Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer in Tampa, FL

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced Tampa slip and fall lawyers at Swope, Rodante P.A. can help you get the maximum compensation you deserve.

In Florida, property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and free of hazards that could cause visitors to slip, trip, and fall. When they fail to uphold this duty through negligence, innocent victims can suffer severe, life-altering injuries through no fault of their own.

Don’t let negligent property owners ignore accountability. Our skilled premises liability attorneys are here to advise you of your rights and options after a slip and fall accident in Tampa or anywhere in Florida. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Navigate This Page

• Why Choose Our Tampa Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys?
• Types of Slip & Fall Cases We Handle
• Common Injuries from Slip & Fall Accidents
• Damages Available for Slip & Fall Injuries
• Proving Fault in a Slip & Fall Case
• Property Owner Duties in Florida
• What to Do After a Slip & Fall Accident
• Typical Compensation in Slip & Fall Cases
• What is the Average Slip & Fall Settlement Amount?
• How Much Do Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys’ Fees Cost?
• Time Limit to File a Slip & Fall Lawsuit in Florida
• Contact Our Tampa Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys

Why Choose Our Tampa Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys?

• Proven Track Record: Our legal team has recovered millions of dollars for clients in successful slip and fall and premises liability settlements and verdicts. We have extensive experience taking on property owners, businesses, insurance companies and their legal teams.
• Respected in the Community: As an established Tampa personal injury law firm, we have built a reputation for aggressive advocacy, legal excellence and client satisfaction over decades of practicing in Florida.
• Contingency Fee Practice: You pay no upfront costs or attorney fees until we obtain a settlement or jury award for you. Our fees are based on a percentage of your recovery, so there is no risk in letting us fight for you.
• Personal Service: We keep our caseload manageable to give each client the focused attention their case deserves. Your slip and fall claim will be given the care and commitment it needs to maximize your outcome.

Types of Slip & Fall Cases We Handle

Slip and fall accidents can be caused by countless unsafe conditions on any type of property. At Swope, Rodante P.A., our premises liability practice handles all types of slip, trip and fall cases, including those involving:

• Wet, slippery floors: From puddled water and spilled liquids to recently waxed floors, dangerous walking surfaces can easily lead to falls resulting in broken bones, head and neck injuries, hip fractures and more.
• Uneven flooring or surfaces: Cracked sidewalks, potholes, excessive slopes, loose mats and torn carpeting can all create dangerous tripping hazards.
• Poor lighting: Inadequate illumination makes it extremely difficult for visitors to see and avoid potential slip and trip hazards.
• Lack of railings or banisters: Missing or broken handrails on staircases and ramps leave nothing for visitors to grab in the event of a fall.
• Obstructed walkways: Debris, clutter and obstacles in aisles and on floors can easily cause slip and trip accidents, especially in dimly lit areas.
• Broken or defective staircases: Crumbling steps with no coverings can give way, and missing steps or uneven platforms can lead to falls from elevation.

No matter what type of unsafe property conditions caused your slip and fall injuries, our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to investigate, build a strong case, and fight to hold the negligent parties fully accountable.

Common Injuries from Slip & Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents often result in serious injuries that can have lasting consequences for the victim’s quality of life, ability to work and perform daily activities, and overall wellbeing. Some of the most common injuries we see include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries like hemorrhages, contusions and coup-contrecoup injuries. TBIs can cause cognitive difficulties, sensory impairments, mobility issues, personality changes and more.
• Spinal cord injuries: When the spinal cord is damaged, either partially or completely, it can result in paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of sensation and other devastating and permanent effects below the injury site.
• Broken bones and fractures: From wrist fractures sustained in a fall to broken hips that frequently occur in nursing home falls, broken bones require extensive treatment, rehabilitation and time away from work.
• Shoulder, knee and other joint injuries: Serious and permanent joint damage can occur from the impact of a hard fall, limiting mobility and require surgery and therapy.
• Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains and damage to tendons and ligaments in the back, neck and limbs are extremely painful and may require ongoing treatment and accommodation.

Some slip and fall accident injuries may initially seem minor, only to progressively worsen and disrupt the victim’s life over time. It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention and legal guidance if you’ve been injured in a fall on someone else’s property.

Damages Available for Slip & Fall Injuries

Successfully pursuing a premises liability claim allows you to recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages caused by your slip and fall injuries. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, our Tampa slip & fall attorneys may be able to recover damages for:

• Past and future medical expenses: This includes costs of emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, medication, assistive devices, rehabilitation and any anticipated future care needs.
• Lost income and wages: You can recover earnings and wages lost from being unable to work during recovery, as well as compensation for diminished future earning capacity if your injuries result in a disability.
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain from your injuries, emotional distress and mental anguish are compensable as non-economic damages.
• Disability or disfigurement: Permanent disabilities or bodily disfigurements that permanently impact your quality of life can lead to significant damage awards.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: When disabling injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, activities and experiences you previously enjoyed, you may be entitled to this form of non-economic damage.
• Punitive damages: In cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct that demonstrates a complete disregard for public safety, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior

Proving Fault in a Slip & Fall Case

To recover compensation in a premises liability claim, you must be able to prove that the property owner or occupier was negligent in allowing the dangerous condition to exist. This means establishing:

1. Duty of care: The owner/occupier owed you a duty to keep the property reasonably safe and free of hazards
2. Breach of duty: Through action or inaction, the owner/occupier failed to fulfill this duty of care
3. Causation: This breach of duty directly caused or contributed to the slip and fall accident
4. Damages: You suffered quantifiable harm, losses and damages as a result of your injuries

Gathering proof to meet these elements requires a prompt investigation and preservation of evidence from the accident scene. Our skilled premises liability lawyers know exactly what to look for and how to build a strong case that meets the legal standards.

