Slip and Fall

Under Florida Statute § 768.0755, property owners and operators have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. When they know about — or reasonably should have known about — a dangerous condition and fail to address it, they can be held liable for injuries that result.

To win a slip and fall claim in Florida, you generally need to show the property owner controlled the premises, had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition, and that the hazard caused your injuries.

Florida's modified comparative negligence system means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault — as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. Insurance companies routinely try to shift blame onto victims by claiming they were distracted or wearing inappropriate footwear.

• Wet floors without proper warning signs
• Uneven pavement, broken steps, or cracked sidewalks
• Poor lighting in stairwells and parking areas
• Spilled substances in retail stores
• Loose rugs, mats, or flooring materials
• Poorly maintained common areas in apartments or hotels

An injury can affect more than your health. Common considerations include:

• Medical expenses (emergency, surgical, and rehabilitative)
• Lost wages and future income
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Permanent disability

• Get prompt medical evaluation and follow your provider's recommendations.
• Photograph the scene, vehicles, injuries, and any hazards while still fresh.
• Save bills, receipts, records, and correspondence in one organized place.
• Decline recorded statements to insurers before speaking with counsel.
• Avoid posting about the incident or your recovery on social media.

• Accepting an early lowball settlement before treatment is complete.
• Signing broad medical-records releases without legal review.
• Giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurer.
• Skipping or delaying follow-up care.
• Discussing fault publicly or on social media.

• You were injured and treatment is ongoing.
• An insurance adjuster is calling for a statement or releases.
• Liability or fault is being disputed.
• You're being offered a settlement and aren't sure what it should be.
• The two-year Florida statute of limitations is approaching.

Every case is different. Liberate Legal helps clients:

• Request immediate preservation of surveillance footage before it's overwritten.
• Document the hazardous condition through photos, measurements, and incident reports.
• Gather witness statements and identify prior complaints or repair history.
• Build the notice case against the property owner under § 768.0755.
• Negotiate with the property's insurer or take the case to trial when needed.