slip and fall victim

If you suffered injuries in a slip-and-fall accident in Miami, you may have the right to recover compensation from a property or business owner whose negligence caused the accident. You should not have to bear the financial consequences of injuries you suffered in a slip-and-fall. Instead, turn to a Miami slip-and-fall accident attorney. They can advocate for your rights and interests and fight to obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering.

At Gregg M. Goldfarb, LLP, we partner with some of Miami’s most experienced law firms for slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident claims. Let us help you get the legal representation you need to demand accountability for your harm and loss. Reach out to us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Miami slip-and-fall accident injury lawyer.

What Are Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Miami?

Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents (which can fall under the legal realm of premises liability cases) often occur due to dangerous property conditions that cause people to lose their footing or balance. Some examples of hazards that can cause slip-and-fall accidents in Miami include:

  • Spilled foods or liquids
  • Water leaks
  • Rainwater, mud, plant debris, or wet algae on the ground
  • Loose or torn carpeting, flooring, or rugs
  • Recently mopped or waxed floors
  • Cords or wires laid across the ground
  • Uneven floors
  • Broken pavement
  • Broken or missing steps or handrails
  • Trash or debris on the ground
  • Poor lighting

Where Are Typical Places Where Slip-and-Falls Occur?

Although a slip-and-fall accident can occur anywhere, accidents occur more frequently in public places with a lot of foot traffic. The places where slip-and-falls typically occur include:

  • Groceries stores/supermarkets
  • Home improvement stores/garden centers
  • Department stores
  • Malls and shopping centers
  • Bars/clubs/restaurants
  • Theaters
  • Gyms/fitness centers
  • Swimming pools
  • Recreational parks
  • Amusement parks
  • Golf courses
  • Hospitals
  • Office buildings
  • Schools and universities
  • Apartment buildings and townhouse complexes

What Are Common Injuries Someone Can Sustain in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

A slip-and-fall accident can cause various injuries, depending on how a person falls. Common injuries that a person can suffer in a slip-and-fall accident include:

  • Lacerations and abrasions
  • Broken bones
  • Dislocated joints
  • Ligament sprains or tears
  • Muscle/tendon strains or tears
  • Herniated spinal discs
  • Internal bruising or bleeding
  • Head injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries

What Is Florida Law for Pursuing Compensation After a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Under Florida law, a visitor on someone else’s property may have the right to pursue compensation after suffering a slip-and-fall accident on the premises. Property owners owe lawful visitors a duty of care and must maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. This duty includes keeping the property safe by regularly inspecting the premises and fixing any dangerous conditions or warning invitees of their presence.

Visitors who lawfully enter a property without the owner’s or occupier’s permission are owed a lesser duty of care. Property owners must warn them of any dangerous condition the owner knows about. Florida property owners and occupiers do not owe a duty of care to trespassers but must refrain from harming trespassers.

Under the law, a person injured in a slip-and-fall accident caused by a spill or another transitory substance in a business establishment must prove that the hazardous conditions lasted long enough for the business owner to have discovered it or that these conditions occurred regularly.

Finally, under Florida’s comparative negligence law, a plaintiff who bears partial responsibility for their slip-and-fall accident can only pursue compensation from a property or business owner if the plaintiff has an equal or lesser share of fault than the owner. The comparative negligence law also reduces an injured person’s compensation award in proportion to their share of fault for the accident. Thus, a person who suffers a slip-and-fall because they failed to be cautious around a known hazardous property condition, such as by running across a visibly wet floor, may have their claim affected by the comparative negligence law.