Slip and fall accidents happen fast, but their effects can last a lifetime. One moment you’re walking through a grocery store, parking lot, or office building—and the next, you’re in pain, coping with doctor’s visits, missed work, and a mountain of debt and uncertainty.
If you were injured in a fall on someone else’s property in Palm Beach County, you’re not alone, and you have legal options. At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our West Palm Beach slip and fall lawyers hold negligent property owners accountable, helping people like you recover compensation after life-altering injuries.
Whether your fall happened in a shopping plaza near Okeechobee Boulevard, a condo complex downtown, or a healthcare facility near Palm Beach Lakes, we’re here to help you know your rights and act on them.
You Deserve Answers After a Slip and Fall Injury
When you’ve slipped on a wet grocery store floor or tripped on loose pavement in a public space, it may not be about a scraped knee and a bruised ego, but something much more serious.
Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. For many seniors, a slip on a wet floor or a trip over a loose rug can result in a broken hip, brain bleed, or some other life-threatening condition.
These accidents aren’t your fault. Property owners and businesses have a legal responsibility to fix hazards or provide clear warnings. When they don’t, and someone gets hurt, they should be held accountable.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in West Palm Beach
While every accident is unique, many West Palm Beach slip and fall cases trace back to similar hazards—conditions that are preventable with proper maintenance. Here are some common causes we see in local cases:
- Wet or slippery floors without warning signs
- Uneven sidewalks or cracked pavement
- Loose floor tiles or torn carpeting
- Poor lighting in stairwells or hallways
- Debris, clutter, or merchandise blocking walkways
- Broken or missing handrails
- Leaks, spills, or condensation left unattended
- Freshly mopped floors with no caution signage
These dangers are often found in high-traffic places like shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, hotels, and medical facilities. But they can also appear in less obvious places like private homes, government buildings, or parking garages.
If a dangerous condition caused your injury, speak with a slip and fall attorney in West Palm Beach right away to protect your rights and start gathering time-sensitive evidence.
Types of Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents
A fall might seem like a small incident—until you can’t get out of bed, return to work, or move without pain. Our clients have suffered injuries ranging from mild to catastrophic, including:
- Broken wrists, hips, or ankles
- Torn ligaments or dislocated joints
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or concussions
- Deep bruises, lacerations, or soft tissue damage
- Chronic pain and mobility loss
- Emotional trauma, especially among elderly victims
Older adults are especially vulnerable. A fall for someone over 65 can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. Florida has one of the largest senior populations in the country, making fall prevention and accountability especially critical in West Palm Beach communities.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall in West Palm Beach
Taking the right steps after a fall can make a huge difference in your ability to recover physically and financially. Here’s what you should do:
- Get medical help immediately. Even if you feel okay, symptoms may show up hours or days later. A medical record also supports your case.
- Report the incident. If your fall happened in a business, report it to a manager and request a written report.
- Take photos. Capture the hazard that caused your fall (wet floor, broken step, etc.) before it’s cleaned up or repaired.
- Gather contact information. Witnesses, employees, or anyone nearby may be helpful later.
- Do not speak with insurance companies. They may try to downplay your injuries or shift the blame. Politely decline and contact a lawyer first.
- Call a West Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence and building your claim.
Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Claim
To recover damages, you’ll need to show that the property owner or operator acted negligently. In Florida, this means proving:
- There was a dangerous condition on the property
- The property owner or business knew—or should have known—about it
- They failed to fix the problem or provide an adequate warning
- That failure caused your injuries
- You suffered damages as a result
This is where our legal team gets to work. We’ll investigate the scene, review security footage, interview witnesses, examine maintenance records, and hire experts if necessary. We know how to uncover signs of carelessness that others miss, and how to counter the strategies insurance companies use to avoid paying.
Florida’s Slip and Fall Laws: What You Should Know
Florida law imposes strict rules around slip and fall claims, particularly those involving “transitory foreign substances” like liquids in grocery stores. You must prove that the property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard.
Constructive knowledge can be shown if:
- The hazard existed for a length of time that the business should have discovered it
- The condition occurred regularly and was therefore foreseeable
Like all personal injury cases, slip and fall accidents in West Palm Beach that result in a legal claim are bound by rules governing shared fault. If you were injured in a slip and fall and the court determined that you were partially at fault for the accident, Florida’s modified comparative negligence system applies.
Under this rule, if you’re found partially at fault for your fall, your compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault, as long as it’s less than 50%. Any higher than 50% bars you from obtaining any compensation.
Insurance companies often take advantage of this rule to lower their liability for an accident. An experienced West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer will protect you and your claim from any undue accusations of fault.
