Florida Personal Injury Attorney
Was This Negligence?
Real Florida accident scenarios explained by attorney Juan Cordero — Florida Lawyer Since 1999.
An accident does not automatically mean someone was negligent. Browse 30 real-world scenarios based on cases I have handled to understand what evidence matters and why similar accidents can have very different legal outcomes.
What I Look For
I investigate how the danger was created; how long it existed; who knew or should have known about it; inspection, maintenance and safety procedures; surveillance; photographs; witnesses; incident reports; work orders; measurements; prior similar conditions when legally relevant; and medical evidence connecting the incident to the claimed injury.
The purpose of this resource is not to tell every visitor that they have a case. It is to explain what facts matter, what evidence should be preserved, and why accidents that appear similar can have very different legal outcomes.
How the danger was created
Employee action, maintenance failure, or third-party conduct
Notice — actual or constructive
Who knew, when they knew, and what they did about it
Surveillance & documentation
Records that can transform a notice dispute
Medical causation
Evidence connecting the condition to the claimed injury
Florida Negligence Law — Key Principles
Fla. Stat. § 768.0755
Premises Liability
Slip and fall on transitory foreign substances requires proof of actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition.
Fla. Stat. § 768.81
Comparative Fault
Florida's 2023 modified comparative fault rule bars recovery if you are more than 50% at fault.
Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)
Statute of Limitations
Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury. Some claims have shorter deadlines.
Browse by Situation
30 real-world scenarios based on types of matters I have handled. Select the situation closest to yours to understand what evidence may matter.
Slip & Fall
Grocery Produce Display Leak
Mall Soda Spill Left 25 Minutes
Warehouse Store Detergent Spill
Hotel Breakfast Juice Dispenser
Theme Park Trash in Show Aisle
Bar Notified of Vomit, Delayed Cleanup
Gas Station Soda & Ice Area
Restaurant Entrance Drink Spill
Store Roof Leak
Pressure-Washing Water Entered Store
Office Building Algae Entrance
Amusement Park Food Court Spill
Dark Sludge on Store Stairs
Gas Station Oil Spill at Pumps
Trip & Fall
Unsafe Property
Negligent Security
Vehicle & Wrongful Death
Maritime
Companion Resource
Florida Negligence Scenarios at IsThisNegligence.com
Florida personal injury attorney Juan J. Cordero, Esq. analyzes additional Florida premises liability and negligence scenarios at IsThisNegligence.com — a companion site covering slip and fall, negligent security, wrongful death, and more under Florida law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every accident mean someone was negligent?
No. An accident does not automatically mean someone was negligent. The answer depends on what happened, who created or knew about the dangerous condition, whether reasonable steps could have prevented the injury, and whether the condition caused the damages claimed.
What evidence matters most in a Florida negligence case?
Key evidence includes surveillance footage, incident reports, photographs, witness statements, maintenance and inspection records, work orders, and medical records connecting the incident to the claimed injury. The specific evidence that matters most depends on the type of accident.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Florida?
Florida's statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), as amended in 2023. Certain claims — including those against government entities or involving maritime law — have different deadlines. Consult an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
What should I do immediately after an accident on someone else's property?
Seek appropriate medical care; report the incident to the property owner or manager; preserve photographs or video if safely possible; identify witnesses; keep relevant receipts, clothing or physical evidence; avoid altering important evidence; and consider promptly requesting preservation of surveillance or other records that may be overwritten.
What is constructive notice in a Florida slip and fall case?
Constructive notice means the dangerous condition existed long enough that the property owner should have discovered and corrected it through reasonable inspection. Under Florida Statute § 768.0755, a plaintiff must prove the business establishment had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for my accident?
Florida follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under the 2023 amendment to Florida Statute § 768.81, if you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Are cruise ship injury claims different from regular Florida premises cases?
Yes. Cruise ship claims are governed by maritime law, not ordinary Florida premises law. Cruise ticket contracts typically contain notice requirements and shortened filing deadlines — often as little as one year. These cases require separate legal analysis.
What makes negligent security cases different from slip and fall cases?
Negligent security claims have a specialized statutory and case-law framework under Florida law, including Chapter 768. They involve analysis of prior criminal activity, foreseeability, security measures, and the relationship between the property owner and the criminal act. They should not be analyzed as ordinary premises falls.
About These Examples
The scenarios in this library are based on types of matters I have handled. Client-identifying information is omitted. The examples are educational and do not guarantee that another matter will produce the same result.
Every case depends on its own facts and applicable law. Past results do not predict future outcomes. If you were injured in a similar situation, contact Juan Cordero Lawyers to discuss what evidence may need to be investigated or preserved.
Was Your Injury Caused by Negligence?
Juan Cordero Lawyers can review the facts and explain what evidence may need to be investigated or preserved. Florida Lawyer Since 1999.
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