Slip & Fall Accident Attorney in Citrus County, FL

When a slip and fall accident disrupts your life in Citrus County, you need legal advocates who understand both Florida’s complex premises liability laws and the unique challenges facing property accident victims in our Nature Coast community. At Lowman Law Firm, our Citrus County slip and fall accident attorneys have dedicated over two decades to holding negligent property owners accountable and securing maximum compensation for clients injured by dangerous conditions on someone else’s property.

Operating from our Crystal River office at 600 SE US Hwy 19 and our Inverness office at 508 W Main St, we serve slip and fall accident victims throughout the Nature Coast region. With slip and fall accidents accounting for 26% of all workplace injuries in Florida in 2024 and countless more occurring in retail establishments, restaurants, and public spaces, understanding your rights after being injured on someone else’s property becomes essential for your recovery.

Understanding Slip and Fall Accidents in Florida

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of serious traumatic injuries in Florida, ranking just behind car accidents in frequency. These incidents can happen anywhere—from grocery stores and restaurants to hotels, shopping centers, and private properties throughout Citrus County. While some falls may seem minor, they often result in significant injuries including broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and soft tissue damage that can have lasting effects on victims’ lives.

Florida’s premises liability laws hold property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their premises and warning visitors of potential hazards. Under Florida law, property owners have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition for visitors. This duty extends to regular inspection, prompt repair of dangerous conditions, and adequate warning of hazards that cannot be immediately fixed.

Florida’s Transitory Substance Act and Recent Law Changes

Florida Statute § 768.0755, known as the Transitory Substance Act, governs liability in slip and fall cases involving transitory foreign substances like spills, debris, or liquids on business premises. This law requires injured parties to prove that the business had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition that caused their fall.

Constructive Notice can be established by showing that the dangerous condition existed for a sufficient length of time that the business should have discovered it through reasonable inspection and maintenance procedures. For example, if a spill has been on the floor long enough that regular cleaning schedules should have identified and addressed it, constructive notice may be proven.

Recent changes to Florida’s comparative fault system have made slip and fall cases more challenging, but with proper legal representation, victims can still recover fair compensation. Our attorneys stay current with all legal developments affecting premises liability cases to provide the most effective representation possible.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents in Citrus County

Through our representation of slip and fall accident victims, we’ve identified several locations where these accidents commonly occur throughout Citrus County:

Retail Establishments

Grocery stores, department stores, and shopping centers see frequent slip and fall accidents due to spills, wet floors from cleaning, merchandise left in aisles, and poor lighting. Major retailers like Walmart, Publix, and local businesses must maintain safe conditions for customers.

Restaurants and Food Service

Restaurant floors can become hazardous from spilled beverages, food debris, grease, and frequent mopping. Kitchen areas, dining rooms, and restrooms present particular risks for both customers and employees.

Hotels and Lodging

Citrus County’s tourism industry creates numerous opportunities for slip and fall accidents in hotels, motels, and vacation rentals. Pool areas, lobbies, bathrooms, and outdoor walkways frequently become slippery from water, cleaning products, or weather conditions.

Medical Facilities

Hospitals, clinics, and medical offices must maintain safe conditions for patients who may already have mobility issues. Wet floors, poor lighting, and obstacles in walkways can create dangerous situations for vulnerable individuals.

Public Properties

Government buildings, parks, sidewalks, and public facilities can harbor slip and fall hazards from inadequate maintenance, poor design, or weather-related conditions. These cases may involve different legal procedures when government entities are responsible.

Private Residences

Homeowners and landlords have duties to maintain safe conditions for guests, tenants, and service providers. Defective stairs, inadequate lighting, and unmaintained walkways can lead to serious accidents on residential properties.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Understanding the most frequent causes of slip and fall accidents helps identify liability and build stronger legal cases.

Wet and Slippery Surfaces

Spilled liquids, recently mopped floors, rainwater tracked indoors, and leaking pipes create slippery conditions that can cause falls. Property owners must clean spills promptly and place adequate warning signs when floors are wet.

Uneven Surfaces and Trip Hazards

Cracked sidewalks, torn carpeting, loose floorboards, raised thresholds, and potholes create trip hazards that can cause serious falls. Regular maintenance and prompt repairs are essential for preventing these accidents.

Poor Lighting

Inadequate lighting in stairways, parking lots, hallways, and entrances prevents visitors from seeing hazards clearly. Property owners must provide sufficient illumination in all areas where people are expected to walk.

Defective Stairs and Handrails

Broken steps, loose handrails, inconsistent step heights, and inadequate tread depth create dangerous conditions on stairs. Building codes require specific safety features that must be maintained properly.

Weather-Related Hazards

Rain, humidity, and seasonal conditions can create slippery surfaces on outdoor walkways, parking lots, and building entrances. Property owners must take reasonable steps to address weather-related hazards.

Debris and Obstacles

Merchandise, cleaning equipment, electrical cords, and other objects left in walkways create trip hazards. Everything you need to know about slip and fall prevention includes maintaining clear, unobstructed pathways.

Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle

Grocery Store Accidents

Supermarkets and grocery stores must maintain clean, dry floors and clear aisles. We handle cases involving spilled liquids, produce on floors, wet surfaces near refrigerated cases, and inadequate cleanup procedures.

Restaurant Slip and Falls

Dining establishments face unique challenges with food spills, grease, frequent floor cleaning, and high customer traffic. Kitchen accidents involving employees may also fall under workers’ compensation law.

