If you’re searching for a trusted Tampa slip and fall accident lawyer, you’re not alone. Slip and fall accidents are common and often cause serious injuries, including broken bones or head injuries. The CDC reports that every year, injuries from falls send 3 million older Americans to hospital emergency departments, and more than 800,000 are hospitalized.
Many slip and fall injuries happen because property owners fail to meet their legal duty to keep areas safe. In Florida, the law holds negligent owners and managers liable through premises liability claims. This applies when they fail to maintain their property or neglect to warn visitors about known dangers.
If you or a loved one were injured in a slip and fall accident, you may have legal rights. You could hold the negligent party accountable and seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain, and other losses. The slip and fall lawyers at Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys have helped hundreds of victims across Florida. We want to help you pursue justice and recover the financial compensation you deserve.
What Causes Slip and Fall Accidents in Tampa?
A slip and fall accident occurs when you slip or trip and fall when you are walking. This can happen almost anywhere and at any time, including while you are in a store or office building, on a sidewalk, in a parking lot, or even at home.
Sometimes people fall due to illness or carelessness. However, most slip and fall accidents happen because of a property owner’s negligence. Many owners fail to keep their property safe and allow hazardous conditions to remain.
Some of the most common slip-and-fall hazards we see in Tampa include:
- Spilled liquid — Liquid spills in grocery stores, restaurants, or bars can create slippery conditions if staff don’t clean them up quickly. These hazards put customers at risk of slipping and falling.
- Uneven, cracked, or chipped pavement — Poorly maintained concrete or asphalt in parking lots, sidewalks, steps, and walkways can easily cause someone to fall.
- Water on walkways — Water accumulated from rain or splashed around a pool can be a slipping hazard.
- Poorly maintained handrails or stairs — Broken steps and broken, loose, or missing handrails create a hazardous situation that could lead to slips and falls.
- Code violations — Owners and managers of places of business are legally required to conform to industrial safety standards or building codes. When they do not, they create a dangerous condition.
- Poor lighting — When lighting is inadequate inside or around places of business, people are more likely to fall.
Why Choose Dennis Hernandez after a Slip and Fall Accident in Tampa
Retaining a lawyer can truly change the outcome as you seek financial recovery after a slip and fall accident in Tampa. You should have the support of a seasoned attorney who sincerely prioritizes you and what lies ahead, along with a firm that sees you as an individual, not just another file. Dennis Hernandez is ready to fight.
Below are several important reasons to think about partnering with our team:
- We’ve advocated for Tampa accident victims and their families since we opened our doors in 1996.
- We dedicate ourselves to serving every client with empathy, integrity, and respect.
- Our Tampa personal injury attorneys don’t collect a fee unless we win your slip and fall claim.
- Our slip and fall outcomes aren’t by chance, with millions recovered for people injured in falls like yours.
- We honor our Florida-born roots by staying closely connected to the local community.
- Client reviews and testimonials reflect the strong results and service provided by our award-winning lawyers.
- We deliver tailored, client-focused representation for victims and families during some of life’s hardest moments.
While you navigate this challenging period, our Tampa slip and fall accident lawyers will stand with you from start to finish. Reach out to our office to discuss your situation, understand your options, and learn the meaningful advantages of having Dennis Hernandez advocating on your behalf.
How Do I Win a Slip and Fall Claim in Tampa, Florida?
Property owners and managers have a legal duty to correct unsafe conditions on their property. They must keep visitors, customers, and guests reasonably safe. When they know—or should know—about a hazard and fail to fix it, they’re responsible for the consequences. If you’re injured due to that negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation. This can include medical costs, lost income, and other related losses.
To win your claim, your slip and fall injury lawyer must prove:
- Duty and breach of duty. The owner or manager had a legal duty to make the premises safe for you and failed to do so.
- Injury and damages. You suffered an injury after slipping or tripping due to the property owner or manager’s failure to maintain a safe area. As a result, you’ve faced expenses and losses related to that injury.
What Kinds of Financial Recovery Can I Pursue if I’ve Had a Slip-and-Fall Accident on Another Person’s Property in Tampa, Florida?
People injured in slip-and-fall accidents may pursue compensation by filing an insurance claim or bringing a personal injury lawsuit. In Florida, compensatory damages are generally divided into two groups: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are intended to restore you financially after a fall. Non-economic damages address the personal, harder-to-measure effects of the incident.
With a strong claim, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- The cost of reasonably necessary future medical care
- Rehabilitation services and therapy
- Diminished earning ability
- Lost income
- Disability-related losses
- Emotional anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Disruption and inconvenience
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Funeral and burial costs if the fall results in death
A property owner may try to minimize the severity of what happened and the real impact your injuries have had on your day-to-day life. Our Orlando, Florida slip-and-fall lawyers won’t allow them to dictate the outcome. We will conduct a detailed investigation, secure key evidence, and work with trusted expert witnesses to strengthen your case.
That level of preparation helps clarify what caused your fall, why it occurred, and how your injuries are likely to affect your future. With that foundation, we can present a compelling claim that pushes the property owner and their insurer toward serious negotiations. If the insurance company keeps undervaluing your case, our accomplished Florida trial attorneys will be fully prepared to take your case to court.
How Much Compensation Can I Get for a Slip and Fall Claim in Florida?
The Dennis Hernandez Tampa slip and fall accident lawyers can help you seek substantial compensation for your injury-related losses and expenses. These losses and expenses may include compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including current and future expenses for emergency treatment, diagnostic tests, hospitalizations, surgery and post-operative care, rehabilitative services, travel to and from medical appointments, medication, and assistive devices.
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity, including current and future income lost because your injury prevents you from doing your usual work or keeping your usual schedule.
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional problems, stress, trauma, and a decreased ability to enjoy life.
- Other damages recoverable under Florida law.
What Happens if the Florida Property Owner Blames Me for My Slip and Fall?
The property owner may attempt to claim that you caused or helped cause your slip and fall injuries. They could argue you weren’t watching where you were going or that the dangerous condition was open and obvious, which may make it harder to pursue and win a damages claim.
If the owner points the finger at you, taking action early matters. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence standard with a 51 percent cutoff, which means:
- You cannot collect compensation for a slip and fall if you are more than 50 percent responsible for what happened.
- You may still obtain a reduced award if you share some of the fault.
Your damages are decreased in proportion to your percentage of responsibility for the fall. If you’re found 50 percent at fault, you can recover 50 percent of the value of your injury claim. For example, you might receive $50,000 if your case is valued at $100,000.
At Dennis Hernandez, we understand these blame-shifting strategies and know how to defend your rights. Reach out to us, and we’ll work to maximize the compensation you deserve.
How Long Will I Have to File a Florida Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
In Florida, the slip and fall statute of limitations generally gives you two years to file a lawsuit. This timeframe covers slip-and-fall incidents in Tampa that lead to personal injury or wrongful death. After the statute of limitations runs out, you typically lose the right to pursue legal action or seek compensation for your injuries, expenses, losses, and pain and suffering.
Contact Experienced Tampa Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys
At Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys, our slip and fall lawyers focus on getting you full and fair compensation for your injuries. We start by collecting all the evidence needed to prove the property owner’s negligence. We also document the full extent of your financial, physical, and emotional damages. Our team negotiates assertively with insurance companies and defense attorneys on your behalf. We support you through every stage of the process, including trial preparation if needed.
Other lawyers do everything they can to avoid going to trial, but we never back down. We use our extensive trial experience to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 813.250.0000 or fill out the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website to get started on your case.
