Premises Liability Attorney — Stuart, Martin County & Treasure Coast
Slip & Fall Lawyer in Stuart & Martin County
Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises safe. When they fail and you are injured, Juan Cordero Lawyers holds them accountable. Free consultation — no fees unless we win.
Important: Florida HB 837 (effective March 24, 2023) reduced the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims — including slip and fall — from 4 years to 2 years. Under Florida Statute §768.0755, businesses must protect invitees from dangerous conditions they knew about or should have known about through regular inspections. Do not wait — contact us immediately.
Premises Liability Cases We Handle
Slip and fall accidents happen every day in grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, shopping malls, parking lots, and public spaces throughout Martin County, St. Lucie County, and the Treasure Coast. Florida law requires property owners to maintain safe conditions and warn visitors of known hazards. When they don't, we make them pay.
- Wet floor and liquid spill accidents — grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants
- Uneven pavement, cracked sidewalks, and pothole falls
- Inadequate lighting in parking lots, stairwells, and hallways
- Defective stairs, loose railings, and escalator accidents
- Loose mats, rugs, or flooring in entryways and aisles
- Hotel, resort, and pool area accidents
- Apartment complex and rental property hazards
- Construction site and workplace falls
- Shopping mall and retail store falls (Publix, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes)
- Elevator and escalator accidents
The Legal Standard: Business Invitee vs. Trespasser
Under Florida premises liability law, the duty of care owed to an injured person depends on their status on the property. The two most common categories are a Business Invitee and a Trespasser — and the difference is critical to your case.
Business Invitee (Highest Duty of Care)
If you were injured at a store, restaurant, hotel, shopping center, or any business open to the public while there for its intended purpose, you are a Business Invitee. The property owner owes you the highest standard of care — they must do everything reasonable to keep the premises free from known dangers and hazards, or hazards they should have discovered through regular safety inspections. For example: if a Publix freezer has been leaking water that slowly puddles in an aisle and you slip on it, the store is liable because a reasonable owner conducting periodic safety checks would have found and fixed it.
Trespasser (Minimal Duty of Care)
A trespasser is someone on the property without permission or legitimate purpose. Property owners owe little to no duty of care to trespassers. Identifying your correct status is one of the first things our attorneys do — it determines the entire legal strategy for your case.
What to Do After a Slip & Fall
We know accidents can be embarrassing and that you may initially feel you are not seriously injured. Unfortunately, that is exactly when people make mistakes that hurt their case. Here is what you should do immediately:
- 1Get immediate medical attention — even if you feel fine. Neurological injuries and internal damage can appear hours later.
- 2Ask for a manager, file an incident report, and get a copy for your records.
- 3Use your phone to photograph the hazard, the scene, and your injuries before anything is cleaned up.
- 4Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- 5Do not give a recorded statement to the property owner's insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
- 6Call Juan Cordero Lawyers immediately — evidence disappears fast and the 2-year clock has already started.
What You Can Recover
Florida law allows slip and fall victims to recover full compensation for all losses — not just medical bills. Our attorneys fight for every dollar you are entitled to.
Medical Expenses
All past, present, and future medical bills — emergency room, surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and long-term care. We accurately estimate future costs so you never come up short.
Lost Wages & Earning Capacity
Income lost during recovery and reduced earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job — all the way to retirement.
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the impact on your daily life and relationships. This compensation can far exceed what you receive for medical expenses alone.
Disability & Disfigurement
Permanent injuries that affect your mobility, appearance, or independence — including hip fractures, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Wrongful Death
Families who lose a loved one due to a dangerous property condition may file a wrongful death claim. Florida wrongful death law allows the estate's personal representative to pursue compensation for surviving family members.
Punitive Damages
When a property owner knowingly ignored a dangerous condition or acted in a particularly outrageous manner, courts may award additional punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer.
How We Build Your Slip & Fall Case
Locate Coverage & Identify Defendants
We identify all responsible parties and locate every applicable insurance policy — property owner, management company, and any third-party contractors.
Gather & Preserve Evidence
We secure photos, incident reports, surveillance footage, maintenance records, and inspection logs before they disappear. Proving the owner knew or should have known about the hazard is critical under Florida law.
Document Your Injuries
We work with your doctors to fully document your injuries, connect them directly to the fall, and accurately project future medical costs.
Negotiate or Take It to Trial
We have ex-Senior Litigation Insurance Adjusters on staff — we know every tactic insurers use to reduce your claim. We demand full compensation and go to trial if they refuse.
The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend
For an insurance company, your claim is an expense. Their adjusters are professional negotiators whose job is to reduce the value of your claim or deny it altogether. At Juan Cordero Lawyers, we have ex-Senior Litigation Insurance Adjusters on staff. We know every trick they use — and we use that knowledge to get you what you deserve, or get a jury to award it to you at trial.
Injured in a Slip & Fall? Call Now.
Evidence disappears fast and Florida's 2-year clock starts the day you are injured. Report the incident, seek medical care, and call us immediately. No fees unless we win.