Property Owner Duties in Florida

The specific duty of care owed by a property owner depends on the status of the visitor at the time of the slip and fall accident:

• Invitee: This includes customers, patrons and others with the owner’s express or implied permission to be on the premises for business purposes. Owners must routinely inspect for hazards, correct or warn of dangers, and ensure reasonable safety for invitees.
• Licensee: Social guests and others on the property for their own purposes have permission but no business relationship. Owners must warn of known hazards but have less of a duty to inspect.
• Trespasser: Those without any permission or right to be present are owed minimal duties, except for dangers willfully created to cause harm.

Establishing which category of visitor you were and what duty was owed by the owner will be a key factor in proving fault and financial liability for your slip and fall injuries.

What to Do After a Slip & Fall Accident

Take these steps immediately after a slip and fall on someone else’s property to protect your rights and interests down the road. Here’s what to do:

1. Report the incident: Notify the property owner or manager of what occurred and ask them to document the incident in an official report. Request a copy for your records.
2. Seek medical attention: Even if you don’t think your injuries are serious, get checked out by a doctor. Internal injuries or delayed symptoms may not manifest initially.
3. Document the hazard: Take photos and/or videos showing the dangerous condition that caused your fall, such as spilled liquids, torn carpeting, poor lighting, lack of handrails, etc.
4. Get witness contacts: Ask any bystanders who saw your fall for their names and phone numbers to serve as witnesses.
5. Avoid discussing fault: Don’t admit any blame, speculate on what happened, or provide any statements to the property owner or their insurance company before speaking to a lawyer.
6. Contact an attorney: Having skilled legal representation from the start can ensure all evidence is properly preserved and the right steps are followed to protect your claim.

Typical Compensation in Slip & Fall Cases

How much compensation you may be able to recover will depend on the specific circumstances of your slip and fall accident, including:

• The severity and permanence of your injuries
• The amount of your current and future medical costs
• Your lost income, wages, and earning capacity
• The impact on your quality of life and daily activities
• The degree of negligence or recklessness on the part of the property owner
• The available insurance policy limits of the liable parties

No two slip and fall cases are alike, which is why it’s impossible to provide an accurate average settlement amount. Rest assured, our attorneys will account for every possible damage you’ve suffered to maximize your financial recovery.

What is the Average Slip & Fall Settlement Amount?

Slip and fall settlement amounts can range greatly, from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on factors like:

• The severity of injuries (more severe injuries mean higher settlements)
• Age of the victim (younger victims may recover more for lost future earnings)
• Liability issues (shared fault may reduce compensation amounts)
• Insurance policy limits for the property owner
• Challenges with proving negligence by the defense

While data shows the average slip and fall settlement is somewhere around $30,000, this amount is essentially meaningless in evaluating your specific case value. An experienced Tampa premises liability attorney can assess the applicable factors and calculate a fair settlement range to pursue.

How Much Do Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys’ Fees Cost?

Don’t let the prospect of legal fees discourage you from taking action after being injured in a slip and fall accident. At Swope, Rodante P.A., we handle all personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis.

With a contingency fee arrangement, there are:

• No upfront costs: You pay nothing out of pocket to hire our firm.
• No ongoing fees: We invest our own money into developing your case.
• Fees from your recovery: Our fees are simply a pre-agreed percentage of what we recover for you.
• No fees if no recovery: If we do not obtain compensation for you, you pay no fees.

This fee structure aligns our interests and ensures you have access to top-tier legal representation with no financial risk on your part.

Time Limit to File a Slip & Fall Lawsuit in Florida

Like other personal injury claims, slip and fall lawsuits in Florida are subject to a strict statute of limitations. Under Florida Statutes section 95.11, you generally have 4 years from the date of the incident to file your premises liability lawsuit against the property owner.

While 4 years may seem like a long time, it’s critical to get the legal process started as soon as possible. The sooner we can investigate the accident and collect important evidence, the stronger your case will be. Delaying can allow evidence to disappear and witness memories to fade.

Let our Tampa slip and fall accident lawyers get to work right away to avoid missing any crucial deadlines and jeopardizing your ability to recover just compensation.

Contact Our Tampa Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident caused by a dangerous property condition, don’t wait to take legal action. Florida’s premises liability laws can be complicated, but the knowledgeable Tampa slip and fall lawyers at Swope, Rodante P.A. can guide you through the process and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Contact us today by calling (813) 273-0017 or by filling out our contact form. We’re pleased to offer a free, no-obligation consultation to review your case and explain your legal options moving forward.