Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Tampa

A slip and fall claim in Tampa often comes down to a question that has little to do with how badly you were hurt: Did the property owner know or have reason to know about the dangerous condition? That question can become especially important when a fall involves spilled liquid, food, debris, or another temporary hazard inside a store or business. Under Florida law, proving that the property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of a transitory dangerous condition can be critical to a claim.

From grocery stores and restaurants to hotels, apartment complexes, and shopping centers, Tampa properties can present very different hazards and evidence. Connect with Jeeves Law Group, P.A., to learn more about your case. With a presence in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, our slip and fall accident lawyers in Tampa serve injured clients throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

What Caused Your Fall in Tampa?

Slip and fall injuries can happen because of:

• Spilled drinks or food
• Leaking refrigerators
• Wet floors
• Broken flooring
• Uneven pavement
• Poor lighting
• Missing handrails
• Dangerous stairs
• Hazards in parking areas

But identifying the hazard is only one part of the case. The specific legal rules can likewise depend on the type of hazard. If you slipped on a temporary hazard inside a Florida business, the existence of the hazard alone may not be enough to establish liability. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.0755, the evidence generally must show that the owner, business operator, or other person or entity responsible for the premises knew about the condition or that it should have discovered it before the fall.

How Do You Prove The Business Knew About The Hazard?

This is where having proper evidence can be especially crucial. For instance, imagine you slip on a puddle near a refrigerated display in a grocery store. A photograph taken immediately after the fall may show the condition, but additional evidence may be needed to establish how long the puddle existed. Our Tampa slip and fall accident attorneys may investigate:

• Surveillance footage
• Employee statements
• Inspection or sweep records
• Incident reports
• Prior complaints
• Maintenance records
• Photographs
• The location and appearance of the hazard

If a business had a recurring leak, for instance, prior complaints, maintenance records, or employee reports about the problem could help show that the condition occurred regularly and was foreseeable.

What If The Business Says You Were Careless?

Property owners and insurers may say that you weren’t looking, didn’t see the obvious condition, or otherwise contributed to the fall. Florida uses comparative fault in negligence actions. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, your damages may be reduced based on your percentage of fault, subject to the statute’s current rules.

That doesn’t mean an insurer’s accusation is automatically correct. Our slip and fall accident attorneys in Tampa can examine whether you actually contributed to the accident and whether the property owner’s conduct remains a substantial cause of the injury.

Where Did Your Fall Happen in Tampa?

The location can matter because the circumstances surrounding the property owner’s duty and the dangerous condition may differ.

• A grocery store
• Restaurant or hotel
• Apartment complex
• Shopping center
• Parking garage
• Office building
• Sidewalk or other walkway
• Private residence

The person or entity responsible for maintaining the property may also differ. The party responsible for the area where you fell may not always be the property owner. A tenant, business operator, property manager, maintenance company, or another entity may have responsibilities depending on the circumstances.

Why Photos and Videos Are Important in Slip and Fall Claims

The condition that caused your fall may not exist for long. A grocery store employee may slip on a slippery fall. A broken surface may be repaired. Surveillance footage may eventually be overwritten. Photographing the condition, identifying witnesses, reporting the incident, and obtaining medical attention can all help you document what happened. Our Tampa slip and fall accident lawyers can also investigate whether additional records or video exist and take appropriate steps to preserve relevant evidence.