Slip & Fall Injury Attorneys Helping Clients in Fort Lauderdale & Throughout South Florida Get Real Justice
Our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyers can help if you’ve been injured in a slip or trip and fall on someone else’s property. When negligence is the cause of your injuries and suffering, you deserve accountability and compensation. The steadfast and determined team at Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers Keeps It Real by listening to your story, discussing your options, and tailoring a legal strategy to your needs.
According to the National Safety Council, more than 8.8 million people were treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in 2023, making falls a leading cause of ER visits in the United States. Our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall injury lawyers are driven by a passion for Real Justice. We have decades of Real Experience holding negligent businesses, property owners, and their insurers accountable and securing more than $1 billion in recoveries for real people like you.
If you were hurt in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident, you need a Real Advocate on your side who truly cares about your well-being and future. Call Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers today at 954-866-1111 or reach out to us online for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. Our dedicated team strives to provide support and renewed hope for injured people in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and throughout Southeastern Florida.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Slip or Trip & Fall Lawsuit?
It’s completely normal to wonder whether you have a viable slip or trip and fall lawsuit. Under Florida slip and fall laws, you may have a valid claim if:
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- There was a dangerous condition on the property (a spill, broken step, uneven surface, poor lighting, etc.).
- The business or property owner knew or reasonably should have known about it.
- They failed to fix it or warn you in a timely manner.
- You were hurt and needed medical care as a result.
To keep it simple, ask yourself three questions:
- What was the hazard?
- Who knew or should have known about it?
- How were you harmed?
If you were injured in a slip and fall in Fort Lauderdale and can answer those questions or have some of your own, it’s time to talk to Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers.
Real Results
- $400,000 recovery: Settlement for a client who suffered spinal injuries after a fall at a large national restaurant chain. Our team showed that the restaurant failed to properly maintain its premises, creating an unsafe condition that led to our client’s slip and fall and serious injury.
- $350,000 recovery: Settlement for a client who sustained an ankle fracture after falling at a large national restaurant chain in Tennessee. Attorney Gregory Marangos demonstrated that the restaurant did not properly maintain its property, and that this negligence caused our client’s slip and fall and resulting injury.
How Do I Protect Myself After a Slip & Fall Accident in Fort Lauderdale?
Were you injured in a slip and fall in Fort Lauderdale? If so, Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers recommends you take the following 5 steps to protect your health, your well-being, and your legal rights:
1. Get Medical Attention
Serious injuries require professional medical care. You must seek medical attention for your injuries right away. Your health and safety matter, and you may be far more hurt than you realize. Additionally, you will not be able to pursue financial compensation for a slip or trip and fall accident unless you see a medical provider and document your injuries.
2. Document the Accident
To the best of your ability, try to document the accident. These are fault-based legal cases. You will need to prove the defendant’s liability. The more information you have, the better. Take pictures, get contact details for witnesses, and write down exactly what happened and how.
3. Notify the Business or Property Owner
You should give notice to the responsible party, whether it is a business or a property owner. At this step in the legal process, you should not lay out the facts of your claim. Simply notify them in writing that a slip and fall occurred on their premises. Our team can help you with this step.
4. Avoid Direct Contact With the Defendant or Their Insurer
You may get a call from the at-fault party and/or their insurance company seeking more information. At this time, you are not required to answer questions or make recorded statements. In fact, it is not in your best interest to have contact with the defendant or their insurance company without the advice of legal counsel. Instead, allow your Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident attorney to take the lead.
5. Consult a Fort Lauderdale Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer
Our determined slip and fall injury attorneys will listen, investigate, consult experts, and prepare your case as if we’re going to trial, so that insurers know how serious we are. Let’s discuss the viability of your claim and what kind of compensation you should be seeking in a free case review. There’s no obligation and no fee unless and until we win.
If you couldn’t do all these things, that’s okay. Do what you can and then call Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers. We’ll take over where you left off so you can use your energy to heal.
What To Do After a Slip & Fall: Quick List
- Get medical care as soon as you can.
- Take photos or video of the hazard and the surrounding area.
- Report the fall in writing to the business or property owner.
- Avoid giving recorded statements or signing anything for insurers.
- Call Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers.
How Long Do I Have To File a Slip & Fall Lawsuit in Florida?
