Tacoma Slip and Fall Lawyer
Reviewed by Michael Gustafson, founding attorney, Emerald Law Group. Seattle University School of Law, J.D. 2004 (magna cum laude). Last updated September 28, 2026.
Property owners in Tacoma owe the people they invite in a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe, and when a wet floor, broken stair, icy walkway or dark parking lot causes a fall, the owner and its insurer can be held responsible. Emerald Law Group has recovered $1.2 million in a slip and fall case and $1.8 million in a premises liability case, and our Tacoma office at 524 Tacoma Ave S handles these claims throughout Pierce County with no fee unless we win. Call a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer at 253-367-0967.
Do I have a slip and fall case in Washington?
You have a case if the property owner or occupier knew or should have known about the hazard, failed to fix it or warn you, and you were hurt as a result. Washington follows the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 343 for invitees such as customers and tenants: a business is liable for a condition it should have discovered through reasonable care. Social guests must be warned of known dangers; trespassers are owed only a duty not to be willfully injured. When a business’s method of operation makes hazards foreseeable, such as self-service produce or a store entrance in the rain, you do not have to prove how long the specific hazard existed.
Where falls happen in Tacoma
We see the same settings again and again: grocery and big-box stores along South Tacoma Way, Tacoma Mall Boulevard and 6th Avenue; the Tacoma Mall and its parking structures; apartment complexes in Hilltop, South End and Lakewood; downtown sidewalks and the stadium and theater district; Tacoma Dome and Cheney Stadium concourses; Pierce Transit and Sound Transit stations; and hospital and medical office parking garages. Tacoma’s wet winters make rain tracked into entrances and untreated ice on steps the most common causes, followed by uneven sidewalks, missing handrails and poor lighting.
What do I have to prove to win?
That the defendant controlled the property, that a dangerous condition existed, that the defendant knew or should have known of it, and that it caused your injury. We build the notice element with incident reports, sweep and inspection logs, surveillance video (requested in writing immediately, because it is overwritten within days), photographs, City of Tacoma building and code enforcement records, and witness statements. Comparative fault under RCW 4.22.005 applies, so the insurer will argue you should have seen the hazard; any fault assigned to you reduces, but does not eliminate, your recovery.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Washington?
Three years from the fall under RCW 4.16.080. Falls on City of Tacoma sidewalks, in Pierce County buildings, at Pierce Transit facilities, in Metro Parks Tacoma parks or on other public property require a claim filed with the agency and a 60-day wait under RCW 4.96.020. Sidewalk cases turn on whether the City or the adjacent property owner was responsible for the defect.
What is a Tacoma slip and fall case worth?
It depends on the injury, the clarity of the owner’s fault and the insurance available. Falls that cause fractures, surgery or head injuries carry substantial value; soft-tissue injuries are harder to prove and valued accordingly. Recoverable damages include medical expenses and future care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and out-of-pocket costs such as home modifications. Washington does not cap non-economic damages.
What should I do after a slip and fall in Tacoma?
- Get medical care right away at MultiCare Tacoma General, St. Joseph Medical Center or urgent care, and follow through with treatment.
- Report the fall to the manager, landlord or agency and ask for the incident report.
- Photograph the hazard immediately, before it is cleaned up, along with any warning signs or their absence.
- Get witness names and phone numbers.
- Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing, unwashed.
- Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything from the property’s insurer.
- Call a lawyer quickly so a preservation letter goes out before video is overwritten.
How much does a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. Free consultation, costs advanced, fee only from the recovery.
Slip and fall case results
Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
- $1.2 Million – Slip and fall
- $1.8 Million – Premises liability
- $295,000 – Slip and fall in a parking garage
Frequently asked questions
What if there was a wet floor sign?
A sign helps the owner but does not end the case; the question is whether the warning was adequate and whether the hazard should have been fixed rather than merely signed.
Can I sue my landlord for a fall at my apartment?
Yes, for hazards in common areas and conditions the landlord was obligated to repair under the lease and the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. See suing a landlord for an injury in a rental.
What if the store says it has no video?
If we sent a preservation letter and the video was destroyed anyway, Washington courts can instruct the jury to presume the footage would have hurt the defendant.
Talk to a Tacoma slip and fall lawyer
Call Emerald Law Group at 253-367-0967 or request a free consultation online. Related: Tacoma personal injury lawyer, Seattle slip and fall lawyer, premises liability.
Emerald Law Group – Tacoma
524 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402
253-367-0967
