Orlando & Tampa Slip and Fall Lawyer

Did you recently get hurt when you slipped and fell on someone else’s property in Orlando or Tampa? If so, you may be dealing with physical pain, emotional stress, lost wages, and mounting medical bills. Contact an experienced Florida slip and fall lawyer to protect your right to financial compensation for your fall-related injuries. You might wonder how you will pay your expenses while you’re too hurt to work. It’s important to know that you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the negligent property owner and demand fair compensation for your losses.

Slip and Fall Attorneys in Orlando & Tampa, Florida

At De Armas Law, our legal team of experienced slip and fall attorneys handles a wide range of personal injury claims, including those involving slip, trip, and fall accidents. We understand the difficulties you’re facing, and we’re here to help. When you reach out to us for a consultation, you can learn about your rights and options with no risk or obligation. Don’t wait – contact De Armas Law today for a free initial consultation and let us start fighting for you.

Why Choose De Armas Law?

Choosing the right attorney is one of the most crucial steps to take after a slip and fall accident. You may ask yourself why you need a lawyer for a slip and fall case. Having a dedicated advocate ensures your case is handled by a professional who knows what is required to prove liability under Florida law. At De Armas Law, we work tirelessly to pursue the best possible outcome for our clients.

When you hire us for your slip and fall injury claim, you can count on us to:

• Listen to your story and evaluate your case: We take the time to understand exactly how your accident happened and determine whether you have grounds for a slip and fall claim.

• Identify all sources of compensation: Our attorneys will investigate all potential defendants and insurance policies that may cover your losses, including property owners, managers, or third parties.

• Thoroughly investigate the accident: We will conduct an independent investigation into your slip and fall, gathering critical evidence such as witness statements, incident reports, security camera footage, maintenance records, and medical reports to build a strong case.

• Handle communications on your behalf: We deal with the at-fault property owner, their insurance company, and their lawyers so you don’t have to worry about saying something that could hurt your claim.

• Negotiate aggressively: Our team will engage in tough negotiations with the insurance adjusters and defense attorneys to seek the maximum settlement value for your slip and fall injuries.

• Take your case to court if needed: If the other side refuses to offer a fair settlement, our trial-ready lawyers will file a lawsuit and present a compelling case before a Florida judge or jury. We are not afraid to litigate to pursue the compensation you deserve.

• No fee unless we win: We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and no attorney fees at all unless we recover money for you. This allows you to get top-quality legal representation without any added financial stress.

• Personalized attention: We tailor our approach to your specific needs and goals. Our lawyers will keep you informed about the progress of your slip and fall case, provide regular updates, promptly answer your questions, and offer guidance at every step.

Find out why injury victims across Central Florida turn to De Armas Law for help. Contact us today to learn what our Orlando and Tampa slip and fall attorneys can do for you.

Compensation for Slip and Fall Claims

Several factors can affect the value of your slip and fall claim, including the severity of your injuries, the impact on your ability to work and enjoy daily life, and the strength of the evidence against the property owner. An attorney can help you understand the specific factors at play and how to maximize your compensation. Depending on the circumstances of your slip and fall, you could be entitled to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses: This includes all costs of your medical treatment, such as emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor’s appointments, X-rays and MRIs, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and any future medical care you will need for your injuries.

• Incidental and out-of-pocket expenses: Any miscellaneous costs you incur due to the accident and your injuries can be claimed. This may cover travel expenses for medical appointments, rental medical equipment (crutches, braces, etc.), home health services, or costs to modify your home if needed for accessibility.

• Lost wages and income: Compensation for the income, earnings, or work benefits you lost because your slip and fall injuries made you unable to work. If you had to use sick days or lost bonuses, those can be included.

• Loss of earning capacity: If your injuries have a long-term impact on your ability to return to your job or limit the kind of work you can do, you may receive damages for your reduced future earning potential over the course of your career.

• Pain and suffering: These are non-economic damages compensating you for the physical pain, discomfort, emotional distress, and mental anguish caused by the fall. Serious falls can lead to lasting pain, depression, anxiety, or loss of enjoyment of life, and Florida law allows recovery for these intangible losses.

