Grocery stores are one of the most common locations for slip and fall accidents in Florida. Wet floors from spills, leaking refrigeration units, mopped aisles, and tracked-in rainwater create hazards that injure thousands of Floridians every year.

If you slipped and fell on a wet floor at a Publix, Winn-Dixie, Sedano's, Presidente Supermarket, Aldi, Whole Foods, or any other Florida grocery store, you may have a valid premises liability claim.

Florida Statute §768.0755 governs slip and fall cases on transitory foreign substances (like water or spills) in business establishments. To win your case, you must prove that:

1. The store had actual knowledge of the dangerous condition (an employee saw the spill and did nothing), OR
2. The store had constructive knowledge — the condition existed long enough that the store should have discovered it through reasonable inspection

This is a higher standard than many states. Insurance companies use it aggressively to deny claims. Our attorneys know how to meet it.

Surveillance footage. Grocery stores have extensive camera systems. We demand preservation of footage immediately — stores routinely overwrite recordings within 24–72 hours. Footage showing the spill sitting unattended for an extended period proves constructive knowledge.

Incident reports. Stores are required to complete incident reports when customers are injured. We obtain these through discovery and look for admissions about how long the hazard existed.

Employee testimony. Store employees who were in the area, mopped the floor, or received complaints about the hazard are key witnesses.

Maintenance and inspection logs. Stores are supposed to conduct regular floor inspections. Missing or falsified logs support constructive knowledge.

Wet floor sign absence. If no warning sign was placed near the hazard, this is powerful evidence of negligence.

The nature of the substance. A dried, dirty, or tracked-out spill suggests it existed for a long time — supporting constructive knowledge.

• Spills from broken bottles or containers
• Leaking refrigeration units and condensation
• Freshly mopped floors without wet floor signs
• Produce department water runoff
• Tracked-in rainwater near entrances (especially during Florida's rainy season)
• Leaking freezer cases
• Bathroom floor water near entrances

Wet floor falls can cause serious injuries, especially for older adults:

• Hip fractures (often requiring surgery and extended rehabilitation)
• Knee injuries — torn ACL, MCL, or meniscus
• Wrist and arm fractures (from catching the fall)
• Traumatic brain injury from head striking the floor
• Spinal injuries
• Shoulder injuries

Grocery store slip and fall settlements in Florida vary widely based on injury severity, medical costs, and the strength of the liability evidence. Our firm has recovered:

• $225,000 — Slip and fall at a mall (M.D. vs. Publix Supermarkets)
• $210,000 — Slip and fall at a market

Cases involving serious injuries like hip fractures, surgery, or permanent disability can be worth significantly more.

1. Report it to the store manager — get an incident report number
2. Photograph the hazard — the wet floor, any spill, the absence of warning signs
3. Get witness information — other shoppers or employees who saw the fall
4. Seek medical attention immediately — same day if possible
5. Preserve your clothing and shoes — they may be evidence
6. Do not give a recorded statement to the store's insurance company
7. Call Juan Cordero Lawyers before the store's insurer contacts you

Not necessarily. Florida uses modified comparative negligence — if you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover, though your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. A store cannot escape liability simply by claiming you were careless if they failed to warn of or fix a known hazard.

Possibly. A wet floor sign does not automatically shield a store from liability. If the sign was placed after the fall, was not visible, or was inadequate given the size or location of the hazard, the store may still be liable. We investigate the full circumstances.

2 years from the date of the accident under Florida's 2023 tort reform. Do not wait — surveillance footage is overwritten quickly.

Slipped on a wet floor at a Florida grocery store? Call Juan Cordero Lawyers at 305-525-8957 — available 24/7. We act fast to preserve evidence. No fee unless we win.