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Claims

Claims For Damages

Claims for damages must be filed with the proper agency. If you believe the City of Tacoma (the "City") is at fault for an incident or accident resulting in loss, injury or damages, you can file a claim with the City. If you were harmed by another entity (for example, the United States Government, the state, a county, or another city) you must file your claim against the other entity or entities.

 

The process for submitting a claim to the City and links to the online claim filing portal and to the Claim for Damages forms are below. 

 

Even if you believe that the City is at fault for damage to your property or for physical injury, the City does not pay service providers (for example, auto repair shops, contractors, doctors, etc.) directly for repairs to your property or for medical treatment. You are responsible for paying for repairs and medical bills and filing a claim with the City. 

 

If you have questions about the claims process that are not answered on this web page, please call the Customer Support Center at (253) 591-5000 or dial 3-1-1 from within the Tacoma city limits. You can also contact the Customer Support Center during regular business hours from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, Room 220 (2nd floor), or online on the Questions and Answers web page. 

 

Submitting A Claim For Damages

You can submit a claim for damages using one of the options below. Give specific details about your damage or loss. Include a detailed description of the event (incident or accident), including the location, dates, times, and witnesses, and include supporting documents. The claim form must be signed by one of the following: 

  1. the claimant, 
  2. a person holding a written power of attorney from the claimant (include a copy of the power of attorney),  
  3. the attorney in fact for the claimant, 
  4. an attorney admitted to practice in Washington state on the claimant's behalf, or
  5. a court-approved guardian ad litem on behalf of the claimant. 

If the claimant is a business, including insurance companies, the claim form must be signed by a person within the business that has authority to handle a claim for damages on the business’s behalf (for example, a corporate officer, a shareholder, or a governing member of the business). Supporting documentation should be included to support this authority.

 

When signing the tort Claim for Damages form, you are declaring under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington that the information contained in your claim is true and correct.

 

How to File Your Claim

Choose one of these ways to file your claim. 

 

1. Complete a claim for damages online. 

 

File a Claim Online

 

Notes about the online claims portal:

  • You can upload digitized photographs and documents through the portal when submitting a claim.
  • The portal does not allow you to save your progress.
  • You will be able to download a PDF copy of your claim after submitting it.
  • If you use the portal, an electronic signature must be used. An electronic signature means an original signature that is placed on the claim form and executed or adopted by the claimant with the intent to sign the form. See RCW 1.80.010. 
  • If you provide an email address, an email confirming receipt of your claim will be sent to you after submission with a PDF copy of your claim that you can download.

 

2. Download a Claim Form (fillable PDF) to print and file by mail or in person. 

 

Download a PDF Claim Form

 

You can download a claim form in PDF format to be printed and filed by mail or in person. You can fill out the PDF form on your computer, or print it and complete by hand. Notes about the fillable form:

  • Be sure to sign your completed claim form and keep a copy for your records.
  • Use the following address to mail your completed claim form, or to file in person: 
    City of Tacoma
    Office of the City Clerk
    747 Market Street, Room 220
    Tacoma, WA 98402

To request a printed form be sent to you by mail, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (253) 591-5505 or cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org

 

3. Download a Claim Form (Word) for use with a screen reader or other accessibility device, to print and file by mail or in person. 

 

Download a Word Claim Form

 

You can download a claim form in Word format to be used with a screen reader or other accessibility device. You can fill out the PDF form on your computer, or print it and complete by hand. Notes about the fillable form:

  • Be sure to sign your completed claim form and keep a copy for your records.
  • Use the following address to mail your completed claim form, or to file in person: 
    City of Tacoma
    Office of the City Clerk
    747 Market Street, Room 220
    Tacoma, WA 98402

To request a printed form be sent to you by mail, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (253) 591-5505 or cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org

 


 

Supporting Documents

When filing a claim, it is recommended that you provide any documents that support your claim. Since these documents may be required before a claim can be resolved, you may want to include them with your claim form. However, please take note of the following:

  • Documents will not be returned; keep copies of everything you submit.
  • Information on your claim for damages form, including photographs and documents submitted with your claim form, may be released as a public record in response to a public records request. 
  • You should not send sensitive personal or medical records with your claim form. Claims staff will request these records if needed.

For Property Damage Claims

  • Repair estimates/receipts/documents.
    Repair estimates, photos, receipts, or any other documentation may be included with your Claim for Damages form to support your loss.
  • Photographs.
    Photographs supporting your claim may be included with your Claim for Damages form. Alternatively, you can submit photographs via email to your assigned claims staff after the investigation has begun.