• Permanent disability or disfigurement: If the slip and fall resulted in a lasting disability, such as paralysis, or visible scars and disfigurement, additional compensation may be awarded to account for the impact on your quality of life.

• Punitive damages: In rare cases, if the property owner’s conduct was grossly negligent or showed a reckless disregard for safety, a Florida court might award punitive damages to punish that behavior. These are not common in slip and fall cases, but they are possible if egregious misconduct is proven.

Types of Falls and Accident Injuries

Slips, trips, and falls can happen for a wide variety of reasons – from missing safety features to unexpected hazards. In a bustling area like Central Florida, slip and fall accidents might occur at grocery stores, shopping malls, theme parks, hotels, office buildings, parking lots, or even private homes. Some of the most common types of fall accidents in Orlando and Tampa include:

• Standard slip and fall accidents: A “slip and fall” occurs when someone slips on a slick or unstable surface (for example, a wet floor, spilled liquid, loose rug, or icy entryway) and loses their footing. The person falls and is injured as a result of the slip. These often happen in places like supermarkets (e.g. slipping on a spilled drink), restaurants, or hotel lobbies with recently mopped floors.

• Trip-and-fall accidents: A “trip and fall”  happens when a person’s foot strikes or catches on an object or uneven surface, causing them to stumble forward and fall. Common tripping hazards include extension cords across walkways, bunched or torn carpeting, uneven floorboards, potholes in parking lots, or clutter/debris in aisles. Even a slight height difference in a sidewalk or a loose piece of flooring can cause a dangerous trip-and-fall accident.

• Stairway falls: Falls on staircases often result from defects or negligence such as broken or missing steps, worn treads, lack of a secure handrail, poor lighting in a stairwell, or slippery stair surfaces. A person might slip going down wet or polished steps, or trip going up if a step is irregular. Stairway falls can be especially severe due to the hard edges of steps and the potential to tumble down multiple stairs.

• Ladder falls: Falls from ladders commonly occur at workplaces or home projects. They may be caused by an unstable ladder placement, defective ladder design, or user loss of balance. For instance, a worker in Tampa on a ladder might fall if the ladder’s footing slips on a slick floor, or if the ladder was not adequately secured. These falls can cause serious trauma because even a fall from a few feet can lead to broken bones or head injuries depending on how one lands.

• Escalator and elevator falls: Although less common, people can be hurt on escalators (moving staircases) if they lose balance or if the escalator jerks unexpectedly. Escalator falls might be due to sudden stops, misaligned steps, or even clothing getting caught. Similarly, a sudden drop or misleveling in an elevator can cause passengers to fall. In busy Florida malls and airports, these types of falls do occur and often involve complex liability questions (property owner, maintenance company, equipment manufacturer, etc.).

• Falls from heights: These are some of the most dangerous fall accidents. They occur when someone falls from an elevated place such as a balcony, deck, ladder, scaffolding, rooftop, or over a railing. In construction settings, a worker might fall from scaffolding due to lack of proper guardrails or harnesses. In recreational settings, someone could fall over a defective railing at an overlook or down an open elevator shaft. Falls from heights, even just one story up, can result in catastrophic injuries.

No matter the cause, unexpected falls often leave victims with serious injuries. In our experience, some of the most common slip and fall injuries include:

• Head and neck injuries: Even a moderate impact can cause concussions or other head trauma when you fall. Victims may suffer skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or neck sprains (whiplash). Head injuries are particularly concerning because symptoms might not appear immediately and can worsen over time.

• Facial and dental injuries: Hitting your face in a fall can result in broken noses, facial fractures, eye injuries, or chipped and knocked-out teeth. Such injuries may require surgery (for example, to repair a fractured cheekbone or jaw) and significant dental work.

• Brain injuries: As noted, falls are a leading cause of TBIs. A hard blow to the head can lead to a range of brain injuries from a mild concussion to severe brain bleeding (subdural hematomas) or diffuse axonal injury. Brain injuries can cause long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, mood changes, and other life-altering effects.

• Back and spinal cord injuries: Many slip and fall victims land on their back or twist as they fall. This can cause herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or even spinal cord damage. A serious spinal cord injury may result in partial or total paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia), permanently impacting mobility Even less severe back injuries can lead to chronic pain and require extensive therapy.

