Slip and Fall Accidents
Miami slip and fall attorney for injuries caused by negligence
Falls Are Preventable. So Are the Excuses
If you’ve been hurt in a slip, trip, or fall on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation under Florida’s premises liability laws. Felipe Law, P.A. helps injury victims in Miami pursue claims against businesses, landlords, and property owners who failed to maintain safe conditions.
We’ve handled cases in grocery stores, apartment buildings, parking garages, restaurants, and public spaces throughout Miami—including Coral Gables, Little Havana, and Kendall. No one should have to deal with hospital bills and time off work because someone failed to fix a known hazard.
When Property Owners Can Be Held Liable
Florida law holds property owners to a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors, tenants, and customers. When an owner or manager knows about a hazard, or should have caught it through routine inspection, and fails to fix it or warn you about it, that failure is a breach of premises liability, and it's what turns a fall into a claim.
Property insurers also know that Florida law bars you from recovering anything if a jury finds you more than 50% at fault for your own fall, and it's the argument they reach for first. Building your case well from day one, before that argument takes hold, is where the right evidence makes the difference.
Unmarked Wet Floors
Wet or slippery surfaces without warning signs create an immediate fall risk for visitors. Property owners may be liable when they fail to alert people to known hazards.
Broken Stairs or Railings
Damaged stairs or loose railings can cause serious falls, especially in high-traffic areas. These conditions often point to neglected repairs or inadequate maintenance.
Uneven Pavement and Trip Hazards
Sidewalk cracks, curb breaks, parking lot potholes, and loose mats or cords are trip hazards just as dangerous as a wet floor, and property owners are responsible for fixing or flagging them the same way.
Unattended Spills or Debris
Spills, clutter, or debris left on floors can quickly become dangerous. Owners may be responsible when these hazards are not cleaned up within a reasonable time.
Poor Lighting
Dark stairwells, hallways, and parking garages hide hazards that would otherwise be obvious, and property owners are responsible for keeping walkways properly lit. When poor lighting is really a sign that a property skipped on security altogether, that failure can also support a negligent security claim.
Inadequate Maintenance or Inspections
Failure to regularly inspect and maintain a property can allow hazards to go unnoticed. Maintenance records and prior complaints often reveal whether safety obligations were ignored.
Injuries from Slip-and-Fall Accidents
A fall might not sound serious—until you’re living with the aftermath. We help clients recover from:
Head Injuries
A blow to the head from a fall is one of the most serious injuries we see, and it can turn fatal, especially for older adults or a fall from any real height. When that happens, it becomes a wrongful death claim, and we're able to carry the case forward for the family.
Broken Bones
Slip-and-fall accidents often result in fractures to the hips, wrists, or ankles. These injuries can require surgery, limit mobility, and lead to extended recovery.
Back and Spine Injuries
A sudden fall can injure the back or spinal column, causing herniated discs or nerve damage. These injuries may result in chronic pain or long-term physical limitations.
Soft Tissue Damage
Torn ligaments, muscle strains, and other soft tissue injuries are common after a fall. While less visible, they can significantly affect movement and daily activities.
Balance and Mobility Issues
Some fall victims experience lasting balance problems or reduced mobility. These effects can interfere with independence and may require ongoing therapy or assistive care.
Internal Injuries
Falls can cause internal bleeding or damage to organs that isn’t immediately obvious. These injuries can become serious without timely diagnosis and treatment.
What We Do for You
When you call Felipe Law, you’re not just filing a claim. You’re gaining a partner who helps you:
Legal Guidance
We help you understand Florida’s slip-and-fall laws and how they apply to your situation. This clarity allows you to make informed decisions from the start of your case.
Evidence Building
We move quickly to secure the incident report, pull surveillance video before it gets overwritten, and request the property's maintenance and inspection logs. Property insurers investigate fast, and the sooner we gather this evidence, the harder it is for them to argue the hazard wasn't really there or wasn't really their fault.
Full Damage Review
We assess the complete financial impact of your injury, including medical bills, lost income, and future care needs. This ensures your claim reflects both immediate and long-term losses.
Insurance and Litigation
We negotiate directly with insurance companies and push back against low settlement offers. If a fair resolution isn’t possible, we’re prepared to take your case to court.
Performance & Transparency
Attorney Jennifer Felipe Lanza spent years defending the insurance companies that now investigate claims like yours. She knows how quickly they move to photograph the scene, pull maintenance records, and start building a case around whatever put you on the floor.
Florida's more-than-50%-at-fault bar is exactly the argument property insurers reach for first, and we use Jennifer's inside knowledge of how those arguments get built to keep the fault where it belongs. Every client gets that experience through direct, one-on-one access to Jennifer and paralegal Annette, not a rotating team. Learn more about
Jennifer's background.
Common Questions About Miami Slip and Fall Claims
What should I do if I slip and fall in a Miami store?
Report the fall to management right away and ask for a copy of the incident report before you leave. Photograph the hazard, get contact information for any witnesses, and see a doctor even if you feel fine, since some injuries take a day or two to show up. Talk to an attorney before you give a statement to the store's insurance company.
Can I sue a property owner for a trip and fall in Florida?
Yes, if the property owner or manager knew about the hazard, or should have found it through routine inspection, and failed to fix it or warn you. Trip and fall claims work the same way as slip and fall claims under Florida's premises liability law, whether the hazard was a cracked sidewalk, a pothole, or a loose mat.
Who is liable for a slip and fall accident in Miami?
Liability usually falls on whoever controls the property, which can be the business owner, a landlord, a property management company, or more than one of them at once. We identify every responsible party early, since a claim against the wrong one, or against only one of several, can leave money on the table.
How is liability proven in a Florida slip and fall case?
You have to show the property owner had a duty to keep the property safe, breached that duty by leaving a hazard unaddressed, and that the breach caused your fall and your injuries. We build that proof with the incident report, surveillance footage, maintenance logs, and witness statements gathered while they're still available.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Florida?
Florida generally gives you two years from the date of your fall to file a negligence claim. Waiting risks losing your right to recover altogether, so the sooner you talk to us, the more evidence we can still gather on your behalf.
What if I was partly at fault for my own fall?
You can still recover as long as a jury finds you 50% or less at fault, with your award reduced by your share of the blame. Property insurers raise this argument often, and countering it is exactly where Jennifer's insurance-defense background gives your case an edge.
Contact Us
Start Building Your Case Today
You don't have to figure out who's responsible for your fall on your own, and you don't have to take the property insurer's first word for it. Tell us what happened, and we'll walk you through what your case is really worth, starting with a free consultation with Jennifer herself. See what it's actually like to work with us from clients who've been through it.
