I used to defend stores, restaurants, and property owners in fall cases.Now I represent the people who get hurt.
Fall cases are some of the hardest to win in Florida, and businesses know it. Their first answer is usually “we didn’t know it was there.”
I used to help them say it. Now I know how to prove they should have.
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The things people ask first.
You can recover if you are 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share. Fla. Stat. § 768.81
No fees or costs unless we win. Your consultation is free.
In a business, if you slip on a substance like a spill, you must prove the business actually knew about it, or that it was there long enough that they should have, or that it happened regularly. Fla. Stat. § 768.0755
Broken pavement, loose mats, uneven floors, and poor lighting are judged on whether the owner kept the property reasonably safe. Trip and fall vs. slip and fall
Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. Fla. Stat. § 768.81
Most negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years. Fla. Stat. § 95.11
I know the knowledge defense. Florida makes you prove the business knew or should have known about the hazard. Defense lawyers win by attacking that one element. I go straight at it: cleaning logs, inspection schedules, prior incidents, employee statements, and video. Proving knowledge is what turns a denied claim into a paid one.
I know the video disappears. Many stores record over footage within days. I demand it be preserved immediately, before the best evidence in your case is gone.
I know the “open and obvious” argument. It’s a standard defense, and it doesn’t always hold. I know when it works and when it doesn’t, so it doesn’t scare you off a valid claim.
I find every policy. The store, the property owner, the landlord, a property management company, a cleaning or maintenance contractor. Every policy found is more money available to you.
I handle your case personally. Not a case manager. You call or text, I answer.
Steps that protect your claim.
Report it to a manager and ask for a copy of the incident report.
Photograph the hazard, the area, and your shoes before anything is cleaned up.
Get names and numbers of witnesses and employees.
Note any cameras in the area.
Get medical care right away.
Don’t give a recorded statement to the store’s insurer. Call me first.
My office is on North Dale Mabry in Carrollwood. You don’t have to come to me. I’ll meet you at the office, at your home, or at the hospital. Most clients handle everything by phone, text, and email.
Bring what you have: photos, the exchange form, insurance letters, medical bills. It doesn’t need to be organized. That’s my job.
Call or text me at (813) 547-4707.
What your claim can include
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No. Knowledge can be proven through how long the spill was there, cleaning records, or prior incidents.
Fast. Video is often recorded over within days.
That may reduce your recovery, but it doesn’t automatically end your claim. Call me for an honest take.
Possibly. Homeowner’s insurance often covers falls. I can review it.
Nothing unless we win. My fee and case costs come out of the recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing.
Every case is handled by me. Not assistants, case managers, or call centers.
Written by Jacob Gordon, Florida Bar No. 125004 · Updated October 2026