
Insurers love to say you should have been watching. Even if you share some blame, Washington lets you recover the rest, reduced by your share (RCW 4.22.005).
Where Kent falls happen
- Grocery and big-box stores, with spills, produce, and wet entryways.
- Warehouses and loading areas, with uneven floors, debris, and poor lighting.
- Apartment complexes, with broken stairs, missing handrails, and icy walkways.
- Parking lots, with potholes, curbs, and wheel stops that are hard to see.
- Restaurants, with greasy or freshly mopped floors.
- Sidewalks, with cracks, lifted panels, ice, and snow.
Snow, ice, and sidewalks in Kent
Kent’s city code lists ice and snow on public sidewalks as a hazard, and a separate section addresses when the abutting property owner is liable for injuries from ice or snow (KCC 6.04.100 and 6.04.110). Whether a particular owner is responsible for your fall depends on the facts and on Washington case law. We look at both.
Who is responsible for a fall on a sidewalk depends on who controlled that spot and what they knew. A store controls its entrance. A landlord controls common walkways. The city may be responsible for some public property.
Government claims have their own steps. A claim against the City of Kent goes by mail to the Kent City Clerk at 220 Fourth Avenue South. Claims against King County, including Metro buses, go to its Office of Risk Management Services. Sound Transit takes claims online, by email, or by mail. State law then requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Proof that matters
- Photos of the hazard before it’s cleaned or fixed.
- An incident report from the manager or landlord.
- Names of witnesses and employees who were there.
- Video from store or building cameras. Ask us to request it quickly.
- Prior complaints or repair requests about the same hazard.
- Your shoes and clothes, kept as they were.
Store video is often recorded over within weeks. The sooner we ask for it, the better.
Falls at work
Many Kent jobs are in warehouses, distribution centers, and job sites. If you fell at work, you likely have an L&I claim. If someone other than your employer caused the fall, like a property owner or another contractor, you may also have a separate claim against them (RCW 51.24.030). The two claims are connected, so it’s best to plan them together.
Injuries and medical care
Common fall injuries include broken wrists and arms, hip fractures, ankle and knee injuries, back injuries, and head injuries. Older adults often face long recoveries. Read about brain injuries and common slip and fall injuries.
Nearby Valley Medical Center in Renton and MultiCare Auburn Medical Center are both Level III trauma centers, and the most serious injuries go to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the state’s Level I center, according to the state Department of Health.
Value, results, and deadlines
A fall claim can cover medical bills, future care, lost pay, and pain. The value depends on the injury, the proof, and the insurance. One of our property cases ended in a $1 million jury verdict; past results don’t guarantee future ones. See our results.
Most fall lawsuits must be filed within three years (RCW 4.16.080). Claims against a government start with a claim form and a 60-day wait (RCW 4.96.020). Read how long you have to file a fall claim.
King County Superior Court sits in two places. Its local rule sends an injury case to the area where the injury happened, and Kent falls in the court’s Kent case area (LCR 82). That means a Kent case is usually handled at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Avenue North in Kent, not the downtown Seattle courthouse.
Meeting with us
Kent clients don’t have far to go. Our Bellevue office, at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, is about 18 miles from Kent city hall, roughly 26 minutes without traffic. If the drive is hard, much of the work can happen by phone and email instead.
Talk to a Kent slip and fall lawyer
Call (425) 635-2000 or send a message. See also what to do after a slip and fall and our Seattle and Tacoma fall pages.
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 Kent 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.
I fell in a Kent store. Do I have a case?
Possibly. The question is whether the store created the hazard, knew about it, or should have found it. Self-service stores face a stricter rule.
I fell at the warehouse where I work. Can I sue?
You likely have an L&I claim. If an outside company caused the fall, you may also have a claim against that company.
The owner says I wasn't watching. Is my claim over?
No. Shared fault reduces your recovery but doesn't end it (RCW 4.22.005).
Where is a Kent fall case heard?
If it goes to court, usually at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
How long do I have?
Usually three years from the fall. Government claims need a claim form first.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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