Seattle 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 Seattle have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for the people they invite in, and when a wet floor, broken stair, icy walkway or unlit parking garage causes a fall, the owner and its insurer can be held responsible for the injuries. Emerald Law Group has recovered $1.2 million in a slip and fall case and $1.8 million in a premises liability case, and we handle these claims with no fee unless we win. Call a Seattle slip and fall lawyer at 206-826-5160 for a free consultation.

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 that caused your fall, failed to fix it or warn you, and you were hurt as a result. Washington follows the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 343 for invitees: a business is liable for a condition it should have discovered through reasonable care and that it should expect visitors would not notice or protect themselves against.

Your status on the property sets the duty owed:

Invitees (customers, tenants, members of the public on public property) are owed reasonable care, including regular inspection for hazards.
Licensees (social guests) must be warned of known dangers.
Trespassers are owed only a duty not to be willfully injured, with special rules for children drawn to an attractive nuisance.

Washington also recognizes that when a business’s method of operation makes hazards foreseeable, such as self-service produce or a store entrance in the rain, the injured customer does not have to prove how long the specific hazard existed. See our guide on proving foreseeability in a premises liability claim.

What do I have to prove to win?

Four things: 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. The middle element is where most cases are won or lost. We build it with:

Incident reports and the store’s own inspection and sweep logs
Surveillance video, which we request in writing immediately because it is routinely overwritten within days
Photographs of the hazard, lighting and signage
Building code, ADA and Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections records for stairs, handrails, ramps and lighting
Slip-resistance testing of the floor surface where appropriate
Witness statements and prior complaints about the same hazard

Comparative fault under RCW 4.22.005 applies, so the insurer will argue you should have seen the hazard. Even if a jury assigns you some fault, you still recover the rest.

How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Washington?

Three years from the date of the fall under RCW 4.16.080. Falls on City of Seattle sidewalks, in King County facilities, at Sound Transit or King County Metro stations, in Seattle Public Schools or on other public property require a claim filed with the agency and a 60-day wait before suit under RCW 4.96.020. Sidewalk cases have their own rules about whether the City or the adjacent property owner is responsible; see suing the City of Seattle for a sidewalk fall.

What is a Seattle 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, head injuries or permanent limitations carry substantial value; soft-tissue injuries are real but harder to prove and are valued accordingly. Recoverable damages include:

Medical expenses, including future surgery, physical therapy and assistive devices
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering, past and future
Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
Out-of-pocket costs such as home modifications and in-home care

Washington does not cap non-economic damages. Punitive damages are generally not available under Washington law.

Common causes of slip, trip and fall injuries in Seattle

Seattle’s rain, hills and older building stock produce a predictable set of hazards:

Rain tracked into store entrances without mats, and wet or waxed floors without warning cones
Ice and snow on steps, ramps and parking lots during winter storms
Uneven, heaved or broken sidewalks, especially in older neighborhoods
Stairs with missing handrails, inconsistent riser heights or worn treads
Inadequate lighting in parking garages, stairwells and apartment common areas
Spilled liquids and produce in grocery stores
Loose carpet, tiles and floor transitions
Unmarked curbs, wheel stops and elevation changes in parking lots
Wet or slick surfaces on ferries, transit platforms and stadium concourses

Where slip and fall accidents happen

We handle falls in every setting, including grocery stores, retail and department stores, big box stores, shopping malls, restaurants and bars, hotels, apartments and rental homes, parking lots and garages, sidewalks and streets, government property, transit stations and vehicles, and nursing homes. Specific hazards we see often include slippery conditions, defective stairs, inadequate lighting and ADA access failures.

Injuries from slip and fall accidents

Falls are a leading cause of emergency room visits, and for older adults hip fractures and head injuries can be life-changing. Our Seattle slip and fall lawyers have handled cases involving hip, wrist and ankle fractures; spinal cord and back injuries; traumatic brain injuries and concussions; knee and shoulder tears requiring surgery; nerve damage; and facial injuries and scarring.

What should I do after a slip and fall in Seattle?

Get medical care right away and follow through with treatment. A delay is the first thing the insurer will point to.
Report the fall to the manager, landlord or agency and ask for a copy of the incident report.
Photograph the hazard immediately, before it is cleaned up or repaired, along with any warning signs or their absence.
Get witness names and phone numbers.
Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing, unwashed, in a bag.
Do not give a recorded statement to the property’s insurer or sign anything.
Call a lawyer quickly so a preservation letter goes out before video is overwritten.

How much does a Seattle slip and fall lawyer cost?

Nothing up front. The consultation is free, we advance the costs of investigation and experts, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee.

Why choose Emerald Law Group?

Proven results in fall cases: $1.2 million slip and fall, $1.8 million premises liability, $295,000 parking garage fall.
Former insurance defense lawyers who know exactly how premises claims are evaluated and denied.
We move fast on evidence, because premises cases are won on video and inspection logs that disappear within days.
Attorneys, not case managers. Michael Gustafson, Donna Mack and Justin Dale handle your case personally.
Trial-ready in King County Superior Court.

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 about slip and fall claims in Seattle

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. A cone at one end of a long wet aisle is not adequate warning at the other end.

Can I sue if I fell on a City of Seattle sidewalk?

Often yes, but a pre-suit claim under RCW 4.96.020 is required, and responsibility may fall on the adjacent property owner instead of the City depending on the cause. See uneven sidewalk claims against the City of Seattle.

What if I was partly at fault, or had been drinking?

You can still recover under Washington’s pure comparative fault rule; your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. See fault in a fall while intoxicated.

Can I sue my landlord for a fall in my apartment building?

Yes, for hazards in common areas and for 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.

How long does a slip and fall case take?

Most settle within a year of the end of treatment. Cases that go to suit in King County Superior Court can take one to two years.

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. That is one reason to call a lawyer immediately.

Talk to a Seattle slip and fall lawyer

Property owners fix hazards and overwrite video quickly. If you fell on someone else’s property in Seattle or King County, call Emerald Law Group at 206-826-5160 or request a free consultation online today. No fee unless we win.

Emerald Law Group
605 First Avenue, Suite 325, Seattle, WA 98104
524 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402 · 253-367-0967 · Tacoma slip and fall lawyer

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