Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Attorney — Holding Property Owners Accountable
A slip and fall accident can happen in an instant, but the injuries can affect you for months or even years. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, torn ligaments — these are injuries I see regularly in my Fort Lauderdale slip and fall practice. When a property owner’s negligence causes you to fall, Florida law gives you the right to seek compensation. I’m Eric J. Goldman, and I help slip and fall victims throughout Broward County and South Florida recover the damages they deserve.
If you’ve been injured in a fall on someone else’s property, call me at (954) 536-7557 for a free consultation. I’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options at no cost to you.
Florida Slip and Fall Law — What You Need to Prove
Slip and fall claims in Florida are governed by Florida Statute 768.0755, which establishes specific requirements for proving negligence in cases involving transitory foreign substances — things like spilled liquids, wet floors, food debris, or any other hazardous condition on a floor or walking surface.
Under this statute, to recover damages you must prove that:
- A dangerous condition existed on the property.
- The property owner or business operator knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
- The property owner failed to take reasonable steps to remedy, correct, or warn about the hazard.
- The dangerous condition caused your fall and resulting injuries.
The “knew or should have known” element is often the most contested part of a slip and fall case. This is where evidence becomes critical. I work to establish that the hazard existed for a sufficient period of time that the property owner, exercising reasonable care, should have discovered and corrected it. Evidence such as surveillance footage, maintenance logs, employee testimony, and inspection records can be decisive.
The Duty of Care Property Owners Owe You
When you enter a business as a customer — legally known as an “invitee” — the property owner owes you the highest duty of care. This means they must regularly inspect the premises, promptly address hazardous conditions, and provide adequate warnings when a danger exists. Businesses that fail to implement reasonable safety protocols — such as regular floor inspections, spill response procedures, and proper signage — can be held liable when those failures result in injury.
Common Slip and Fall Locations in Fort Lauderdale
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, but certain types of properties see a disproportionate number of incidents. I regularly handle cases involving falls at:
- Grocery stores and supermarkets — Spilled produce, leaking freezer cases, and freshly mopped floors without warning signs are common culprits throughout Broward County stores.
- Restaurants and bars — Spilled food and drinks, grease on kitchen floors, and poorly maintained restrooms lead to serious falls.
- Shopping malls and retail stores — The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, Sawgrass Mills, and other high-traffic retail locations see frequent slip and fall incidents due to poor housekeeping and inadequate maintenance.
- Hotels and resorts — Fort Lauderdale’s hospitality industry creates countless opportunities for falls around pools, lobbies, and wet bathroom floors.
- Parking lots and garages — Potholes, uneven pavement, oil slicks, poor lighting, and missing handrails on stairs cause preventable accidents.
- Office buildings and condominiums — Broken tiles, torn carpeting, inadequate lighting in stairwells, and failure to address known hazards in common areas.
Proving Your Slip and Fall Case
Building a strong slip and fall case requires quick action. Evidence can disappear rapidly — surveillance footage gets overwritten, spills get cleaned up, and conditions get repaired. Here’s what I do to protect your claim:
- Preserve surveillance footage — I send immediate preservation demands to the property owner to prevent critical video evidence from being destroyed.
- Document the scene — Photographs of the hazardous condition, your injuries, your footwear, and the surrounding area are essential.
- Obtain incident reports — Most businesses create an internal report when someone is injured on their property. I secure these documents early.
- Review maintenance records — Inspection logs, cleaning schedules, and prior incident reports can establish a pattern of negligence.
- Consult medical experts — I work with medical professionals who can link your injuries directly to the fall and project your future treatment needs.
Damages in Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Cases
If I can establish that the property owner’s negligence caused your fall, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- All medical expenses — emergency room visits, surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing care
- Lost income and future diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after a slip and fall?
Report the incident to the property owner or manager and make sure they create a written incident report. Take photographs of the exact spot where you fell, including whatever caused you to fall. Get contact information from any witnesses. Seek medical attention the same day, even if you think your injuries are minor. Then call my office at (954) 536-7557.
What if I was partially at fault for my fall?
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system, you can still recover damages as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you were texting while walking and a jury finds you 30% at fault, your damages would be reduced by 30%.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Florida?
Under Florida Statute 95.11, the statute of limitations for negligence-based personal injury claims, including slip and fall cases, is four years from the date of your injury. However, evidence in slip and fall cases is extremely time-sensitive. I strongly recommend contacting an attorney within days of your accident, not months.
Does the property owner’s insurance company have to pay my medical bills?
The property owner’s insurance company is not obligated to pay anything until liability is established — either through a settlement or a court judgment. I handle all negotiations with the insurance company and, if necessary, take your case to trial in Broward County Circuit Court to get you the compensation you deserve.
What if there was a “wet floor” sign but I still fell?
A warning sign does not automatically eliminate the property owner’s liability. The sign must be visible and placed in a location where it effectively warns of the danger. Additionally, if the hazardous condition persisted for an unreasonable length of time despite the sign, the property owner may still be negligent for failing to actually remedy the hazard.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, don’t let the property owner’s insurance company convince you that it was “just an accident.” I handle slip and fall cases as part of my broader premises liability and personal injury practice, and I know how to hold negligent property owners accountable. Call Eric J. Goldman, P.A. at (954) 536-7557 for your free consultation today.