Who May Be Liable for Your Slip and Fall?
In many cases, the at-fault party is the property owner. However, liability can extend further depending on who controls the space and who is responsible for maintaining it. Parties who may be held accountable include:
- Store owners or franchisees of supermarkets, restaurants, or retail chains
- Commercial landlords who lease space to businesses
- Residential landlords or property management companies
- Hotel or resort operators
- Government agencies responsible for sidewalks, public parks, or facilities
- Maintenance contractors who failed to address known hazards
At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we investigate every angle. If multiple parties contributed to the conditions that caused your fall, we’ll pursue claims against each of them. Our goal is to hold the right people accountable so you can get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Compensation Available in a Slip and Fall Case
Slip and fall settlement values in West Palm Beach vary widely depending on the severity of your injuries, the strength of your evidence, and how much fault, if any, is attributed to you.
Economic damages
These damages are tangible losses with a clear dollar amount. They often include:
- Medical bills (past and future treatment, hospital stays, rehab, prescriptions)
- Lost wages from missed work
- Reduced earning capacity if you’re unable to return to your job
Non-economic damages
These damages cover the harder-to-measure effects of your injury, such as:
- Pain and suffering from physical and emotional trauma
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death damages
In cases where a fall tragically leads to death, surviving family members may have grounds for a wrongful death claim. Compensation may include:
- Final medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of companionship, support, and services for surviving family members
Punitive damages
While not common, punitive damages may be awarded in cases involving egregious negligence or willful misconduct. These damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. For example, a gas station owner who fails to fix broken security cameras or install adequate lighting despite a history of violent crime on the property could be hit with punitive damages.
How Insurance Companies Handle Fall Claims
Insurance companies are in the business of minimizing payouts. After a slip and fall, they may:
- Push quick, low-ball settlements before you understand the full effect of your injuries on your life
- Downplay your injuries
- Try to place blame on you (“You weren’t watching where you were going”)
- Argue that the hazard wasn’t there long enough to be noticed
- Demand recorded statements to use against you later
We see these tactics every day—and we’re ready for them. When you hire Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we deal with the insurers so you don’t have to. Our legal team knows how to pressure adjusters, document your damages, and build a case that demands serious compensation.
Where Do Slips and Falls Happen in West Palm Beach?
Our city is known for its sunshine, palm-lined streets, and vibrant mix of shopping, dining, and residential areas. Unfortunately, these busy spaces are also where many falls occur. We’ve handled claims involving:
- Retail stores along Clematis Street or inside The Square
- Grocery stores like Publix or Aldi in the Palm Beach Lakes area
- Hotels and resorts near the waterfront or on Palm Beach Island
- Medical centers and clinics throughout the city
- Public sidewalks and parking lots across downtown and suburban neighborhoods
- Apartment complexes and senior living facilities from Village Boulevard to Congress Avenue
Wherever your fall occurred, we’ll look into who was responsible for keeping the property safe and who failed to do so.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Florida?
Florida recently shortened the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including slip and falls. You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. For wrongful death, the deadline is also two years.
There are some exceptions, but they are rare. Missing the deadline usually means losing your right to compensation altogether. That’s why it’s smart to speak with a slip and fall attorney as soon as possible. Evidence fades or is lost, memories blur, and delays can hurt your case.
FAQs About Slip and Fall Claims
How much does it cost to hire a West Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer?
Frankl Kominsky works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront or out of pocket. We only get paid if we win your case. That means you can get top-level representation with zero financial risk.
What if the property owner fixed the hazard after my fall?
That may actually help your case by showing they recognized the danger. However, the sooner we begin investigating, the more likely we are to capture evidence before it disappears.
What if I fell at a friend’s house or apartment complex?
It’s still worth exploring. Homeowners and renters often carry liability insurance that may cover your injuries. You’re not suing your friend—you’re pursuing compensation from their insurance provider. We know how to handle slip and fall cases of every kind, even those that involve extremely sensitive situations.
Get a Free Consultation With a West Palm Beach Slip and Fall Attorney
Taking legal matters into your own hands can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly. You don’t have to take matters into your own hands to come out ahead, and you should never have to accept less than you deserve.
At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped people on Florida's Treasure Coast and Gold Coast get real results after serious falls. It makes no difference whether your injury happened at a store in downtown West Palm, a hotel near the beach, or a complex off I-95; we’re ready to help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life.
Your next step? Talk to an experienced West Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer for free. We’ll review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. Call us today at (561) 800-8000 or contact us online to schedule your consultation. We speak English, Spanish, and Creole.