Under Florida law, the statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file your lawsuit) for a slip and fall accident is 2 years. Slip and fall accident injury claims are negligence-based cases. You must file any legal action within 2 years of the accident. Failure to do so can result in the automatic dismissal of your personal injury claim on purely technical grounds.
Though some older incidents (before the 2023 tort reform effective date) may still be subject to the old 4-year statute of limitations, you never want to assume when your future is at stake. Ask an attorney what deadlines apply to your claim and what your next steps should be.
While 2 years may seem like plenty of time, you do not want to fall behind on the claims process. Be proactive: If you have been injured due to negligence on the part of someone else, then seeking legal counsel is definitely the best course of action. Contact our experienced Fort Lauderdale premises liability team as soon as possible after a serious accident.
Real Advocacy When You Need It Most: Choose Bernheim Kelley
Slip and fall cases are never just about a wet floor or a broken step. They are about real people whose lives changed in a moment. At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we Keep It Real by focusing on what matters most: your health, your stability, and your future.
When you choose our Fort Lauderdale premises liability attorneys, you can expect:
- Personalized Representation: We take the time to understand you, your worries, and your goals, and we build a strategy around your needs.
- Real Experience: Our attorneys have decades of practical trial and negotiation experience and have helped recover more than $1 billion for injured clients.
- Trial-Ready Approach: We prepare your slip or trip and fall lawsuit as if it may go to court, so insurers understand you’re serious about getting justice.
- Unwavering Support: We can help connect you with medical providers, specialists, and even transportation when getting around is difficult after your fall.
- Clear Communication: You have access to your slip and fall injury lawyer and legal team at all times and will get honest updates and answers to your questions.
- No Fee Unless We Win: You don’t pay attorney’s fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.
If you were injured in a slip and fall in Fort Lauderdale, you don’t have to face this alone. Our team of driven and compassionate attorneys is ready to stand between you and the insurance company so you can heal and hope again.
– you are in good hands!
Florida Slip & Fall Frequently Asked Questions
For most negligence-based slip or trip and fall lawsuits in Florida, you generally have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a claim. That deadline comes quickly, especially when you’re juggling medical care, work, and family obligations.
Some cases can involve different timelines, such as claims against government entities or older incidents that may fall under prior law. Because missing the statute of limitations can end your case before it starts, our team at Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers recommends speaking with a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
Possibly. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system. If you were partially at fault, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you may be barred from recovering damages. Insurance companies often try to exaggerate your share of blame to save money. A Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney can push back against unfair fault arguments and work to protect your right to compensation.
You are not required to hire an attorney, but accepting a settlement without legal advice is risky. Early offers from insurers are usually designed to resolve your claim quickly and cheaply, sometimes before you even understand the full extent of your injuries or future medical needs.
Once you sign a release, you typically cannot ask for more money later. Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers highly recommends talking to an attorney first. This allows you to understand what your claim may truly be worth and whether the offer is fair. Consultations are free and no-pressure.
Most slip and fall injury attorneys, including our team, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay any attorney’s fees up front, and the fee is a percentage of the recovery if and when we obtain compensation for you. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fees. We will explain the fee structure clearly at your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
Of course. While independent witnesses can be helpful, they are not required for every slip and fall case. Many claims are proven through photos or video of the hazard, incident reports, maintenance records, medical documentation, and your own detailed account. Nearby surveillance cameras, employee statements, or prior complaints about the same condition may also support your case. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale can investigate, gather evidence, and help you tell your story in a clear, credible way, even if no one else saw you fall.
Only a relatively small percentage of slip and fall claims ever go all the way to a jury trial. Most cases resolve through negotiated settlements or mediation. However, your best chance at a fair outcome often comes from working with a law firm that is fully prepared to go to court if needed. When insurers know that your attorney is willing and able to try the case, they tend to take your claim more seriously and make more realistic offers.
It isn’t uncommon for stores or property owners to refuse to provide a copy of the incident report directly to you. Don’t panic if that happens. They are usually protecting their own interests and following internal policies.
Your attorney can request this report during the claims process or through formal discovery if a lawsuit is filed. In the meantime, make your own record: write down who you spoke with, what you reported, and any details you remember. We can use those notes, along with other evidence, to build your case.
