Tempe Slip and Fall Lawyer
Tempe, AZ Slip and Fall Lawyer: Guidance After a Fall on Unsafe Property
A slip and fall lawyer in Tempe can explain whether the owner or manager of the property may be responsible for your fall, what evidence to keep and which deadlines apply. Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542), and if the property belongs to a city or other public body, a short notice of claim deadline can apply.
- Filing deadline
- Generally 2 years from the injury
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Public property
- Written notice of claim generally due within 180 days
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- Shared fault
- Pure comparative, so a share of blame lowers a recovery but does not bar it
- A.R.S. 12-2505
Falls in a College Town, a Lakefront and Two Big Shopping Centers
Tempe packs a lot of public foot traffic into a small city. Arizona State University's Tempe campus had more than 55,500 students in fall 2025, Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake pull crowds on event days, and two very large shopping centers sit at the edges of town: Tempe Marketplace, with nearly 1,300,000 square feet of retail on 130 acres, and Arizona Mills, a single-level mall of about 1,238,000 square feet at the southeast corner of US 60 and I-10.
Where people walk, people fall. A wet entryway, a loose floor tile, an unmarked step down, a cracked walkway, a parking lot with poor lighting: each is the kind of hazard that raises one question in a claim, which is what the owner or manager knew and when. A slip and fall lawyer in Tempe starts there.
Arizona
Tempe Places Where Falls Turn Into Claims
Who owns and controls the place where you fell decides who we write to and how fast. These are the kinds of places in Tempe that come up.
Tempe Marketplace
More than 100 shops, restaurants and a 16 screen cineplex around the Loop 101 and Loop 202 interchange. Stores, restaurants and the common walkways may have different owners or managers.
Arizona Mills
A single-level mall with about 6,000 free parking spaces. A fall in the parking area is investigated differently from a fall inside a store.
Mill Avenue and Tempe Beach Park
Sidewalks, restaurant patios and the park hold street festivals and events throughout the year. Crowded days can hide a hazard from the people who walk over it.
Tempe Town Lake paths and bridges
A reservoir nearly two miles long, ringed by about five miles of paths for bicycling, jogging and in-line skating. Wet surfaces, damaged pavement and poor lighting are the main questions for a fall here.
City pools and splash pads
Tempe Tourism lists public venues such as Kiwanis Wave Pool, Clark Outdoor Pool and several splash pads, some of which may be run by the city. A wet deck is a slip hazard, and a fall on city property can trigger a short claim deadline.
Apartment complexes around campus
Stairs, walkways, balconies and pool decks at rental properties are common sites of falls. The landlord or property manager is usually the first place we look.
What to Keep After a Slip and Fall in Tempe
A fall claim is usually won or lost on evidence that disappears quickly. If you can do any of these safely, they help.
- Photographs of the spot, the surface, the lighting and anything that made it hazardous, taken as soon as you are able.
- The name of the manager on duty and the name of the business or property company.
- A copy of any incident report, or the date and time you made one. Do not sign a statement you have not read.
- Names and numbers of anyone who saw you fall or who also slipped there.
- The shoes you were wearing, kept as they are.
- Medical records from your first visit, which show when symptoms began, including no or seemingly minor symptoms that grew later.
- A note of exactly when and where, so we can ask the property to preserve its camera footage right away.
Private Property and Public Property Follow Different Clocks
Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault. Before that, though, the identity of the owner decides how much time you have.
A store, mall, restaurant or apartment
- Generally two years to file (A.R.S. 12-542(1)).
- The business or its insurer usually opens the claim and asks for a statement.
- We look at inspections, cleaning logs, prior complaints and camera footage.
A city sidewalk, park, pool or other public property
- A written notice of claim is generally due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01).
- A lawsuit generally must follow within one year (A.R.S. 12-821).
- If the public body does not answer in 60 days, the claim is deemed denied.
What a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Tempe Reviews
A fall case rests on four questions. What was the hazard? Who controlled the space? What did that person or company know, or reasonably should have known, and how long had the hazard been there? And what harm did the fall cause? We do not decide the answers in advance. Some falls turn out to be nobody's fault, and some fall into the gap between a tenant, a landlord and a cleaning contractor, each pointing at the others.
