Slip and Fall Accidents: What You Need to Prove to Win
Slip and fall accidents may sound minor, but they can lead to serious, life-altering injuries — from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation — but only if you can prove the property owner was legally responsible.
At The Bonderud Law Firm, we handle slip and fall cases across Florida and know what it takes to win. Here’s what you need to prove in order to succeed in a premises liability claim.
What Is a Slip and Fall Case?
Slip and fall (or trip and fall) cases fall under premises liability law. They occur when a property owner fails to maintain safe conditions, resulting in someone slipping, tripping, or falling and suffering an injury.
These accidents often occur in:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Parking lots
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings
- Hotels or resorts
Elements You Must Prove
To win a slip and fall case in Florida, you must prove:
- A dangerous condition existed
- Example: Wet floor, loose tile, torn carpet, poor lighting, broken steps.
- The property owner knew or should have known about the condition
- This is called “actual or constructive notice.”
- Evidence like surveillance footage, cleaning logs, or witness statements can help.
- The property owner failed to fix or warn about the danger
- Posting a “Wet Floor” sign or fixing a hazard within a reasonable time may defeat liability.
- You suffered actual damages
- Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Special Rules for Businesses (Florida Statute § 768.0755)
If you slip and fall on a transitory foreign substance (like spilled liquid) in a business establishment, Florida law requires that you prove the business had:
- Actual knowledge of the hazard, or
- Constructive knowledge, shown by:
- The condition existed long enough that it should have been discovered, or
- It occurred regularly and was foreseeable
This makes fast and thorough investigation critical.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Case
- Photographs or video of the hazard
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Incident reports
- Medical records and bills
- Prior complaints or history of similar incidents
Time Is Not on Your Side — Act Quickly
Slip and fall cases often turn on evidence that disappears quickly — like security footage, witness availability, and physical conditions.
At The Bonderud Law Firm, we act fast to preserve evidence and hold negligent property owners accountable. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall in Florida, contact us today for a consultation.
