A bad fall is easy for other people to underestimate. It can sound minor when you describe it, but you may be the one facing surgery, weeks off your feet, and the frustration of knowing it didn't have to happen. A wet floor left without a sign, a broken step, a stairwell no one bothered to light, these are the kinds of things a property owner is supposed to take care of. When they don't, the cost shouldn't fall on you, and we can help you look at whether they should be the ones to answer for it.

What Is a Slip and Fall Claim?

Slip and fall and trip and fall claims are a form of premises liability. Businesses and property owners must take reasonable care to keep their property safe and to warn visitors about hazards they can't fix right away. When they fail to do that, and the failure causes an injury, they can be held responsible. These cases arise everywhere, from grocery stores and restaurants to apartment complexes, hotels, and parking lots.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

These accidents usually trace back to a hazard the property owner knew about, or should have known about, including:

• Wet or freshly mopped floors without warning signs
• Spilled liquids, food, or debris in walkways
• Uneven sidewalks, broken pavement, or damaged stairs
• Poor lighting in stairwells, parking lots, or hallways
• Loose rugs, mats, or flooring, and missing handrails

Proving a Slip and Fall Case

You generally must show that the property owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn about it in a reasonable time. For a spill in a business, Florida law specifically requires proof of this kind of notice. Owners and insurers often argue that the hazard was open and obvious, that it existed too briefly to be discovered, or that your own carelessness caused the fall. Prompt investigation, including photos, incident reports, maintenance logs, and witness statements, is the most effective way to counter those arguments before the evidence disappears.

Injuries and Compensation

Falls can cause broken hips and wrists, torn ligaments, herniated discs, and head injuries, particularly for older adults. A successful claim can recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and the cost of rehabilitation and ongoing care.

A Firm Built for Premises Liability Cases

Premises liability is core to our practice. Todd Poses and Adam Boumel have tried these cases as lead and co-lead counsel in state and federal court, standing up to property owners and insurers who would rather blame the injured person than take responsibility. Most recently, we recovered $2 million for a client injured in a wet-floor slip and fall and $500,000 for a client hurt in a hotel-lobby fall. You will always be able to reach your attorney, and we bring the same attention to every case, whatever its size.

Contact the Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys at Poses Boumel Today

It costs nothing to talk to us. Poses Boumel represents injured people and families throughout Florida from our office in downtown Miami, and we serve clients in English and Spanish. Call 305-577-0200 during our listed office hours or leave a message any time, or reach us through the contact form on our website. Your consultation is free and confidential, with no obligation.