Boca Raton Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys in Boca Raton Fighting for Your Future
Slip and fall accidents are all too common in Boca Raton shopping centers, restaurants, and residential complexes. What might start as a quick errand or visit can easily lead to painful injuries if local property owners ignore basic maintenance or safety rules.
At Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, we have spent decades helping South Florida residents recover compensation after serious falls. Our lawyers know how Palm Beach County courts operate and the evidence necessary to prove fault under Florida law.
We offer free consultations and charge no fees unless we win your case. Contact our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers today to discuss your slip and fall case at no cost.
Do I Have a Case?
Not every fall gives rise to a valid slip and fall case. Under Florida law, a case exists only if the injured party can prove that another party was negligent. To prove negligence, you need to show:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty by failing to fix or warn you about a hazard
- You suffered measurable injury or loss as a result
A key part of any case is showing that the property owner or occupant knew or should have known about the danger that injured you. Evidence like surveillance footage, prior complaints, or recurring unsafe conditions can strengthen your case.
On the other hand, your case could fail if the property owner can demonstrate that you were trespassing, intoxicated, or solely responsible for the fall. Our firm can review the facts quickly to determine whether your situation meets Florida’s standards for a slip and fall case.
How to Choose the Right Slip and Fall Attorney
The right slip and fall attorney in Boca Raton can make a major difference in your case. An effective Boca Raton slip and fall attorney will understand Florida’s negligence laws and recent tort reform changes that affect how cases move forward. Local knowledge is also key, including familiarity with Palm Beach County courts, judges, and filing procedures. Extensive experience handling cases against large retailers, homeowners’ associations, and commercial landlords indicates that a slip and fall lawyer in Boca Raton can manage complex cases.
When meeting with potential Boca Raton slip and fall attorneys, ask about their results in similar premises cases, how they handle fees, and how they communicate with clients. A firm with its own investigators, expert connections, and staff to manage filings can expedite a case. At Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, we have decades of focused personal injury experience in South Florida and meet every one of these standards.
Steps to Take Right After a Slip and Fall
You can take simple steps to strengthen your case after a slip and fall. Here’s what you should do to protect your rights and develop solid evidence:
- Take Photos: Capture the hazard, the surrounding area, and any missing warning signs.
- Collect Witness Info: Write down the names and contact details of anyone who saw the fall.
- Report the Incident: Notify the manager or property owner and request a copy of their report.
- Seek Medical Care: Get checked by a doctor immediately and keep all treatment records.
- Preserve Evidence: Save physical evidence like shoes, clothing, and receipts from the location.
- Contact a Lawyer: Speak with a Boca Raton slip and fall accident attorney before giving statements to insurance representatives.
The steps above can help you establish the “notice” element of your case under Florida law by showing the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
Where Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Boca Raton
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere people walk or shop in Boca Raton. Common examples of these locations include the Town Center at Boca Raton, Mizner Park, local hotels with pool areas, grocery stores, and public sidewalks along Glades Road and Federal Highway.
Property owners need to keep their premises safe for visitors and guests. Hazards like wet floors, poor drainage, broken curbs, and dim lighting can lead to falls that could have been prevented with proper maintenance. Property owners have a duty to address hazards they know about or should know about before anyone gets hurt. If they ignore unsafe conditions, they put others at risk and could be held responsible for any harm that follows. Our team can investigate how and where your fall happened and work diligently to hold negligent property owners accountable.
How Florida Law Defines Property Owner Responsibility
Florida law sets clear rules for when a property owner can be held responsible for a slip and fall injury.
Duty of Care to Visitors
Florida law divides visitors into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. Invitees are those who enter a property for business that could benefit the owner, such as retail customers. Property owners owe them the highest duty of care, which includes regularly inspecting the premises and correcting unsafe conditions. Most Boca Raton slip and fall cases involve invitees. Licensees are those who visit for their own purposes, (for example, social guests or door-to-door salespeople), and they receive more limited protection. Property owners owe trespassers almost no protection unless they are minors.
