Florida Slip and Fall Accidents: What Property Owners Don’t Want You to Know

Jeralyn Clements
May 24, 2023
3 min read

A simple trip or slip can change your life in seconds. Broken bones, head injuries, or spinal trauma often mean weeks of recovery, medical bills, and lost wages. Yet when these accidents happen, property owners and their insurance companies often rush to blame the victim.

At Injury Claim Attorney, we fight for Florida’s injured and hold careless property owners accountable. Here’s what you need to know about slip and fall accidents — and how to protect your right to fair compensation.

Where Slip and Falls Happen Most in Florida

Slip and fall accidents occur everywhere, but in Central Florida we see the highest number in:

Grocery stores & retail shops (spilled liquids, dropped items, poor cleanup)
Restaurants & bars (slippery floors, uneven steps, poor lighting)
Theme parks & attractions (worn walkways, tripping hazards, lack of safety signs)
Apartment complexes & rental homes (broken railings, wet staircases, cracked sidewalks)
Parking lots & sidewalks (potholes, oil slicks, uneven pavement)

Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail, they can be held liable.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injuries are often more severe than people realize. Common injuries include:

Broken hips, legs, or arms
Traumatic brain injuries (concussions, head trauma)
Spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
Shoulder and knee damage
Long-term chronic pain

These injuries don’t just cause pain — they create financial stress, missed work, and emotional hardship.

Florida Law on Premises Liability

In Florida, slip and fall claims fall under premises liability law. Here’s what that means:

Duty of Care: Property owners must maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition.
Notice Requirement: To win a slip and fall case, you must show the owner knew (or should have known) about the hazard and failed to fix it.
Comparative Fault: Florida uses comparative negligence — if you’re found partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example: If a jury awards $100,000 but finds you 20% at fault, you recover $80,000.

What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall

If you’re hurt in a slip and fall accident, here’s what to do right away:

Report the accident to a manager, landlord, or property owner.
Take photos and videos of the hazard and your injuries.
Get witness contact info if anyone saw what happened.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible — even if injuries seem minor.
Save your shoes and clothing (they may show signs of the fall).
Contact an attorney before speaking to insurance adjusters.

Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Claim

Not reporting the fall right away
Leaving without documenting the hazard
Posting about the accident on social media
Delaying medical treatment
Giving a recorded statement to insurance without legal advice
Accepting a quick settlement offer

Each of these mistakes weakens your case and strengthens the defense.

How an Attorney Builds a Strong Slip and Fall Case

At Injury Claim Attorney, we investigate aggressively to prove negligence. This often includes:

Obtaining surveillance footage
Collecting maintenance and cleaning records
Interviewing witnesses and staff
Consulting medical experts to prove injury severity
Demonstrating the long-term impact of your injuries

We fight to make sure insurance companies don’t minimize your suffering or shift blame unfairly.

Slip and fall accidents are serious, and property owners often hope you won’t know your rights. Don’t let them off the hook. If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall in Florida, you may be entitled to significant compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

📞 Call 407-871-3777 today or visit www.injuryclaimattorney.com for a free consultation with an Orlando slip and fall lawyer.

From Injury to Recovery™ — we make insurance companies pay.