• Broken bones and fractures: The impact of a fall commonly leads to broken bones. Hip fractures are especially common in older fall victims and often require surgery and rehabilitation. Wrist, arm, and hand fractures frequently occur when people instinctively try to catch themselves. Ankles, knees, and shoulders can also break or dislocate during a fall. Some victims sustain rib fractures or a broken pelvis if they land hard on their side. Fractures can be extremely painful and may cause lasting impairment or arthritis.

• Joint injuries (knees, shoulders, etc.): Even without a fracture, a fall can seriously damage joints. Knee injuries like torn ligaments (ACL, MCL) or meniscus tears are common from twisting falls. Shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff tears or dislocations can happen if you land on an outstretched arm. These injuries often require surgery and lengthy rehabilitation.

• Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and deep bruises are typical in slip and fall cases. Victims may suffer severe ankle sprains, pulled muscles, or torn ligaments. While these may sound minor, soft tissue injuries can be very painful and limit mobility for weeks or months. They also can predispose the injured area to future reinjury.

• Internal injuries: A violent fall can cause internal organ injuries or internal bleeding. For instance, a ruptured spleen, kidney contusion, or other abdominal injury might not be immediately obvious but could be life-threatening if not treated. Always seek medical attention after a hard fall to check for internal trauma.

• Cuts and lacerations: Broken glass, sharp objects, or jagged edges can cause deep cuts during a fall. Serious lacerations might damage nerves or tendons and often leave permanent scars.

• Emotional and psychological injuries: Beyond the physical harm, many fall victims develop psychological effects such as fear of falling again, anxiety in public places, or depression due to loss of independence. An older person who falls might become afraid to walk unassisted, significantly reducing their quality of life. In wrongful death cases, families suffer emotional trauma from the sudden loss of a loved one.

Tragically, some slip and fall accidents can even be fatal, especially for elderly individuals or falls from great heights. In those cases, families may pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of their loved one.

Important Evidence For Your Florida Slip and Fall Case

There are several key pieces of evidence that you should always try to collect after a slip and fall accident. Preserving evidence is crucial, as it can make the difference in proving the property owner’s negligence. Your slip and fall attorney will help develop a strategy to gather and protect this evidence. Some important steps and evidence to focus on include:

• Document the scene: If you are able, take photographs or video of the exact area where you fell and the hazard that caused your fall. Make sure to capture details like the substance or object on the floor (e.g. water, ice, food, debris), the lighting conditions, any warning signs (or lack thereof), and the surrounding environment. These images can serve as powerful proof of a dangerous condition. For example, a photo of a spilled liquid with no caution sign can directly show the negligence.

• Obtain contact information from witnesses: If anyone saw your fall or the conditions that caused it, get their name and phone number (or email). Witnesses can provide statements later to corroborate how the accident happened and confirm that you did nothing wrong. Often, a neutral witness confirming that “that floor was extremely slippery” or “the person asked staff to clean it earlier but they didn’t” can compel the property owner to accept liability.

• Request an incident report: If your fall occurred at a business or public location, report the incident to management immediately and ask for a copy of the incident report (or make sure one is filed). Many stores and establishments have procedures to create a written report when a guest is injured. This report might include the staff’s notes on what happened. It serves as an early record of the incident – make sure to keep a copy for your records. If emergency medical services came, their report is also valuable.

• Seek medical attention right away: As soon as possible after your injury, see a medical professional. Don’t “shake it off” or assume you’ll be fine – some injuries (like concussions or internal injuries) may not show symptoms immediately. Getting prompt medical attention ensures you receive proper care and creates medical records linking the fall to your injuries. Follow all treatment plans and attend follow-up appointments. These records will document the extent of your injuries and recovery, which is important evidence for your claim.

• Keep all receipts and bills: Save every bill, receipt, or invoice related to your injury. This includes hospital bills, doctor fees, medication receipts, physical therapy invoices, the cost of medical devices (crutches, brace), and even receipts for smaller items like bandages or over-the-counter pain meds. Also track mileage for trips to medical appointments. These out-of-pocket expenses can be reimbursed as part of your damages, but you’ll need proof of them.