Proving Negligence
You will need to demonstrate each of the five following elements to prove negligence in a slip and fall case:
- Duty: The owner had a legal obligation to protect you from harm
- Breach: The owner failed to uphold their duty of care
- Knowledge: The owner knew or should have known about the hazard
- Causation: The hazard directly caused your injury
- Damages: The injury caused measurable loss (e.g., medical expenses, lost income, etc.)
The “knowledge” element is the most disputed issue in many Florida slip and fall cases.
The Challenge of Proving Notice
Proof of notice often determines whether a Florida slip and fall case succeeds or fails.
Actual Notice
Actual notice exists when an owner or employee had direct knowledge of a hazard. For example, we would say an employee had actual notice if they saw a spill or received a complaint about it, but did nothing to address or warn others about it.
Constructive Notice
Constructive notice applies when a hazard exists long enough that the owner should have discovered it through regular inspection, or when the hazard appeared repeatedly. For example, recurring condensation puddles near a grocery store freezer or potholes that remain for months in a shopping center parking lot. Maintenance logs, inspection records, and surveillance footage can provide evidence of constructive notice.
Florida Deadlines and Rules That Affect Your Case
Florida law sets strict limits on when you can bring a slip and fall case. If you miss a deadline or misunderstand the rules, you could lose your right to recover compensation.
Two-Year Statute of Limitations for Negligence
As of March 24, 2023, Florida reduced the filing window for negligence-based injury cases from four years to two years. If you attempt to file more than two years after the date of injury, the court will dismiss your case, regardless of how strong it might be.
Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule limits recovery based on each party’s share of fault. If you are 50 percent or less responsible for your slip and fall, you can still recover compensation, but your award will decrease based on your percentage of fault. A lawyer can help you challenge unfair accusations and gather evidence to show the property owner’s responsibility. (see: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/768.81)
Types of Injuries and Recoverable Compensation
Slip and fall accidents in Boca Raton can cause serious injuries like fractures, torn ligaments, concussions, and spinal trauma. Florida law allows injured people to recover damages (money) for both their financial losses and personal suffering.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover measurable losses like medical bills, rehabilitation costs, income losses, and reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your prior work.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the pain, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life you experience and are harder to calculate since they have no specific dollar value.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded in rare cases where property owners acted with extreme carelessness or willful disregard for safety.
Factors That Influence Case Value
The severity of your injuries, the strength of the available evidence, fault distribution, and available insurance limits can all affect your case value. Settlement amounts vary based on proven losses.
Where Your Case Is Filed in Palm Beach County
Slip and fall cases from Boca Raton fall under the 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which covers Palm Beach County. The County Civil Court handles cases worth $50,000 or less. The Circuit Civil Court hears cases exceeding that amount, usually at the main courthouse in West Palm Beach. You will need to file in the correct court, since each has specific procedures and case management rules. Our lawyers know the local e-filing systems and scheduling requirements and can help you move your case forward efficiently.
Why Work With Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel?
At Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, our top-rated slip and fall lawyers in Boca Raton have decades of experience representing Palm Beach County clients in complex slip and fall cases. When you come to us for help, we act quickly to preserve evidence through property inspections and formal notice letters to keep key proof from getting lost. Our firm also works with safety, engineering, and medical experts to prepare strong cases and understand how insurers will assess your case.
Clients who work with us interact directly with our attorneys, not junior staff members, and receive regular updates throughout the process. We offer free consultations, charge zero fees unless we win. Finally, upon the closure of your case, you will receive a full accounting of all costs.
Our firm has a record of success against many major retailers and property owners in Boca Raton and is dedicated to helping local residents recover the compensation you deserve.
Let Our Boca Raton Slip and Fall Lawyers Fight for You
If you suffered injuries in a Boca Raton slip and fall, contact Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel for a free consultation. Our attorneys take immediate action to secure evidence, communicate with insurers, and prepare the case for maximum recovery. Clients pay no upfront fees, and payment only comes from the compensation we win. Call or complete our online contact form to speak directly with a Boca Raton slip and fall lawyer who can begin protecting your case today.
