Thanksgiving brings together family, friends, and delicious food—but it also creates busy, crowded homes where slip and fall accidents can easily happen. From spilled drinks to cluttered walkways and dark porches, it only takes a moment for a joyful celebration to turn into an emergency.
Under Florida law, homeowners have a legal duty to keep their property reasonably safe for guests. If someone slips, trips, or falls due to unsafe conditions, the homeowner may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
Why Slip and Falls Are Common on Thanksgiving
The combination of guests, food, decorations, and distractions creates a perfect storm for accidents. Common causes include:
- Spilled drinks or food that aren’t cleaned up right away
- Wet or greasy kitchen floors from cooking
- Loose rugs, cords, or decorations blocking walkways
- Dim lighting near stairs or entryways
- Crowded hallways or uneven flooring
- Wet leaves or rainwater tracked in from outside
Even minor falls can cause serious harm—especially for older adults—such as broken hips, fractures, or head injuries.
Florida’s Premises Liability Law for Holiday Hosts
In Florida, guests who visit your home for social reasons are considered “invitees” or “licensees.” As a homeowner, you have a duty of care to maintain your property and warn guests about potential hazards you know—or should have known—about.
This means if someone trips on a loose step, slips on a wet floor, or falls on your front porch because the lighting was poor, you could be responsible for their medical costs and damages.
You may be liable if:
✅ You failed to fix a known hazard in time
✅ You didn’t warn guests about a dangerous condition
✅ You ignored regular maintenance or cleaning
✅ You created a dangerous situation (e.g., cords across walkways)
What Victims Should Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you’re injured during a Thanksgiving gathering, here are the key steps to protect your health and legal rights:
- Get medical attention immediately — even if you think the injury is minor.
- Take photos of the scene, the hazard, and your injuries.
- Notify the homeowner or event host about the accident.
- Collect witness names and statements.
- Keep medical records and receipts.
- Speak with a personal injury attorney before accepting any insurance offers.
Homeowners often file claims through homeowners’ insurance, but insurers may try to minimize or deny payouts. Having an attorney helps ensure you’re treated fairly.
How Homeowners Can Prevent Liability
Simple safety precautions can go a long way toward preventing holiday accidents:
- Clean spills immediately.
- Remove clutter and cords from walkways.
- Use non-slip mats on tile or wood floors.
- Add outdoor lighting for steps and porches.
- Secure loose rugs with tape or grips.
- Keep children’s toys and decorations out of main walkways.
- Warn guests about any known hazards (e.g., a loose step).
When Homeowners Aren’t Liable
There are cases where homeowners may not be legally responsible. If the guest was behaving recklessly, ignored warnings, or was intoxicated, they may share fault under Florida’s comparative negligence rule. This means damages could be reduced by the victim’s percentage of fault.
How Darfoor Law Firm Can Help
At Darfoor Law Firm, we represent both victims and homeowners in slip and fall cases throughout Florida. We understand the stress of dealing with family injuries and insurance disputes during the holidays.
Our team can:
✔ Investigate the cause of the accident
✔ Gather evidence (photos, reports, witness statements)
✔ Handle insurance claims and negotiations
✔ Seek fair compensation for injuries and damages
📞 If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall during a Thanksgiving gathering, contact Darfoor Law today for a free consultation. We’ll help you protect your rights—and your peace of mind.