• Maintain a pain journal: It can be helpful to keep a daily journal of your pain levels, symptoms, and the ways the injury limits you. Note things like “could not lift my child due to shoulder pain” or “missed my son’s school event because I couldn’t drive.” These personal notes provide a contemporaneous record of your suffering, which can support your claim for pain and suffering damages.

• Secure any video surveillance: If the fall happened at a location with security cameras (such as a store or parking lot), notify the property owner in writing to preserve any video footage. Video evidence of your slip and fall is extremely compelling, but tapes may be erased or overwritten on a schedule. By requesting that it be saved, you increase the chance that crucial footage isn’t lost. Your attorney can send a formal evidence preservation letter to the business.

• Physical evidence: Keep the clothing and shoes you were wearing, unwashed and in the same condition as after the fall. For instance, if your clothes were stained by a substance on the floor, or your shoe tread ripped, these items could be evidence. Do not continue to wear the shoes that were involved; preserve them in a bag. Also, if an object caused your fall (like a loose tile or faulty step that broke), that should be preserved or photographed if possible.

By completing these steps, you’ll help lay a strong foundation for your injury claim. Much of this evidence may need to be gathered quickly before it disappears – another reason why contacting a lawyer soon after the accident is wise. The property owner will likely act fast to fix the hazard after your fall (for example, mop up the spill or repair the broken stair). While fixing it is good to prevent others from getting hurt, it also means critical evidence can vanish within hours. Our legal team can step in immediately to document conditions and secure evidence before it’s lost.

Filing an Insurance Claim After a Slip and Fall

If you get hurt in a slip and fall accident in Florida, you will typically seek compensation from the property owner’s liability insurance. Most homeowners, renters, businesses, and public entities carry insurance that covers injuries on their property (often called premises liability coverage). For instance, a store will have a general liability policy, and a homeowner may have homeowners insurance – these policies generally pay for slip and fall injuries to guests up to the coverage limits.

Filing a premises liability insurance claim is one of the first steps in pursuing compensation. However, the process is rarely simple in practice. Insurance companies often try to protect their bottom line by minimizing payouts on valid claims. As you proceed with a claim, be prepared for the insurance adjuster to:

• Deny fault: The insurer may argue their insured (the property owner) was not negligent. They might claim they had no knowledge of the hazard or that the hazard wasn’t there long enough to be found. In a Florida business slip and fall case, they may directly challenge your proof of “actual or constructive knowledge” of the condition.

• Shift blame to you: It’s very common for insurers to allege that you were partly or wholly at fault – for example, suggesting you were distracted (looking at your phone), not wearing appropriate footwear, or that you ignored warning cones. Their goal is to reduce or eliminate their payout by invoking comparative negligence. Remember, if they convince a jury you were over 50% at fault, you recover nothing, so they have incentive to exaggerate your blame.

• Downplay your injuries: Adjusters might question the severity of your injuries. They could claim that you’re overstating pain or that your injuries were pre-existing. They often scrutinize medical records for any hint of a prior similar issue. If you didn’t go to the ER right away, they might argue the injury must not have been serious. All of this is aimed at paying less.

Because of these tactics, having a knowledgeable slip and fall lawyer on your side is extremely valuable during the insurance claims process. We will handle all communications with the insurer so you are not pressured into saying something against your interests. Our attorneys will present the evidence of liability clearly – for example, showing the store’s surveillance video of an unaddressed spill – and will assemble detailed documentation of your injuries and losses (medical reports, doctor statements, wage loss verification, etc.). By building a strong, well-supported claim, we put pressure on the insurer to offer a fair settlement.

While you should be able to recover compensation through an insurance claim after a slip and fall, obtaining a fair payout is rarely simple. Our legal team’s involvement ensures that your claim is handled properly: all deadlines are met, evidence is preserved, paperwork is filed correctly, and aggressive advocacy is used in negotiations. This allows you to focus on healing while we focus on holding the at-fault party accountable.

