You didn't see the wet floor. The broken step. The uneven pavement. And now you're hurt.

Slip and fall accidents happen in an instant — but the decisions you make in the hours and days that follow can determine whether you recover fair compensation or walk away with nothing. Florida's premises liability laws give injured victims real rights, but only if you act quickly and correctly.

Here's exactly what to do.

Your health comes first. Even if you feel okay, get checked out by a doctor the same day.

Many serious injuries — herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding — don't show obvious symptoms right away. Adrenaline masks pain. What feels like a bruise today can turn into a months-long recovery tomorrow.

More importantly, a same-day medical record creates a direct link between the accident and your injuries. If you wait days or weeks to see a doctor, the property owner's insurance company will argue your injuries happened somewhere else.

Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor — today.

Before you leave the scene, report the accident to the property owner, manager, or supervisor on duty. Ask them to create a written incident report and request a copy.

If they refuse to give you a copy, write down the name of the person you spoke with and the time you reported it.

Do not let them talk you out of filing a report. Do not accept "we'll handle it internally." A formal report creates a paper trail that is very difficult for them to deny later.

If you are physically able, document the scene before anything is cleaned up or repaired. Use your phone to:

• Photograph the exact hazard that caused your fall — wet floor, broken tile, missing handrail, poor lighting, uneven surface
• Photograph your injuries — cuts, bruising, swelling
• Capture the surrounding area — lack of warning signs, the layout of the space
• Record a short video walking through the scene

Businesses move fast to fix hazards after an accident — both to prevent future falls and to eliminate evidence. What exists today may be gone tomorrow.

If anyone saw you fall, get their name and phone number before they leave. Eyewitness testimony is powerful evidence, and witnesses are much harder to track down once they've walked out the door.

Also note whether there are any security cameras in the area. Your attorney can send a legal hold letter to preserve that footage — but only if they know it exists.

The property owner's insurance company may call you within hours of your accident. They will be friendly. They will seem like they want to help. They will ask to record a brief statement.

Do not do it.

Anything you say in that recorded statement will be used to minimize or deny your claim. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions that lead you to downplay your injuries or inadvertently admit fault.

You are not required to give a recorded statement. Politely decline and tell them your attorney will be in touch.

Keep everything related to your accident:

• The shoes and clothing you were wearing (do not wash them)
• All medical bills, records, and prescriptions
• A daily journal documenting your pain, limitations, and how the injury is affecting your life
• Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury

In Florida, property owners have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn visitors of known hazards. To win a slip and fall case, you generally need to prove:

1. The property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition
2. They failed to fix it or warn you about it
3. That failure directly caused your injuries

Florida also follows a comparative fault rule — meaning even if you were partially at fault (say, you were looking at your phone), you can still recover compensation. Your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

A successful slip and fall claim in Florida can include:

• Medical expenses — past and future treatment, surgery, physical therapy, medications
• Lost wages — income you've lost while unable to work
• Loss of earning capacity — if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
• Pain and suffering — physical pain and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life — activities you can no longer do

Florida law gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Miss that deadline and you lose your right to compensation — permanently.

Two years sounds like a long time. It isn't. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.

Call a lawyer as soon as possible — ideally before you speak with any insurance company. A personal injury attorney can:

• Preserve critical evidence before it disappears
• Handle all communication with the insurance company
• Investigate the property owner's history of similar incidents
• Build a case that accurately reflects the full value of your injuries

At Juan Cordero Lawyers, we've recovered millions for slip and fall victims across Florida. We come to you — home, hospital, or our offices in Miami and Stuart. There is no fee unless we win.

Call us 24/7 at 305-525-8957 or contact us online for a free consultation.