A premises liability law firm in Tempe also looks at what you were doing, and a trip and fall lawyer in Tempe asks the same questions about an uneven step as a slip and fall accident lawyer in Tempe asks about a wet floor. Pure comparative fault applies in Arizona (A.R.S. 12-2505), so if you were looking at your phone or wearing heels, a share of the blame may be assigned to you and your recovery reduced, but not eliminated. Insurers like to argue that a hazard was open and obvious. The answer is usually in the photographs, the lighting and the layout of the space.
We are a Scottsdale firm, about 8 miles from downtown Tempe by road, and we start by phone. You do not need to come to us to get a first answer.
Step by step
The First Days After a Fall
These steps are about protecting your claim. Your doctor decides what treatment you need.
- 1
Report the fall to the property.
Tell the manager or the property office, and ask that an incident report be made. If safely possible, take your own photographs first.
- 2
See a medical provider.
A first visit creates the record insurers look for. HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center at 1500 S. Mill Avenue has an emergency department. For urgent injuries, EMS decides where you go.
- 3
Be careful with the adjuster.
Agreeing to a recorded statement before you understand your legal rights can injure those rights. You can say you want advice first.
- 4
Call us before you sign or settle.
A quick settlement or a medical release can limit what you recover. We will explain your legal rights.
The Public Property Deadline Is Short
A written notice of claim against a public entity with the facts and a specific sum is generally due within 180 days, and a lawsuit within one year (A.R.S. 12-821.01 and 12-821). Because a city, a park or a government building may be involved in a Tempe fall, do not wait to find out. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you.
Other Tempe Pages Connected to Falls
A fall sometimes leads to a head or spine injury, or happens in a setting with its own rules.
Where Cases Go, and Where We Also Help
A Tempe fall case that reaches court goes to Maricopa County. Claims of $10,000 or more are heard in Superior Court, at the Central Court Building at 201 W. Jefferson in Phoenix or the Southeast location at 222 E. Javelina Avenue in Mesa, depending on the court's assignment rules. Smaller claims go to justice court, and small claims up to $5,000. Our courts guide explains each.
If you fell outside Tempe, see our Mesa, Chandler and Scottsdale pages. For the full statewide picture, including the legal background on owner duties, see the slip and fall lawyer in Arizona guide, and for fault see our explanation of comparative negligence. Our general personal injury lawyer in Tempe page covers other claim types. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Related pages
Questions
Questions about Tempe slip and fall cases
I tripped on a sidewalk in Tempe. Who do I notify?
It depends on who owns the sidewalk. If it is part of a city street or park, a written notice of claim to the public entity is generally due within 180 days. If it belongs to a shopping center or a business, that owner or its insurer is the starting point. Tell us where it happened and we will sort it out.
What if the store says I was not paying attention?
Arizona applies pure comparative fault, so shared blame lowers a recovery but does not bar it. Insurers and attorneys often negotiate the percentage. The photographs, lighting and layout are how that argument is answered.
Do I need a premises liability lawyer in Tempe if my injury seems minor?
Many injuries show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. A free case review costs nothing, and we can tell you whether it makes sense to go further. The two-year deadline generally runs from the fall.
Do I need a slip and fall attorney in Tempe for a fall at an apartment complex near campus?
Possibly, and the landlord may be responsible. We look at who controlled the stairs, walkway or balcony, what the landlord or manager knew, and whether repairs were requested. Keep any messages you sent to the property office.
Which court would hear a Tempe fall case?
Maricopa County Superior Court for claims of $10,000 or more, justice court for smaller ones, and small claims up to $5,000. The Superior Court location is assigned by the court's rules.
The property wants me to sign a release for my medical bills. Should I?
Talk with us first. A release can limit what you may later recover, and signing can injure your legal rights.
Free case review
Fell on Someone Else's Property? Call Us
Call (602) 584-8054 or request a free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
Thank you, we’ve received your request.
A member of our team will reach out shortly. If your matter is urgent, call us now at (602) 584-8054.