Boca Raton's retail corridors, Town Center at Boca Raton, Mizner Park, the Glades Road shopping strip, draw thousands of shoppers daily. Wet tile entries, unmarked level changes, and poorly lit parking garages are recurring hazards. Florida's post-HB 837 premises liability standard requires an injured person to show the owner knew or should have known of the condition, and cases now proceed under a 51% modified comparative-negligence bar, meaning a claimant found more than 50% at fault recovers nothing.

Why Gold & Gold in Boca Raton

David H. Gold and Keith A. Pierro have litigated slip-and-fall claims against national retailers, restaurant chains, and South Florida condominium associations from our Glades Road office. We move fast to subpoena surveillance video, often the single most important piece of evidence, before it is overwritten by a retail property's 30-day loop.

Boca Raton courts, deadlines & Florida rules

Slip-and-fall actions in Boca Raton are filed in the 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; smaller claims may go to the South County Courthouse in Delray Beach. The negligence statute of limitations is two years under HB 837 (effective March 24, 2023). Florida's transitory foreign substance statute (Fla. Stat. 768.0755) is the key rule for retail slip-and-fall cases: plaintiffs must prove the business had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition. Constructive knowledge can be shown by evidence that the condition existed long enough that the owner should have discovered it through ordinary care.

Common slip and fall cases we see in Boca Raton

  • Wet tile floors at Town Center at Boca Raton stores following rain or spills with no warning cones placed
  • Uneven pavement at Mizner Park outdoor areas and Boca's older strip plazas along Federal Highway
  • Slippery pool decks at high-rise condominiums on A1A and along the Intracoastal
  • Broken or raised concrete in parking garages serving Boca Raton office parks on Glades Road
  • Trip-and-fall on unmarked step-downs at restaurants in Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The store says I was not paying attention. Does that end my case?
Not necessarily. Florida uses modified comparative negligence. If your percentage of fault is 50% or less, you can still recover, your damages are simply reduced by your share. Whether you were looking at your phone or missed a warning sign is a question of degree, not a blanket bar. We analyze the full facts before any concession on fault.
I fell at a Boca Raton condo common area, not a store. Does Florida's transitory foreign substance rule still apply?
No, that statute governs businesses open to the public. Condo common-area falls are evaluated under general premises liability principles. The key questions are whether the association had notice of the hazard, whether it was a recurring maintenance issue, and whether the association followed its own maintenance protocols.
How quickly do I need to act after a fall in a Boca Raton shopping center?
Immediately. Report the incident to store management and request a written incident report. Photograph the hazard and your injuries before leaving. Surveillance footage in retail environments is typically overwritten on a 30-day cycle; our office sends evidence preservation letters within hours of a call.