Serving all of Florida
Florida Slip and Fall Lawyer
I spent nearly two decades defending insurance companies in crash cases. Now I use everything I learned to fight for you.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
Main Office Miami · In person or by video, anywhere in Florida
Slipped and fell in a Florida store — do I have a case, and what do I have to prove?
You may. But Florida sets a specific bar. If you slipped on something spilled or dropped on the floor of a business (the law calls it a 'transitory foreign substance'), § 768.0755 requires you to show that the business knew about the danger, or that it was there long enough that they should have known and fixed it. Property owners owe their visitors a duty to keep the property reasonably safe and to warn them about hidden dangers.
Evidence is everything here: incident reports, security video, and the hazard itself. It disappears fast. That's why acting early matters.
You usually have 2 years to sue (§ 95.11(5)(a)). If you were partly at fault, your payment is cut by your share. If you were more than 50% at fault, you get nothing (§ 768.81).
The facts that matter
- Deadline to file
- 2 years from the fall (§ 95.11(5)(a))
- What you must prove
- Actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard (§ 768.0755)
- Fault rule
- You can get paid if you are 50% or less at fault
- What it costs
- Free case review · no fees or costs unless we recover for you
What they do
How insurance companies try to cut what they pay
‘You weren't watching’
They argue the hazard was 'open and obvious' or that you weren't paying attention, to shift fault to you.
The video disappears
Security video that shows the hazard gets recorded over, unless someone quickly demands that they keep it.
The quick, low offer
A fast settlement before there is a record of your injuries, and of what the store knew about the hazard.
Next steps
What to do next
Report it in writing
Tell the manager and ask for a written incident report; get a copy if you can.
Photograph the hazard
Capture the spill or condition, the area, and your injuries before anything is cleaned up.
Get names & witnesses
Collect the names of staff and anyone who saw the fall.
Get care & demand the video
See a doctor, and have the store's security video saved before it's recorded over.
Florida law
The rules that decide your claim
The knowledge rule (§ 768.0755)
‘Should have known’ is where these cases are won: how long the spill sat there, whether it was predictable (a rainy entrance, a leaking cooler), and whether anyone had walked the aisle.
Duty to invitees
Property owners must keep the property reasonably safe for people who are allowed to be there, and warn them about hidden dangers.
Evidence is perishable
Ask for the store’s inspection and cleaning logs too. They show how long the hazard sat there. That is how you prove the store should have known.
The 50% bar & 2-year deadline
If you were partly at fault, it cuts what you get. It doesn’t end the claim. But every month that passes makes the store’s ‘you weren’t looking’ argument easier to make and harder to answer.
Track record
Results from a lawyer who knows the other side
The firm has recovered real money for injured Floridians, including confidential settlements and settlements for the most the policy pays.
Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.See more results →
Client reviews
What clients say
“I had an accident in [****] and Attorney Galimidi represented me. Received excellent guidance during the duration of the case and the outcome of the case was as expected. I recommend Attorney Galimidi.”
— Michelle Gonzalez · Google“Simply the best of the best. So honest, and always reachable — he gives you all the advice and all the angles, then uses his knowledge for your best outcome.”
— Eden Alush · Google“Thanks to your expertise and dedication, we were able to reach a positive resolution. Your compassion, dedication, and passion to protect the best interests of your clients make you the best attorney with high ethical standards of justice and honesty.”
— Milena · Google“Mr. Galimidi took on my case after I totaled my car in an accident. He always got back to me the same day with answers and updates. I highly recommend him.”
— Jacqueline Earls · GoogleIndividual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Slip & Fall FAQ
What exactly do I have to prove?
That the business knew about the danger, or that it was there long enough that they should have known and fixed it (§ 768.0755).
There was no 'wet floor' sign — does that help?
It can support your case, but the absence of a sign alone isn't automatically enough; the knowledge rule still applies.
The store has video — can I get it?
Often, only if it's saved quickly. If I send a demand right away, it can stop the store's routine deletion before the key footage is lost.
They say it was partly my fault.
That doesn't end your claim. Your payment is cut by your share of the blame. If you're more than 50% at fault, you get nothing.
How long do I have to file?
Generally 2 years from the date of the fall (§ 95.11(5)(a)).
Does a pre-existing condition hurt my case?
Not by itself. If the crash made an old injury or condition worse, Florida law says the person who caused the crash owes you for that. What does hurt a case is hiding the old injury. Be honest with your lawyer and your doctors.
Tell me what happened. The case review is free.
You'll talk to me, a senior attorney who spent nearly two decades working for the insurance companies. Not a case manager. No fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Call 786-442-2873