Retail Store Accidents

Department stores, clothing retailers, and specialty shops must keep floors clear and safe. Cases often involve merchandise displays, spills in fitting rooms, and inadequate maintenance in high-traffic areas.

Hotel and Resort Claims

Hospitality businesses must maintain safe conditions in guest rooms, pools, lobbies, restaurants, and outdoor areas. Tourist-focused businesses in Citrus County face particular scrutiny regarding safety conditions.

Medical Facility Falls

Hospitals, clinics, and medical offices have heightened duties due to patients’ potential mobility limitations. These cases often involve more complex damages due to existing medical conditions.

Workplace Slip and Falls

While many workplace falls involve workers’ compensation, third-party liability may exist when dangerous conditions are created by contractors, vendors, or property defects beyond the employer’s control.

Common Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor bruises to life-threatening trauma. The severity often depends on the circumstances of the fall, the victim’s age and health, and the surface onto which they fall.

Fractures and Broken Bones

Hip fractures, wrist fractures, ankle breaks, and compression fractures of the spine are extremely common in slip and fall accidents. Older adults face particular risks for hip fractures, which can be life-threatening and require extensive rehabilitation.

Head and Brain Injuries

When victims strike their heads during falls, traumatic brain injuries can occur even without loss of consciousness. Concussions, brain bleeding, and cognitive impairment may result from seemingly minor head impacts.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Falls can damage the spinal cord, potentially causing partial or complete paralysis. These catastrophic injuries require immediate medical attention and long-term specialized care.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and muscle damage are common in slip and fall accidents. While these may seem minor initially, they can cause chronic pain and mobility issues that persist for months or years.

Cuts and Lacerations

Broken glass, sharp edges, or rough surfaces can cause serious cuts during falls. Deep lacerations may require surgery and can leave permanent scarring.

Psychological Trauma

The emotional impact of a serious fall can cause lasting anxiety, fear of falling again, and depression related to physical limitations. Three ways to prevent deadly falls for seniors highlights the particular risks facing older adults.

Proving Liability in Florida Slip and Fall Cases

Successfully recovering compensation in a slip and fall case requires proving several legal elements under Florida premises liability law.

Duty of Care

Property owners owe different levels of care depending on the visitor’s legal status. Business customers (invitees) receive the highest level of protection, while social guests (licensees) and trespassers receive varying degrees of protection under the law.

Breach of Duty

We must show that the property owner failed to meet their duty by creating the dangerous condition, failing to repair a known hazard, or failing to warn visitors of dangers they should have known about through reasonable inspection.

Causation

The dangerous condition must be the direct cause of the accident and resulting injuries. This requires showing that the fall would not have occurred but for the property owner’s negligence.

Notice Requirements

Under Florida’s Transitory Substance Act, we must prove that the property owner had actual knowledge of the hazard or should have known about it through reasonable inspection procedures. What you must prove in a Florida slip and fall accident case explains these requirements in detail.

Damages

Victims must have suffered actual damages that can be compensated financially, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to their injuries.

Compensation Available in Slip and Fall Cases

Slip and fall accident victims in Citrus County may recover comprehensive compensation for their injuries and losses, though the average settlement varies widely based on case specifics. Recent data shows the average settlement for slip and fall cases in Florida was $30,000 in 2024, though severe cases often result in much higher awards.

Economic Damages

• Medical Expenses: Emergency treatment, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
• Lost Income: Wages lost during recovery and reduced earning capacity
• Future Medical Care: Ongoing treatment, therapy, assistive devices, and home modifications
• Property Damage: Damaged clothing, personal items, or assistive devices
• Transportation Costs: Travel to medical appointments and alternative transportation needs

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and discomfort from injuries
• Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma
• Loss of Enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities and hobbies
• Loss of Consortium: Impact on relationships with family members
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Permanent changes to appearance

Immediate Steps After a Slip and Fall Accident

The actions taken immediately after a slip and fall accident can significantly impact both your health and your legal rights.

1. Get Medical Attention: Seek immediate medical care even if injuries seem minor
2. Report the Accident: Notify the property owner, manager, or business immediately
3. Document Everything: Take photos of the accident scene, hazardous conditions, and your injuries
4. Gather Information: Collect contact information from witnesses and ask for a copy of any incident report
5. Preserve Evidence: Keep the clothing and shoes you were wearing during the accident
6. Don’t Admit Fault: Stick to facts and avoid speculating about the cause
7. Follow Medical Advice: Attend all appointments and follow treatment recommendations
8. Contact Our Office: Call (352) 651-1111 or (352) 617-7777 before speaking with insurance companies

Learn more about slip and fall accident procedures and your legal rights under Florida law.

Insurance Company Tactics in Slip and Fall Cases

Property owners’ insurance companies often employ various tactics to minimize or deny slip and fall claims, making legal representation essential for protecting your rights.

Blaming the Victim

Insurance adjusters frequently argue that victims were distracted, wearing inappropriate footwear, or otherwise responsible for their own accidents. These victim-blaming tactics require strong evidence and legal expertise to counter effectively.

Denying Notice

Insurance companies often claim that property owners had no knowledge of the dangerous condition that caused the accident. Proving constructive notice requires thorough investigation and understanding of maintenance procedures.

Minimizing Injuries

Adjusters may argue that injuries are minor, pre-existing, or unrelated to the fall. Comprehensive medical documentation and expert testimony may be necessary to establish the full extent of accident-related injuries.

Quick Settlement Offers

Insurance companies often make low settlement offers before victims fully understand their injuries or rights. The biggest slip and fall cases and the awards demonstrates the potential value of properly litigated cases.

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