A slip-and-fall accident is a common form of property owner liability. It happens when an unsafe condition on a property causes someone to fall down and hurt themselves. But not just any fall will qualify for compensation.
This page details some of the intricacies of this area of personal injury law. Florida has a comparative negligence standard for personal injury cases. This means that the amount you can receive can be reduced depending on how much the courts think the accident was your fault.
Shoes are a possible example of this. If you’re wearing unsafe footwear, that could contribute to your fall and reduce the amount of money you get. There are several studies about this on the page. Other causes can include unsafe or negligent behavior. If you trip while you’re texting and walking, it could be argued that you weren’t paying enough attention to what was happening before you slipped.
On the other hand, there are more clear-cut cases. A wet floor, debris on the ground, a loose railing, or something else that shows a lack of care to the property can cause someone to slip. Slip-and-fall injuries can cause life-long problems with mobility depending on the circumstances.
If you fell down and hurt yourself on someone’s property, don’t immediately think it was all your fault. Talk to a personal injury attorney first to get the real answers. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit that could pay for your medical bills. If you live in Florida, the team to call is the personal injury team at Chalik Law.
When a Fall Makes an Old Injury Worse in Miami Key Takeaways: Yes, you may be able to recover damages if a Miami slip and fall worsened an old injury. Recovery is generally limited to the extra harm the fall caused, not the pre-existing condition itself. If the jury cannot separate the two, Florida’s standard…
Understanding Landlord Responsibility After a Fall at Your Apartment Key Takeaways: A landlord may be liable when a tenant slips and falls in a Ft Lauderdale apartment if the fall came from a hazard the landlord had a legal duty to fix or prevent, such as broken stairs, damaged floors, or unsafe common areas. Under…
Why the Paperwork After a Grocery Store Fall Matters More Than You Think Key Takeaways: A Ft Lauderdale grocery store incident report should document the location, date and time of the fall, a description of the hazard, warning cones or barriers, responding employees and witnesses, the last sweep or inspection log entry, surveillance coverage, and…
Why a Visible Hazard Does Not Automatically End Your Miami Store Fall Claim Key Takeaways: An adjuster’s "open and obvious" label is generally a defense argument, not a final ruling on your Miami store fall claim. Florida applies a two-duty framework: a hazard’s visibility may negate the duty to warn, but the separate duty to…
When the Government Runs the Airport: What Injured Travelers in Broward Need to Know Key Takeaways: Getting injured at a government-operated Broward airport requires navigating Florida’s sovereign immunity framework and its strict dual-notice rule. You must identify the correct government agency (and any contractors sharing its immunity), prepare a written claim, present it to both…
Falling on City Property in Plantation: Why Sovereign Immunity Matters Key Takeaways: Sovereign immunity means the City of Plantation generally cannot be sued without consent, but Florida Statute §768.28 provides a limited waiver allowing negligence claims against municipalities. To recover, you must connect your injury to a government employee’s negligence and, for slips on transitory…
When a Simple Paperwork Error Can Sink Your Injury Claim Key Takeaways: A single paperwork mistake can defeat an otherwise strong slip and fall claim against a government entity in Ft Lauderdale. Florida Statute § 768.28(6)(a) requires proper written notice to the correct agency and, for most claims other than those against a municipality, county,…
Understanding Government Liability at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Key Takeaways: Yes, Florida’s sovereign immunity cap applies to injuries at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport because Broward County operates the facility. Under section 768.28, Florida Statutes, you can pursue a negligence claim against the county, but recovery is capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident….
Understanding Your Rights After a Government Slip and Fall in Miami Key Takeaways: A Miami slip and fall victim generally cannot sue a city without first filing a written pre-suit notice of claim under Fla. Stat. § 768.28(6)(a). This notice must reach the correct agency within three years of when the claim accrues. After filing,…
What Injured Visitors Should Know Before Filing a Government Slip-and-Fall Claim in Plantation Key Takeaways: You can sue a government entity after a slip and fall in Plantation, but the process is narrower and more technical than a standard premises liability case due to sovereign immunity. Florida Statutes Section 768.28 only partially waives that immunity,…
Why a Quarter-Inch Can Change Your Injury Claim Key Takeaways: The ADA 1/4-inch trip hazard rule in Ft Lauderdale comes from federal accessibility standards allowing vertical changes up to 1/4 inch without treatment, while changes between 1/4 and 1/2 inch must be beveled and those over 1/2 inch require a ramp. This measurement can help…
When a Miami Slip and Fall Involves a Government Property Key Takeaways: Slip and fall claims on government property in Miami follow different rules than private-property cases. Florida’s sovereign immunity doctrine, codified in section 768.28, caps recovery at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence while requiring mandatory pre-suit notice. Insurance does not automatically raise…
Understanding Your Rights After a Fall at Miami International Airport Key Takeaways: An airline can be held liable for a fall inside a Miami airport terminal, but liability depends on who controlled the space and whether they maintained it safely. Because responsibility follows control, airlines leasing gate areas or jet bridges may share fault with…
Understanding Who Is Responsible When You Fall Inside a Fort Lauderdale Airport Key Takeaways: Airport contractors in Fort Lauderdale can be held liable for terminal falls depending on who controlled the area and whether they maintained it safely. Under Fla. Stat. §768.0755(2), Florida law preserves common-law duties for any party controlling premises, meaning maintenance contractors…
When a Slippery Terminal Floor Becomes a Legal Matter Key Takeaways: Yes, a wet terminal floor can support a Fort Lauderdale airport slip and fall claim when facts establish negligence. Travelers are generally invitees, so airports owe the highest duty to inspect for dangers, make repairs, and warn of hazards. The most contested issue is…
When a Terminal Stumble Turns Into a Legal Fight Key Takeaways: Building a strong Miami International Airport slip and fall claim requires proving the property operator breached its duty of care to you as a lawful "invitee," the category owed the highest protection under Florida law. The central challenge is showing the business had actual…
Understanding Your Rights After a Fall in a Plantation Grocery Store Key Takeaways: When you fall in a Plantation grocery store, liability may extend beyond the store to property owners, business operators, negligent staff employers, maintenance contractors, and occasionally government entities. Determining fault depends on who controlled the hazardous area. Under Florida law, you must…
What to Know After a Fall at a Baggage Claim in Fort Lauderdale Airport A fall at the Fort Lauderdale airport baggage claim becomes a legal matter only when the facts support a premises liability claim. Baggage claim areas see heavy foot traffic, spilled drinks, dripping luggage, slick tile, and crowded carousels, all of which…
Your Right to Recover After a Fall Does Not Depend on Citizenship Key Takeaways: Undocumented immigrants can file slip and fall claims in Miami because Florida premises liability law focuses on where an injury occurred and who was at fault, not immigration status. Recovery depends on your legal status as a visitor, invitee, licensee, or…
Untangling Responsibility When You Fall Inside a Brickell Tower Key Takeaways: Liability for a slip and fall at a Brickell high-rise depends on who controlled the area where you were hurt and whether that party failed to keep it reasonably safe. The responsible party could be the condominium association, a property management company, a commercial…
