Arizona slip and fall lawyer
Hurt in a fall on someone else’s property in Arizona? Hire Henry.
No fee unless we win. The consultation is free, and your first booked call is with Henry, a former prosecutor who looks at the property, the condition, and the records the way the other side will.
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Henry Beam
Former prosecutor · Founding attorney
Arizona attorney since 2009Meet Henry
- 5.0Google ratingRead reviews on Google
- 10.0Avvo ratingSuperb · October 2026
- 2019Super Lawyers Rising StarsArizona selection
- Top 100Trial LawyersThe National Trial Lawyers · 2014 and 2015
- 2014Avvo Clients’ ChoiceClient-nominated award
Recognitions are specific to the dates shown and are not guarantees of a case outcome. Links open the issuing organizations’ websites.
A fall on someone else’s property does not automatically establish a claim. The condition, who controlled the property, your reason for being there, and evidence of negligence all matter. Henry Beam can discuss the incident and the injury with you, including what records may help explain what happened.
Common Issues in Arizona Slip and Fall Cases
Premises liability is not automatic — falling on a property does not by itself mean the owner is liable. The review starts with questions like these:
Duty of care
The duty depends on the property, the relationship between the parties, and your reason for being there.
A dangerous condition
A wet floor, broken stair, poor lighting, or other hazard that created an unreasonable risk of harm.
Notice
How the condition arose, what the responsible party knew, and any inspection or maintenance records.
Causation
That dangerous condition — not an unrelated cause — actually caused your injury.
Meet the attorney
Henry reads a premises file the way a prosecutor reads a case.
He started his career as a prosecutor. Today he brings that background to evaluating evidence and preparing injury claims, and he handles each case himself. Once you hire him, you get his personal cell number.
Free Case Review
No attorney fee without a recovery; case costs and expenses remain the client's responsibility regardless of recovery.
We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
(480) 899-9019 — free consultation
Case costs and expenses remain your responsibility regardless of recovery. Keep your message brief; do not send sensitive records. Sending a message does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Your first conversation
How the first call with Henry goes.
A fall alone does not establish a claim. Henry can discuss the property, the condition involved, and what information may help explain how the injury happened.
Start the conversation
Call the main line or text Henry directly to arrange a free consultation. No pressure, no obligation.
Review your options
Discuss what happened, the evidence, insurance, and whether the firm can help. Ask about fees and expenses before deciding.
Make a plan together
If you and the firm agree to proceed, Henry explains the next steps, your role, and how you will stay in touch.
Helpful to have in mind. None of it is required.
If available, note the property address, the hazard, who received the incident report, and any photos or witnesses. You do not need a complete file to ask for a consultation. Please do not send sensitive documents in an initial text or website message.
No obligation to hire. Sending a message does not create an attorney-client relationship or mean the firm has accepted your case.
When responsibility is disputed
Being blamed is not the end of the analysis.
Photographs, reports, and witness accounts can help explain both the hazard and your actions. Ordinary comparative negligence generally reduces damages rather than automatically barring a claim; A.R.S. § 12-2505 includes an exception for intentional, wilful, or wanton conduct.
Henry can review the actual evidence with you instead of taking a property owner’s or insurer’s account as the final word.
Common Slip and Fall Hazards
Most premises liability claims trace back to a hazard the property owner could have fixed or warned about. Some of the conditions that most often cause serious falls in Arizona:
Wet and freshly mopped floors
Spills, leaks, recently cleaned surfaces, and tracked-in rainwater with no warning sign or cone. One of the most common — and most preventable — store hazards.
Uneven or damaged flooring
Torn carpet, loose mats, cracked tile, raised thresholds, and unmarked level changes that catch a foot before anyone sees them.
Poor or broken lighting
Dim stairwells, dark parking structures, and burned-out fixtures that hide a hazard until it is too late to avoid it.
Broken stairs and missing handrails
Loose treads, worn nosings, and stairways without a code-compliant handrail turn an ordinary descent into a fall risk.
Parking lot defects
Potholes, crumbling pavement, unmarked wheel stops, and abrupt curb drops in lots that owners are responsible for maintaining.
Cluttered or obstructed walkways
Merchandise, cords, debris, and storage left in aisles and paths of travel that should be kept clear.
Where Slip and Fall Injuries Happen
Who is responsible depends on who owned or controlled the property where you fell. Common settings for Arizona premises liability claims include:
- Grocery stores and big-box retail — spills in produce and refrigerated aisles, freshly mopped entries, and crowded displays. Inspection and cleaning records may help explain what happened.
- Restaurants and bars — kitchen run-off, spilled drinks, and dim lighting near steps and entryways.
- Apartment complexes and rentals — broken stairwells, unlit common areas, and neglected walkways. Landlords owe duties to tenants and guests for the areas they control.
- Hotels and resorts — pool decks, lobbies, and bathrooms where water and polished surfaces meet heavy foot traffic.
- Government and public property — city sidewalks, public buildings, parks, and transit stops. These claims carry much shorter deadlines (see below).
- Workplaces — a fall at work may involve workers' compensation, and when a non-employer is responsible, a separate personal injury claim against that third party.
How Much Duty the Property Owner Owed You
Arizona premises law scales the property owner's duty to your reason for being there. Your status when you fell shapes the strength of the claim.