What to Do If You Get Hurt in a Slip and Fall

Taking legal action while you’re recovering from a slip and fall injury might seem overwhelming. However, by taking a few proactive steps, you can protect your rights and set your future claim up for success. Here are some important things to do if you get hurt in a slip and fall:

• Follow your doctor’s orders: Your health comes first. Attend all medical appointments, follow treatment recommendations, and do any prescribed therapy or follow-up. Not only does this help you heal, it also creates a clear record that you are doing everything you can to get better. Insurance companies love to argue that an injury isn’t serious if a victim skips appointments or disobeys medical advice. Protect your health and your claim by sticking to the care plan and documenting your recovery in a journal.

• Report the accident promptly: As soon as you can, notify the property owner or manager that you fell and were injured. If the fall happened at a business, insist that the incident is documented (ask for a manager and make sure they create an incident report). Put the report in writing yourself if possible and keep a copy For example, if you slipped in a store, write down the details and give it to the store manager, and take a photo of it. If your accident occurred on government property (city sidewalk, public building, etc.), reporting it is especially important – claims against government entities have special notice requirements in Florida. In any case, timely reporting prevents the owner from later denying that it ever happened.

• Gather evidence at the scene: If you are not too badly hurt, try to collect evidence right after the fall. Take photos of the hazard and surrounding area (as detailed in the evidence section above). If there were any witnesses, get their names and contact information on the spot. Often people will leave after an incident, so catching them immediately is key. If you can’t do this because of your injuries, ask a friend, family member, or even a bystander to help you.

• Do not admit fault: While at the scene and when reporting the incident, avoid apologizing or admitting any blame. Even saying “I should have been more careful” can be misconstrued later as you accepting fault. Be honest about what happened, but stick to the facts of what you experienced (“I walked in, didn’t see any wet floor sign, and my feet went out from under me on this puddle”). Let the investigation reveal fault – don’t volunteer it.

• Keep track of expenses and impacts: Save all your receipts and bills related to the injury (medical costs, medications, travel expenses, etc.) and keep records of any time missed from work. Also note changes in your life – for instance, if you need help doing household chores or if you cannot participate in your normal activities like exercise or childcare. These notes will help your lawyer demonstrate the accident’s effect on your daily life.

• Avoid giving statements to insurance: Soon after the accident, you might get a call from the property owner’s insurance company asking for a recorded statement or asking you to “sign some forms.” It’s usually not in your interest to do so without legal counsel. The insurance adjuster’s job is to find ways to reduce your claim, and they may ask questions designed to trip you up. Politely decline to give a recorded statement, or refer them to your attorney if you’ve hired one.

• Consult a slip and fall lawyer: Perhaps most importantly, reach out to a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later.  An experienced Florida slip and fall attorney (like our team at De Armas Law) will immediately start protecting your rights – from preserving evidence, to advising you on interactions with insurers, to making sure you meet all legal deadlines.

By taking these steps, you’ll significantly strengthen your position when pursuing a slip and fall claim. Our firm can guide you through each of these after-accident steps if you contact us quickly. We strive to lighten your burden by handling the legal complexities while you focus on your recovery.

Contact Our Orlando & Tampa Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers Now

The Orlando and Tampa slip and fall lawyers at De Armas Law are standing by to answer your legal questions and guide you through your next steps. Our law firm offers free consultations to anyone injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident in Florida. We have offices in both Orlando and Tampa, and we proudly serve clients throughout the state.

When you work with us, we will aggressively protect your rights and handle every aspect of your claim – from investigating the cause of your fall, to dealing with insurance companies, to taking the case to court if needed. You don’t have to navigate this process alone. Let our experienced premises liability attorneys fight to recover the compensation you need to get back on your feet.

Don’t delay seeking help. Important evidence can fade and legal deadlines can approach faster than you expect. Contact De Armas Law today at our Orlando or Tampa office to schedule your free case evaluation. We’ll review what happened, explain your legal options, and if you hire us, get to work immediately to pursue justice for you.

Take the first step toward fair compensation by reaching out now – our team is ready to help you hold the negligent property owner accountable and secure the financial recovery you deserve after your slip and fall accident. Let us put our knowledge, experience, and dedication to work for you. Your road to recovery starts with a single call – we’re here when you need us.