Years of Experience
0 +
Happy Clients
0 +
Dedicated Lawyers
0
Home › Practice Areas › Slip and Fall
Tampa Slip and Fall Attorney
Fell in a store, a parking garage, or an apartment complex? Florida law asks a specific question in these cases: did the property owner know about the hazard, or should they have. The Reyes Firm goes after the records that answer it.
or dial (833) 422-3329 · no fee unless we win · Hablamos Español
Why The Reyes Firm
Why These Cases Turn on Evidence
01
We Send Preservation Letters Immediately
Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days or weeks, and incident reports get filed away. Once retained, we demand the property owner keep video, maintenance logs, and reports before any of it is gone.
02
We Find Everyone Responsible
Many Tampa properties are run by third-party management companies, with separate owners, tenants, and maintenance contractors. Each may share responsibility, and each may carry its own policy.
03
We Build the Knowledge Case
In a Florida business fall, it is not enough to show the floor was wet. We work to show the business knew or should have known, using cleaning schedules, inspection logs, and prior complaints.
04
No Fee Unless We Win
Consultations are free and we work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Florida law
What You Have to Prove in a Florida Slip and Fall
Florida sets a specific standard for falls caused by a substance on the floor of a business. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.0755, an injured person must show the business had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition and should have addressed it.
Constructive knowledge can be shown by evidence that the condition existed long enough that the business should have discovered it, or that it happened regularly and was foreseeable. That is why cleaning schedules, inspection logs, and video timestamps matter so much, and why they are worth demanding early.
Evidence we go after
- Surveillance footage, before it is overwritten
- Cleaning, inspection, and maintenance logs
- The incident report the store filed that day
- Prior complaints or falls in the same location
- Witness accounts and employee statements
- Photographs of the hazard, warning signs, and footwear
Where falls happen
Common Premises Liability Cases in Tampa
Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and to warn about hazards they know about. These are the situations we see most often.
Wet and Slippery Floors
Spills, mopping without signage, and tracked-in rain in grocery stores, restaurants, and lobbies.
Trip Hazards
Uneven flooring, loose mats, exposed cords, broken sidewalks, and potholes in parking lots.
Inadequate Lighting
Dim stairwells, hallways, and parking garages where a hazard cannot be seen in time.
Elevator and Escalator Failures
Defective or poorly maintained equipment causing falls and crush injuries.
Dog Bites
Florida holds dog owners responsible for injuries their animals cause, on private property or in public.
Swimming Pool Hazards
Unsecured or poorly maintained pools at hotels, apartments, and private homes.
Injuries we handle
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
People often downplay a fall, especially in public. Then the pain sets in the next day. Getting checked quickly protects your health and creates the medical record a claim depends on.
Broken bones and fractures
Wrists, hips, arms, and ankles take the impact, often requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
Traumatic brain injuries
A head striking a hard floor can cause lasting cognitive problems, even without loss of consciousness.
Spinal cord injuries
Landing awkwardly can damage the spine, with long-term mobility consequences.
Soft tissue injuries
Sprains, strains, and torn ligaments that often need months of physical therapy.
Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
Sometimes requiring stitches and leaving permanent scarring.
Fatal falls
Falls are a leading cause of death among older adults, and families may have a wrongful death claim.
Our process
How a Tampa Slip and Fall Case Works
Step 1
Free case evaluation
You tell us what happened, where, and what injuries followed. We ask about the property’s condition, any warning signs, and your medical care. It takes 30 to 60 minutes and ends with a straight assessment of whether you have a viable claim.
Step 2
Evidence preservation
We send preservation letters demanding surveillance footage, maintenance records, and incident reports be retained, and we identify every potentially responsible party, including any property management company.
Step 3
Medical documentation
We coordinate with your treating physicians and, where needed, independent medical experts, to document the severity of your injuries and what they will require going forward.
Step 4
Demand, negotiation, and trial
Once treatment stabilizes, we prepare a demand package setting out liability and damages. Most cases resolve at that stage. If the insurer will not deal fairly, we file suit.
Step 5
Resolution
We explain every figure in a settlement or verdict in plain language, line by line, so there are no surprises at the end.
Answers
Slip and Fall Questions, Answered
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Florida?
Two years from the date of the fall for most negligence claims. Florida shortened this from four years to two on March 24, 2023 under HB 837. Falls on government property carry additional notice requirements and shorter timelines.
What should I do right after falling on someone else’s property?
Get medical attention, even if you feel fine. Report the fall to the manager or owner and ask for a written incident report. Photograph the hazard, the surrounding area, any warning signs or their absence, and what you were wearing on your feet. Get names and numbers for anyone who saw it.
The store says there was a wet floor sign. Does that end my claim?
Not necessarily. Whether a warning was adequate depends on where it was, how visible it was, and when it was placed. Florida also uses modified comparative fault, so your share of responsibility reduces your recovery, and only bars it if you are found more than 50% at fault.
What if I fell but there is no video?
Video helps, but it is not the only route. Cleaning and inspection logs, prior complaints about the same area, employee accounts, and the timing of when the hazard appeared can all support constructive knowledge. That is part of why acting quickly matters.
Who is responsible: the store or the property owner?
Possibly both, and sometimes a management company or maintenance contractor as well. Responsibility depends on who controlled the area and who was obligated to maintain it, which is one of the first things we sort out.
Other Cases We Handle
The Reyes Firm represents injured people across Tampa Bay, including Hillsborough County.
Hurt on Someone Else’s Property? Let’s Make It Right.
Free consultation, no fee unless we win. Our office is at 4730 N. Habana Ave., Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33614.
(833) 422-3329 · Hablamos Español
20+ Years Of Experience In Legal Cases Field
With over 20 years of experience, The Reyes Firm has proudly served the Tampa Bay community by fighting for accident victims and their families. From car crashes on I-275 and I-4 to truck accidents across Hillsborough County, we combine local knowledge with proven legal strategies to win results.
As a trusted personal injury law firm in Tampa, we’re committed to protecting our neighbors’ rights and securing the compensation they deserve.