Invitee
Customers and others on the property for the owner's benefit. The owner must use reasonable care to inspect for hazards and fix or warn about them. Most slip and fall claims on commercial property involve invitees.
Licensee
Social guests and others present with permission but not for the owner's business benefit. The owner must warn of known dangers that the guest is unlikely to discover.
Trespasser
Those on the property without permission are owed the least — generally only a duty not to willfully harm them. A heightened duty can apply to child trespassers under the attractive-nuisance doctrine.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Arizona
A spill can be cleaned, a step repaired, or video overwritten. Put medical care first. When safe and practical, these steps can help preserve information:
Report it and ask for a written incident report.
Tell the store manager, landlord, or property staff and request a copy of any report they create. Note who you spoke with.
Photograph the hazard when safe.
The wet floor, the broken stair, the missing sign, the lighting — capture it before it is cleaned up or fixed. Wide shots and close-ups both help.
Get names and numbers of witnesses.
Independent witnesses who saw the hazard or your fall are powerful, and they are hard to track down later.
Seek medical care and keep every record.
Follow your clinicians’ guidance and keep the records of treatment, expenses, and any missed work.
Be careful with the insurer.
You are not required to give a recorded statement to the property owner's insurance company. Those statements are routinely used to shift blame onto the injured person.
Recovery
Compensation in a Slip and Fall Claim
When a property owner's negligence causes a fall, Arizona law allows an injured person to seek compensation for the full impact of the injury. Recoverable categories generally include:
The value of any claim depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the liability evidence, and the specific facts — which is what a free case review is for.
- Medical expenses — emergency care, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, and anticipated future treatment.
- Lost income and earning capacity — wages missed during recovery and reduced ability to work going forward.
- Pain and suffering — the physical pain and the impact on daily life, which workers' comp and basic medical coverage do not address.
- Out-of-pocket costs — assistive devices, transportation to treatment, and home help during recovery.
Timing matters
Get clarity on your deadline.
Many Arizona injury lawsuits must be filed within two years after the claim accrues under A.R.S. § 12-542. Exceptions and different rules can apply, including shorter deadlines for government claims. Ask about the deadline for your circumstances rather than relying on a general timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for a slip and fall in Arizona?
Responsibility depends on the property condition, who controlled it, the duty owed to you, and evidence of negligence. A store, landlord, operator, or another party may be involved. A fall alone does not establish liability.
What do I have to prove in a slip and fall case?
A claim requires a duty, a breach of that duty, causation, and damages. The hazard, how it arose, and what the responsible party knew or should have known can be central. The applicable proof depends on the circumstances; preserve incident reports, photographs, and witness details.
What if the property owner says the fall was my fault?
An allegation of fault does not decide the case. Under A.R.S. § 12-2505, ordinary comparative negligence generally reduces damages by the claimant’s share of fault rather than automatically barring recovery. The statute has an exception for intentional, wilful, or wanton conduct. Henry can discuss the evidence.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Arizona?
Many injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline after accrual under A.R.S. § 12-542. Public-entity claims generally require a notice within 180 days and a lawsuit within one year after accrual. Exceptions apply, and the facts determine which deadline governs. Ask about your specific claim promptly.
What kinds of hazards lead to premises liability claims?
Common examples include wet or recently mopped floors without warning signs, spills left unattended, uneven flooring or torn carpet, poor lighting, broken stairs or missing handrails, parking lot defects, and accumulated debris. Whether a hazard creates liability depends on the facts and what the owner knew or should have known.
Does my visitor status affect my claim?
Yes. Arizona premises law considers whether you were an invitee (a customer or someone there for the owner's benefit — owed the highest duty of care), a licensee (a social guest), or a trespasser (owed the least). Most slip and fall claims involve invitees on commercial property, where the duty of care is strongest.
How much does it cost to hire Henry for a slip and fall case?
Beam Injury Law offers a free consultation. The contingency fee is 33⅓% of the gross amount recovered if the matter resolves at or before mediation or settlement conference, whether before or after a lawsuit is filed. Filing a lawsuit alone does not increase the fee. If the matter does not resolve at or before mediation or settlement conference, the fee is 40% of the gross amount recovered, even if it later settles without a trial. The 40% rate also applies if the matter proceeds to trial or arbitration or results in a verdict, award, or judgment. No attorney fee is owed if there is no recovery. Case costs and expenses are separate and remain the client's responsibility regardless of recovery. Review the written agreement for the full terms before signing.
What compensation can I recover in a slip and fall case?
Potential damages include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other documented effects of the injury. The evidence, responsibility, and available coverage determine what may be recoverable. A free consultation is a place to discuss those facts—not a guarantee of value.
Important deadlines
If a Government Entity Was Involved — Shorter Deadlines Apply
When the at-fault party may be a government entity — a city or county, a public school, a state agency, ADOT, a police or sheriff department, a public hospital, or a government-owned road or vehicle — Arizona imposes two deadlines that are much shorter than the general two-year period:
- 180-day notice of claim (ARS § 12-821.01) — a notice of claim generally must be served within 180 days after the cause of action accrues.
- One-year statute of limitations (ARS § 12-821) — the lawsuit generally must be filed within one year after the cause of action accrues, not two.
Missing the 180-day notice typically bars the claim entirely, regardless of how strong the case is. Accrual, exceptions, and notice requirements need case-specific review. Do not assume the incident date alone determines your deadline.
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