Claims Process

Claims are acknowledged and investigated. Our investigation begins when we receive your claim for damages. Submit your claim form as soon as possible after a loss occurs, even if damage costs or totals are uncertain. 

Once a claim is received an acknowledgement letter is sent to the claimant with the claims adjuster's contact information. There may be additional instructions or informational requests. Claimants who would like an update on the status of a claim, should call or email their claims adjuster. 

 

Supporting documentation may be requested by claims staff and an email address will be provided where you can submit this documentation. If your claim involves physical injuries, you may also be asked to sign an authorization for release of protected health information.  

 

The length of the investigation varies greatly depending on the complexity of the issues and the availability of documents and witnesses to support causation and damages. Your claim may result in one of three outcomes:

  1. Payment is issued.
  2. Tender or transfer the claim to a different responsible party or entity.
  3. Denial of the claim.

For claims follow-up or acknowledgement questions, contact the appropriate office below: 

Important Notes about Medicare Section 111 Reporting
If you receive a settlement payment from the City for physical injuries, Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) requires that the City report specific information about Medicare beneficiaries who have other insurance coverage. You will be required to sign and return a "MMSEA Reporting Compliance Declaration." This is required for all claims for physical injuries regardless of claimant's Medicare eligibility status.

 

 

Pothole Claims (click to expand)

City of Tacoma maintains over 857 land miles of main arterial streets and 8,610 residential blocks. Damage to City streets can be caused by inclement weather such as heavy rains, freezing temperatures, ice and snow and other factors beyond the City’s control. Potholes and defects can form quickly and unexpectedly and are usually considered road hazards. They are not due to negligence on the part of the City. Drivers should be aware of road conditions at all times and adjust their driving behavior accordingly.


Tort law and case history have established that a municipality is not liable for a road hazard which it did not create unless it has received notice of the condition and had a reasonable opportunity to correct it. Therefore, most pothole and road hazard claims are denied by the City.  

The City of Tacoma Street Operations Division uses a complaint-driven system to address potholes and relies upon reports from the public to locate potholes. The Street Operations Division fills potholes and removes hazards that may cause damage to vehicles after it has become aware of the potential hazard and as time permits. Repairs of reported potholes are generally accomplished within two to ten business days. 

 

You can report a pothole or road hazard by calling the Customer Support Center at 311 within Tacoma city limits or (253) 591-5000 from anywhere else. You can also contact the Customer Support Center during regular business hours at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, Room 220 (2nd Floor) or online on the Questions and Answers web page.


When a driver files a claim for vehicle damage, a City claims adjuster will confer with the Street Operations Division to determine: 

  • If the pothole was on a street the City is responsible to maintain. 
  • If the pothole occurred in a construction zone. 
  • If the pothole was reported prior to the date of the incident, and if so, when the report was made. 
  • If the pothole has been repaired, and if so, when. 

If a pothole is on a city-maintained street and has been reported, a City claims adjuster will check that the Street Operations Division followed its protocols and timelines to evaluate and repair the pothole. Gathering this information may take up to 45 days.

 

Claimants are encouraged to contact their own insurer if they need immediate repairs, or if their claim has been denied. 

Sewer Backup Claims (click to expand)

Many sewer backups are caused when a private side sewer does not have a properly installed, maintained and functioning backwater valve. A private side sewer, also known as a lateral sewer, carries wastewater from a home or business's plumbing fixtures and floor drains to the City's sewer main line, where it continues to a wastewater treatment plant. A backwater valve protects your home from the backflow of sewage through your private side sewer and is required if your home or business has a plumbing fixture(s) installed at or below the elevation of the next upstream manhole of the sanitary sewer serving your property.  

 

It is your responsibility to ensure that a backwater valve is installed as required, maintained, and functioning properly. The City may deny or reduce sewer backup claims if a required backwater valve is not installed and properly functioning. The City may also deny or reduce claims that are not supported by documentation of the damage, such as photographs or video of the flooding event, damage to your home or business and personal property. 

 

Sewer backup claims may also be reduced or denied if you or your contractor do not perform a "due diligence" investigation of the cause of the backup. A "due diligence" investigation is intended to determine if the cause of the backup lies with the private side sewer.

 

If you believe that the City sewer system may be the cause of the backup, you can contact the City Sewer Transmission Maintenance Section, who will investigate and determine if the City’s sewer system is the source of the problem. Taking this step can avoid unnecessary expenses for the property owner.

 

The City’s Side Sewer Manual includes information regarding the due diligence investigation and troubleshooting problems with sewer backups.

 

For more information about sewer backups and flooding or to find a copy of the City of Tacoma Side Sewer Manual, please visit the City of Tacoma Environmental Services website.



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