Washington DC Slip and Fall Lawyer

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

Schedule a free consultation with an experienced Washington, DC slip and fall lawyer today.

If you’ve been hurt in a fall on someone else’s property in Washington, DC, you may be dealing with medical bills, missed work, and the frustration of knowing the accident could have been prevented. A broken sidewalk, a wet grocery store floor, an unlit stairwell are conditions that property owners have a legal obligation to address. When they don’t, people get hurt.

Cohen & Cohen has been representing injured plaintiffs in Washington, DC for more than 25 years. Our Washington, DC slip and fall lawyer handles slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We offer free consultations and represent individuals only.

Slip and Fall Lawyer Washington, DC

A slip and fall case is a type of premises liability claim. It holds property owners and occupiers responsible when dangerous conditions on their property cause someone to fall and get injured. The legal question is not simply whether you fell. It’s whether the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard, and whether they took reasonable steps to fix it or warn visitors.

In Washington, DC, these cases arise on both private and public property. Restaurants, apartment buildings, office complexes, government buildings, Metro stations, retail stores, and sidewalks are all common locations. Washington, DC’s mix of aging infrastructure and high foot traffic makes fall hazards especially common here.

Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Washington, DC

Falls happen in a wide range of settings and for different reasons. At Cohen & Cohen, we handle the full spectrum of slip and fall claims across Washington, DC, including cases that involve complex liability questions and multiple responsible parties.

• Wet floor accidents. Spilled liquids, recently mopped surfaces, and leaking pipes create slipping hazards in restaurants, stores, and office buildings. Property owners are required to clean up spills promptly or post adequate warnings.
• Uneven sidewalks and pavement. Cracked, buckled, or raised sidewalks cause trip and fall injuries throughout Washington, DC. When a fall occurs on a public sidewalk, the government may bear responsibility for failing to maintain the walkway.
• Stairway falls. Broken handrails, uneven steps, poor lighting, and worn treads contribute to serious stairway injuries. These falls frequently result in brain injuries, fractures, and spinal damage.
• Snow and ice falls. Property owners in DC have an obligation to clear ice and snow from walkways within a reasonable time after a storm. Failure to do so can create liability for injuries that result from icy conditions.
• Elevator accidents. Malfunctioning elevators cause falls that can produce broken bones and back injuries. Building owners and maintenance companies may share liability.
• Parking lot and garage falls. Potholes, inadequate lighting, oil slicks, and unmarked curbs in parking areas create hazards for pedestrians. Commercial property owners are responsible for maintaining safe conditions in these areas.
• Hotel injuries. Hotels owe a high duty of care to their guests. Wet pool decks, poorly maintained carpeting, and slippery bathroom surfaces are frequent sources of fall injuries in hotels across DC.
• Government property falls. Falls on DC government property, including public buildings, parks, and Metro stations, involve specific notice requirements. Injured parties must file a written notice of claim with the mayor’s office within six months of the accident.

Why Choose Cohen & Cohen for Slip and Fall Cases in Washington, DC?

Decades of Trial Work in DC Injury Cases

Cohen & Cohen was founded by Wayne R. Cohen in the early 1990s. He has been practicing law since 1991 and has handled more than 10,000 cases through the firm. The firm has helped clients recover millions of dollars across personal injury and wrongful death matters.

Wayne holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He has appeared as a Super Lawyer every year from 2009 through 2025 and has served as an Associate Professorial Lecturer of Law at GW Law School since 1993, teaching trial skills to the next generation of attorneys.

Adam R. Leighton is an AV-rated attorney at Cohen & Cohen who focuses on premises liability, automobile accidents, and medical negligence. He earned his J.D. from the University of Toledo School of Law in 1997 and served as President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2012. Adam has been selected as a Super Lawyer consistently since 2010 and was named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Washington, DC by the National Trial Lawyers.

If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer in Washington, DC, our firm represents injured plaintiffs exclusively.

No Fee Unless We Win

All slip and fall cases at Cohen & Cohen are handled on a contingency basis. You pay nothing upfront, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.

Washington DC Slip and Fall Law Infographic

What Is Important to Understand About a Slip and Fall Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases

Slip and fall injuries range from bruises and sprains to broken hips, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. According to the CDC, more than 800,000 people are hospitalized each year in the United States due to fall injuries, with head trauma and hip fractures among the most common causes for hospital admission.

Compensation in a DC slip and fall case can include:

• Medical expenses, such as emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of daily activities
• Disfigurement or permanent disability

Liability depends on whether the property owner acted negligently. That means proving they knew about the dangerous condition (or should have known about it through reasonable inspection) and failed to correct it or provide a warning. Washington, DC follows a contributory negligence rule, which bars a plaintiff from any recovery if they are found even slightly at fault. This is one of the strictest negligence standards in the country, and it makes the quality of your attorney’s investigation and case preparation critical.

What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?

Several factors shape the outcome of a premises liability claim. Before filing, it helps to understand what the case will require.

Timing matters. Evidence of the hazardous condition can disappear within hours. Surveillance footage from the property may be overwritten within days. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more evidence is available to support your claim.

• Establishing that the property owner had notice of the hazard, either because they created it, knew about it, or should have discovered it through routine maintenance
• Documenting your injuries thoroughly, including photographs of the scene and the condition that caused the fall
• Identifying witnesses who saw the fall or were aware of the hazardous condition before it caused injury
• Determining whether the property was public or private, since claims against the DC government carry a six-month notice requirement

What Is the Slip and Fall Case Timeline?

Every case follows its own course, but slip and fall claims in Washington, DC generally proceed through several stages.

• Immediate medical treatment and documentation of injuries and the accident scene
• Investigation of the property, the hazard, and the owner’s maintenance history
• Discovery, including depositions, property records, and maintenance logs
• Settlement negotiations or, if necessary, trial

Some cases resolve in months. Others, especially those involving disputed liability or catastrophic injuries, take a year or longer.

What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?

A few documents will help us evaluate your case quickly during the initial meeting.

• Photos or video of the location where you fell, including the hazard that caused the fall
• Medical records and bills related to your injuries
• An incident report, if one was filed with the property owner or manager
• Contact information for any witnesses

During the consultation, we will review the facts, discuss your legal options, and explain how we would approach the claim. The consultation is free and confidential.

What Are Important Washington, DC Legal Resources for Slip and Fall Cases?

Understanding the legal framework for a slip and fall case in DC starts with a few key areas of law. These resources can help you begin your research.

• The general statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Washington, DC is three years from the date of the accident. If the fall occurred on District government property, a written notice of claim must be filed with the mayor within six months.
• Washington, DC is one of a small number of jurisdictions that still follows a pure contributory negligence rule. Under this standard, a plaintiff who is found to have contributed to their own injury may be completely barred from recovering damages.
• The National Safety Council publishes data on fall-related injuries and deaths in both workplace and non-workplace settings, providing context for the severity of these incidents nationwide.
• The CDC’s fall prevention data tracks trends in fall-related hospitalizations and fatalities, particularly among older adults.

Cohen & Cohen, Washington Slip and Fall Lawyer

1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite #410 Washington, DC 20036

Reach Out to Cohen & Cohen to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured in a fall on someone else’s property in Washington, DC, the statute of limitations sets a firm deadline for filing your claim. For falls on government property, the notice period is even shorter.

Cohen & Cohen handles every slip and fall case on a contingency basis. There are no fees unless we recover compensation. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a DC slip and fall attorney. We respond to inquiries promptly.