Florida Premises Liability Lawyer

Florida Premises Liability Law – What Property Owners Must Do

Under Florida law, property owners and businesses owe a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to protect visitors from hazards they knew about—or should have known about. This duty is based on the status of the visitor and is most protective for invitees, including customers, tenants, and guests.

Key Florida legal authority includes:

• Florida Statute § 768.0755 – In slip-and-fall cases involving a “transitory foreign substance” (like water or liquid), the injured person must prove the business “had actual or constructive knowledge” of the dangerous condition.
• Florida Statute § 768.07XX (various premises provisions) – Florida’s premises liability framework requires property owners to use reasonable care, perform regular inspections, fix hazards, and warn guests of dangers that are not open and obvious.
• Case law principle – “Constructive Knowledge” – A property owner may be liable if the hazard existed long enough that it should have been discovered through reasonable inspections.
• Case law principle – “Mode of Operation” doctrine (limited use) – Certain businesses may be liable where the nature of their operations predictably creates recurring hazards (e.g., grocery produce sections).

Florida premises liability law focuses heavily on notice: whether the property owner failed to identify, correct, or warn of a dangerous condition in a reasonable amount of time.

Common Types of Premises Liability Accidents in Florida

These cases occur in many settings across Florida, including:

• Slip-and-fall accidents caused by water, spills, or wet surfaces and oftentimes causing spine injuries such as herniated discs.
• Trip-and-fall accidents on uneven floors, torn carpeting, or raised concrete
• Inadequate maintenance leading to structural hazards
• Falling merchandise from improperly stocked shelves
• Dangerous stairways or railings
• Poor lighting in walkways, parking lots, or stairwells
• Failure to warn of known hazards
• Unsafe apartment complexes (combined with negligent security)

These incidents frequently cause serious injuries such as herniated discs, fractures, ligament tears, head injuries, and nerve damage.

How our Attorneys We Build Strong Premises Liability Cases

Premises liability cases often become battles over notice, maintenance, and safety protocols. Our firm takes an aggressive, systematic approach to proving these claims.

1. Evidence preservation – Requesting video footage, maintenance logs, and incident reports immediately before they are destroyed.
2. Scene inspections of the negligent businesses or properties – Examining lighting, flooring, signage, and maintenance practices.
3. Witness interviews – Employees, tenants, and bystanders often provide critical testimony.
4. Medical coordination – My EMT background allows me to understand the full extent of orthopedic and neurological injuries.
5. Corporate document analysis – Reviewing cleaning records, inspection schedules, and safety manuals.
6. Trial readiness – With former prosecutor Christian Van Riper as my partner, we bring strong courtroom experience to every case.

Insurance companies heavily defend these cases. We know their strategies well—and we outwork them at every stage.

Why Choose Van Riper & Nies Attorneys?

• Decades of personal injury litigation experience involving premises liability, including Florida slip and fall and trip and fall cases.
• Former insurance defense trial attorney – Tim Nies: I know how property owners defend claims.
• Army Ranger Veteran and EMT – Tim Nies – strong command of the medicine behind premises liability injury claims.
• Extensive experience with slip-and-fall, trip hazards, negligent maintenance, and dangerous-premises cases.
• Former prosecutor – Christian Van Riper – provides powerful trial advocacy when litigating slip and fall or other premise liability lawsuits.
• We prepare every injured client thoroughly and maintain open, consistent communication throughout the case. Our clients have our cell phone numbers.
• Serving Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Broward Counties.
• No fee unless we win — we advance all costs and only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Florida Law Office Locations & Contact Information

Contact us for a free consultation at any of our South Florida offices: