When you get injured in a slip and fall accident, one of the first questions you need answered is, “Who do I sue?” Identifying the correct defendant (or possibly defendants) in your slip and fall case is critical, as you need to sue the right party (or parties) to recover the financial compensation you deserve.

7 Potential Defendants in a Florida Slip and Fall Case

While the answer to, “Who do I sue after a slip and fall accident?” may seem fairly straightforward, there are several possibilities—and you cannot afford to make assumptions. Depending on where you fell and why, you may have a claim against one or more of the following parties after a slip and fall accident in Florida:

1. Homeowner (or the Homeowner’s Insurance Company)

If you slipped and fell at someone else’s home, you may have a claim against the homeowner. Under Florida law, homeowners have a legal duty to ensure that their premises are reasonably safe for their guests. When homeowners breach this duty, they can be held liable for any injuries that result.

But, rather than suing the homeowner directly, you will most likely be dealing with the homeowner’s insurance company. Most homeowners have insurance, and home insurance policies generally cover homeowners’ liability in slip and fall accident cases.

2. Apartment Building Owner or Condo Association

If you slipped and fell in a common area of an apartment or condo building, then the company that owns the building or the condo association may be liable for your injuries. Apartment building owners and condo associations are generally responsible for the safety of common areas. When they fail to maintain safe common areas, they can—and should—be held accountable.

3. Commercial Property Owner

Most slip and fall accidents happen at businesses and other commercial locations. If you slipped and fell at a store, amusement park, hospital or any other type of business, the owner of the property may be fully liable for your injuries.

4. Business that Rents Its Facilities

Many businesses rent the locations of their stores, warehouses and other facilities. While in many cases property owners can be held liable for slip and fall accidents, in some cases their commercial tenants may also be liable. For example, if you slipped on a wet floor in a grocery store, the grocery store chain may be liable if it failed to promptly clean up (or place cones around) a spill.

5. Government Office or Agency

If you slipped and fell in a government building or on other public property, then a government office or agency may be liable for your accident. The government can be held liable when it is responsible for citizens’ injuries. However, special rules apply when you have a slip and fall case against the government, so it is especially important to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.

6. Construction Company or Contractor

In addition to property owners and tenants, construction companies and contractors can also be held liable for slip and fall accidents when their negligence is to blame. If you slipped and fell at a construction site, or if you slipped because of shoddy construction or negligent maintenance work, you will want to talk to a lawyer about whether a construction company or contractor should be a defendant in your case.

7. Building Material Manufacturer

Finally, building material manufacturers can also be defendants in some slip and fall accident cases. If you slipped on slick tiles or hardwood, for example, the manufacturer could be liable for your injuries. In addition to handling premises liability claims, we handle product liability claims as well, and we can fight to make sure all responsible parties are held accountable for your injuries.

How Do You Identify the Defendant (or Defendants) in Your Case?

When you need to file a claim for a slip and fall accident, knowing who you might be able to sue isn’t enough. You need to know the specific party (or parties) that are liable for your injuries. So, how do you identify the defendants in your case?

Determining who you can sue for a slip and fall accident requires a comprehensive investigation. To protect your legal rights, you will need to promptly engage a law firm to investigate all possible causes and evaluate all potential claims for just compensation. Some of the types of evidence your law firm may be able to gather to identify the defendant (or defendants) in your case include:

• Forensic Evidence from the Location Where You Slipped and Fell – Slippery flooring materials, stains on the floor and various other forms of forensic evidence could all be available to help prove liability.
• Security Camera Footage – If your fall was caught on camera, the footage could be key evidence in your slip and fall accident case.
• Eyewitness Testimony – Eyewitness testimony can also serve as strong evidence of liability in slip and fall accident cases.
• Construction or Maintenance Records – Construction records or maintenance records may show that a construction company or contractor is liable for your injuries.
• Emails and Other Documentation – Internal emails and other forms of documentation may also be available to prove that a defendant knew (or should have known) that the location where you fell was dangerous.

Any photos, videos or information that you can provide will be helpful as well. If you took photos or videos with your phone, you should be sure to keep these to share with your law firm. It is also a good idea to write down everything you can remember about your slip and fall. The more details you can provide, the more you will be able to help your law firm seek the financial compensation you deserve.  

[View source.]