It varies widely. Some businesses overwrite security footage in a matter of days or weeks, while others retain video longer. Because critical footage of your accident can be lost quickly, acting fast is important. Contact Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers as soon as possible so we can move quickly to protect this and other key evidence.
There is no meaningful “average” payout for a slip or trip and fall claim. Each case depends on different factors, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The strength of the liability evidence
- How Florida slip & fall laws apply
- Your lost income & future medical needs
- The amount of available insurance coverage
Online averages can be misleading and may cause you to expect too much or settle for too little. Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers recommends consulting with an attorney to evaluate your specific situation and give you a more realistic sense of what your claim may be worth.
Slip & Fall Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
A slip and fall accident is a serious matter. These accidents can result in catastrophic and even life-threatening injuries. It is imperative that you get the medical attention you need. Even if you think you’re okay, see your general practitioner as soon as you can. Injuries often go unnoticed at first due to adrenaline or shock.
Some of the most common slip and fall injuries include:
- Fractures
- Soft tissue damage
- Joint injuries (shoulders, knees, hips)
- Back injuries
- Facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage
What Are the Most Common Causes of Slips, Trips & Falls?
Slips, trips, and falls can occur for many different reasons. One of the commonalities that these cases often share is that the accident could have been prevented if the proper safety precautions had been taken.
Here are some of the most common causes of slips, trips, and falls in Fort Lauderdale:
- Unmarked wet floors
- Uncleaned leaks or spills
- Broken or loose floorboards
- Tattered rugs or carpets
- Cords running through hallways
- Uneven exterior walking surfaces
- Insufficient lighting in stairwells
If any of these hazards caused your fall, you may have grounds for a slip or trip and fall lawsuit in Fort Lauderdale. Reach out to Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free case review.
Florida Premises Liability Laws: What Is “Reasonable Care”?
Slip and fall accident claims fall under the legal doctrine of premises liability. In Florida, businesses and property owners have a duty to keep their guests safe from unreasonable and dangerous hazards. In other words, they are required to exercise reasonable care. They must properly maintain their premises, including identifying, marking, and addressing slipping and tripping hazards.
Our Fort Lauderdale premises liability lawyers analyze whether the property owner met this reasonable care standard in your case. A business or property owner who fails to live up to this duty could be held liable, according to Florida slip and fall laws, if someone is injured.
To be clear, it is important to understand that neither a business nor a property owner is automatically liable for a slip and fall accident that happens on their premises. They are only legally liable for a slip and fall if that accident occurred, at least in part, because of an unreasonably dangerous safety hazard that they knew or reasonably should have known about.
Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
Four Key Elements of a Slip & Fall Accident Claim in Fort Lauderdale
To prove liability in a slip and fall accident lawsuit, you must establish that the defendant’s improper conduct contributed to your injuries. Here are four specific elements that you should be prepared to prove as part of a slip and fall accident claim in Fort Lauderdale:
- Safety Hazard: You must assert the reason why your slip or trip and fall accident occurred. Proving liability requires demonstrating that the accident happened because of a safety hazard on the defendant’s premises.
- Knew or Should Have Known: You must also establish the defendant’s negligence in allowing that hazard to exist or persist. This requires proving that the business or property owner knew or should have known about the safety hazard.
- Causation: The safety hazard in question must have been the cause of your slip and fall accident. If you cannot establish causation between the unreasonably dangerous safety hazard and your fall, you will not be in a position to recover compensation.
- Actual Damages: To bring a slip and fall accident claim, you must prove that you suffered actual harm in the fall. If you’ve suffered no losses, then the property owner isn’t liable to compensate you. This is one of the reasons it is so important to seek medical attention and document all injuries, expenses, and the overall impact on your day-to-day life.
Slip and fall accident claims are complicated cases. You could face an aggressive defense from the business or property owner or their insurance company. A comprehensive investigation is critically important.
The first step to seeking fair compensation for a slip or trip and fall claim is to consult with a compassionate and committed legal team. Our team of Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyers will be able to guide you through this process and make sure that you are getting all the assistance and support that you need while we build a successful case.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Slip & Fall Accident in Fort Lauderdale?
A number of different parties could potentially be held legally liable for a slip and fall accident. It is important to be aware of Florida slip and fall laws in order to understand who should be held accountable.
