When a Fall Is More Than an Accident
A fall can cause far more damage than people expect: broken hips and wrists, torn ligaments, back and neck injuries, and traumatic brain injuries that can require surgery and months of recovery. When a fall happens because a business or property owner failed to keep the property reasonably safe, the owner may be responsible for the harm.
The Injury Advocates represents people across Broward County and South Florida who have been seriously injured in falls at stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment and condominium complexes, parking lots, and other properties. Our founder, Kweku Darfoor, is personally involved in every case.
What You Must Prove in Florida
Florida law sets a high bar for slip and fall claims. When someone slips on a spill or other substance in a business, Florida Statute § 768.0755 requires proof that the business knew about the dangerous condition, or should have known about it, and failed to fix it. A business can be shown to have known about a hazard if:
This is why evidence matters so much in these cases. Surveillance video, cleaning and inspection logs, prior complaints, and witness statements can show how long a hazard was there and whether the owner ignored it.
Common Causes of Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries
What to Do After a Fall
Store and building surveillance video is often recorded over within days or weeks. The sooner we know about your fall, the sooner we can demand that it be preserved.
How Long Do You Have to File?
For most Florida negligence claims, including slip and fall cases, the deadline is generally two years from the date of the injury. Falls on property owned by a city, county, or the state involve additional notice requirements. Because video and other evidence disappear quickly, it is best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a serious fall.
Property owners and their insurers often blame the person who fell. We investigate quickly, secure the evidence that shows what the owner knew, and build your case for the full cost of your injuries, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. If you cannot come to us, we can meet by phone, by video, or at your home or hospital.
See the settlements we have recovered for clients on our Case Results page.
Why Injured Clients Choose The Injury Advocates
Possibly. Under Florida law, you generally must show that the store knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn you. Evidence such as surveillance video, cleaning logs, and witness statements is often key, which is why it is important to act quickly.
Nothing up front. Your consultation is free, and we handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you. If we do not win your case, you owe no attorney’s fees and no case costs.
Insurers often argue that the hazard was obvious or that the person who fell was not paying attention. Under Florida’s comparative negligence law, you can generally still recover as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault, though your award is reduced by your share of fault.
Depending on where the fall happened and who controlled that area, a landlord, condominium association, property manager, or maintenance company may be responsible. Identifying the right parties and their insurance early is an important part of the case.
Claims against a city, county, or state agency are possible, but they involve written notice requirements and other rules that do not apply to private property owners. Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible so these requirements are met.
For most negligence claims, the deadline is generally two years from the date of the injury. Claims against government agencies have additional notice requirements, so it is important to speak with a lawyer early.
