Florida Slip and Fall Laws

Slipping and falling can bruise more than just your ego. A bad slip and fall can leave you physically injured which may cause you to be unable to work, or at the very least, inflict unnecessary pain and suffering.

If you are injured in a slip-and-fall accident, it’s important to know your rights. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may have a claim and be eligible for compensation. An experienced Tampa slip and fall attorney can help you determine whether you have a case and assist you through the filing process.

What You Should Know About Florida’s Slip and Fall Laws

Florida law requires slip-and-fall victims to prove that the business or property owner failed to provide safe conditions and did not act to rectify unsafe conditions on the property. They must also prove that the owner knew or reasonably should have known about the dangerous situation.

If a slip and fall victim is able to prove this, then they may be eligible to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Loss of income
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering

How to Prove a Slip and Fall Claim

In order to prove your slip and fall claim, you must first be able to prove that:

• You slipped and fell
• You slipped and fell on the business or owner’s property
• You slipped and fell because of unsafe conditions
• The owner knew or reasonably should have known about the unsafe conditions and should have fixed it
• The owner did not fix the unsafe conditions within a reasonable amount of time

If you can prove that, then you must determine what type of guest you were considered on the property. Under Florida law property owners owe visitors a duty of care to provide reasonably safe conditions on their property. There are three different types of visitors on properties:

Invitees

Guests that enter a property in order to conduct business, for example, a customer at a grocery store. Invitees are owed the highest level of care.

Licensees

Someone(s) who are on a property for the owner, with the owner’s consent. An example of this might be a social guest attending a party at the owner’s house.

Trespassers

Persons who enter a property without permission from the owner. While trespassers are technically not allowed on the property, owners still owe them a duty of care to prevent reckless or intentional harm.

Depending on what level of care you were owed will impact how much compensation you are eligible to receive.

Statute of Limitations

In Florida, if you are injured in a slip and fall the statute of limitations is four years from the date of your accident to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you may not be eligible to receive compensation.

Let Vanguard Attorneys Help You

The process of proving your case and meeting the various deadlines can be confusing, so it is best to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as you can to assist you. We will fight for you so that you can focus on your recovery and healing. Contact us today by phone at (813) 680-2007 or online for a free consultation.