In short, a premises liability claim is a civil tort that covers many situations involving negligence on the part of other parties. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a slip or fall, then you may be eligible for financial compensation from a negligent party.
Depending on where and how your fall happened, potentially liable parties in a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall claim may include:
- Retail stores, supermarkets & shopping centers
- Restaurants, bars & coffee shops
- Hotels, resorts & short-term rental hosts
- Residential landlords & property management companies
- Homeowners’ associations & condominium associations
- Maintenance, cleaning, or landscaping contractors
- Builders or construction companies responsible for unsafe conditions
- City, county, or other government entities responsible for public sidewalks or facilities (subject to special rules & deadlines)
As Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury claims, multiple parties may share culpability for the same slip and fall accident. You may even be found partially to blame for the accident. And if you are found to be more than 50% responsible, you may be barred from recovering compensation. It is always in your best interest to seek out legal advice.
Our experienced Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorneys will be able to investigate your case, identify all parties that may bear legal fault, and take action to put you in the best position to get financial compensation. Don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a no-obligation case evaluation at no cost to you.
How Do You Gather Evidence to Build a Slip & Fall Accident Case?
Without evidence, you will be in a tough position to get slip and fall accident compensation. There are several key stages of a legal investigation in a personal injury case. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, you should try to gather as much information as possible:
- Snap photos or video of the scene
- Get the contact details for eyewitnesses
- Save medical documentation of your injuries
- Keep all bills & receipts
- Start a journal detailing your day-to-day life, medical appointments, pain levels, etc.
- Request an incident report from the business or property owner
- Log all communications with insurance companies
- Obtain any video evidence from the property or nearby CCTV
- Consult medical & financial experts regarding your injuries & their impacts
As early as possible in this process, you should consult a Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident attorney. Our team will be able to help you initiate a thorough and complete investigation of the incident, gather and interpret evidence, and reach out to the appropriate experts within our trusted network.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover in a Slip & Fall Accident?
Following a serious slip and fall injury, you need compensation to pay your bills and support your loved ones. In Fort Lauderdale, plaintiffs in a premises liability case can seek compensation for out-of-pocket costs (economic damages) and intangible losses (non-economic damages). Unfortunately, defendants and insurers work aggressively to resolve slip and fall claims for as little as possible.
Know that you have the right to seek compensation for the full extent of your damages if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. You may be entitled to recover financial compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital bills & other health care costs
- Physical therapy
- Mental health counseling
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Pain & suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Physical scarring or disfigurement
- Long-term physical disability
- Wrongful death
A slip and fall injury attorney will help you build a solid, well-supported case to maximize your financial recovery after an unexpected accident. The attorneys at Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers have the skills and Real Experience necessary to obtain the support and compensation you and your family deserve. When you choose us, you choose steadfast champions, dedicated to restoring your dignity and hope.
Do I Need a Slip & Fall Attorney To Get Real Results?
You aren’t required to hire a lawyer after a fall, but having trusted legal help can make a real difference in the outcome of your case. Slip and fall claims are often fought hard by businesses, property owners, and insurance companies. They may dispute how the accident happened, downplay your injuries, or try to use Florida slip and fall laws and comparative negligence rules against you.
A Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorney can investigate, secure evidence, work with medical and financial experts, and handle all communication with insurers. Your attorney can also help you understand the value of your case so you’re not pressured into accepting any lowball settlement offers.
At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, you know exactly what you’re getting: trustworthy, caring, personalized representation. We’re honest about your options, prepare your slip or trip and fall lawsuit as if it may go to trial, and guide you with compassion from the very first moment we meet.
Call Our Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale Today
When you work with Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, you get a team of driven, experienced advocates who truly care about you and your loved ones. You’re the reason we do what we do, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards because you deserve that.
Negligent business and property owners in Florida must be held accountable when people are injured on their premises. Call 954-866-1111 or contact us online today for a FREE, no-commitment case assessment. Our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyers are available and ready to help you seek the Real Justice you deserve.
From our main office in Fort Lauderdale, we handle slip and fall accident claims in Broward County and surrounding areas in South Florida. We also have offices in Miami, Jacksonville, Starke, Nashville, and beyond. For more information, reach out to our dedicated team. We can help you take those next steps should you have a viable claim for compensation.