Slip, trip, and fall accidents happen every day in Miami — in grocery stores, parking lots, construction sites, apartment buildings, and hotels. These accidents are not minor inconveniences. Slip and fall injuries account for nearly one in seven accidental deaths in the United States, a rate comparable to car accidents.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident that was someone else's fault, Florida law entitles you to compensation for all of your losses — not just your medical bills.

Slip and fall accidents happen in many different ways. Some of the most common include:

• Slipping on a wet floor in a grocery store or restaurant
• Falling on an oily or slippery surface in a parking lot
• Tripping on an item left on the floor in a shopping center
• A stairwell railing that collapses while you are using it
• Falling from scaffolding at a construction site
• Slipping on an uneven or broken sidewalk

The key steps after any slip and fall: document how the accident happened, photograph the hazard, get the names of witnesses, and report the incident to the property owner or manager immediately. These steps protect your right to compensation.

To recover compensation, you need to identify who was responsible and the legal basis for your claim. Most slip and fall victims pursue compensation under one of two systems:

If you were injured on the job, workers' compensation may apply. The advantage is that you do not need to prove your employer was at fault. The limitation is that workers' compensation does not cover pain and suffering damages. Not all workplace accidents fall under workers' compensation rules — an attorney can help you determine which system applies.

If you were injured on someone else's property — a store, restaurant, hotel, apartment complex, or private residence — you may have a premises liability claim. Florida law requires property owners to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors. When they fail to do so and someone is injured, they can be held liable.

The slip and fall lawyers at Juan Cordero Lawyers negotiate with workers' compensation representatives, insurance companies, and property owners to resolve claims at the settlement table. When a fair settlement is not offered, we take the case to trial.

A slip and fall claim can cover far more than just your emergency room bill. You may be entitled to:

Medical Expenses All past, present, and future medical costs — emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, specialist visits, and any ongoing treatment related to your injuries.

Lost Wages and Future Earnings If your injuries caused you to miss work, or if they affect your ability to return to your job long-term, you are entitled to compensation for both lost income and reduced future earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering Florida law allows compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries. In serious cases, this can exceed the value of your medical expenses.

Punitive Damages If the property owner's conduct was particularly reckless or egregious, you may be eligible for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.

When a slip and fall accident results in death, Florida's Wrongful Death Act allows the personal representative of the victim's estate to file a lawsuit on behalf of surviving family members and dependents.

The personal representative is typically named in the victim's will. If there is no will, the court appoints one — usually a close family member. Note that anyone with a felony conviction is disqualified from serving as personal representative. In cases involving minor children, a guardian ad litem must review and approve any settlement before the probate court can finalize it.

Insurance companies are not on your side. Their adjusters are trained negotiators whose job is to minimize your claim or deny it entirely. They will look for inconsistencies in your account, argue that the hazard was obvious, or claim that you were partially at fault.

The slip and fall attorneys at Juan Cordero Lawyers know every tactic insurance adjusters use — and how to counter them. We fight to get you what you deserve, whether at the negotiating table or in front of a jury.

You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. No hourly fees, no upfront costs. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict we obtain on your behalf — and only after you have been paid.

Miami slip and fall claims can be complex. The sooner you act, the stronger your case. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and Florida's statute of limitations gives you only 2 years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.

Call the Slip and Fall Lawyer Florida lawyers at Juan Cordero Lawyers today at 305.525.8957. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a free, no-risk consultation.

We serve clients throughout Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and all of South Florida.