Miami Slip & Fall Lawyer: Staples Grease Near Kitchen Areas, Drink Spills Near Checkout — Steps to Protect Your Claim

Did you slip and fall at a Staples store in Miami? You may have a valid claim. Florida law requires stores to keep their floors safe. When they fail to clean up grease or spills, they can be held liable for your injuries. A Miami slip and fall lawyer can review your case for free and explain your options.

What Hazards Cause Slip and Fall Accidents at Staples?

Staples stores must manage floor hazards every day. These hazards come up most often in Miami slip and fall claims:

• Grease or food residue near staff break rooms or kitchen areas
• Drink spills near checkout registers — from knocked-over cups or leaking bottles
• Wet floors left without warning signs
• Cleaning product residue on tile floors
• Spilled ink or liquids from shelves

Florida law holds businesses responsible for hazards they knew about. Under Florida Statute § 768.0755, you must show the store knew about the hazard. Or that it had been there long enough that they should have found it.

What Should You Do Right After a Slip and Fall?

What you do in the first few hours matters a great deal to your claim.

1. Report the fall to the store manager. Ask for a written incident report. Get your copy before you leave.
2. Take photos. Photograph the spill or wet floor. Include any missing warning signs.
3. Get witness names. Ask nearby customers or workers for their contact information.
4. See a doctor the same day. Some injuries are not obvious right away. Get checked out promptly.
5. Keep your shoes. Do not clean or throw away the shoes you wore. They are evidence.
6. Call a slip and fall lawyer before talking to the store’s insurance company.

How Do You Get Video Evidence Preserved?

Staples stores have cameras in most areas. Footage is often erased within 24 to 72 hours. Your lawyer can send a written preservation demand right away. This demand should ask for:

• All video from the fall area — at least two hours before and after the accident
• Incident reports and cleaning logs
• Inspection records and schedules
• Any prior complaints about the same spot

If the store destroys video after your lawyer sends this demand, a judge may allow the jury to hold that against them.

What Medical Steps Protect You and Your Case?

See a doctor right away — even if you feel okay. Soft tissue, spine, and bone injuries can get worse over time. When you go:

• Tell the doctor exactly what happened and where
• Ask for imaging if you have back, hip, shoulder, or joint pain
• Follow every treatment plan without gaps
• Keep all bills, records, and prescriptions

Insurance adjusters look for gaps in treatment. They use those gaps to argue your injuries are not serious. Steady medical records block that argument.

What Mistakes Can Hurt Your Claim?

Avoid these errors:

• Leaving the scene without documenting the hazard
• Posting about the accident on social media
• Accepting a quick settlement without talking to a lawyer first
• Missing follow-up medical visits
• Giving a recorded statement to the insurer without legal help
• Waiting too long to act — Florida law gives you two years to file under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a)

How Do You Prove the Store Was at Fault in Florida?

Florida Statute § 768.0755 says you must prove four things:

1. The store had a duty to keep the floor safe for customers
2. A hazard existed on the floor
3. The store knew — or should have known — about it
4. That hazard caused your fall and your injuries

Video footage, incident reports, missing warning signs, and cleaning records all help prove the store was aware of the danger. A Miami personal injury attorney at Wolfson & Leon can help you build this case. Learn more about this type of claim on the premises liability page.

What Evidence Helps the Most?

Strong evidence gives you leverage in talks and at trial:

• Video showing the spill and how long it sat there before your fall
• The incident report from the store
• Photos of the hazard, the area, and your injuries
• Medical records that link your injuries to the fall
• Witness statements from people who saw what happened
• Cleaning logs that show the floor was not checked often
• Prior complaints about the same spot

Where in a Miami Staples Are Falls Most Likely?

Some spots inside Miami Staples stores carry higher risk:

• Near checkout counters — customers carry drinks that spill, and condensation can build up
• Near delivery areas or back hallways — grease or residue can spread to the floor
• Near the copy and print center — ink or cleaning fluid may be on the floor
• Near water bottle or drink displays — containers may leak before staff notice

If your fall happened in a busy area, cameras were likely recording. That footage may be the strongest piece of evidence you have.

How Does Bone Density Affect Slip and Fall Injuries?

Bone density affects how badly a fall can hurt someone. Not all falls cause the same injuries.

Osteoporosis and low bone density are common. The National Institutes of Health says about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. Another 44 million have low bone density. Weak bones can mean a broken hip, wrist, or spine from a fall that leaves others with just a bruise.

Florida follows the “eggshell plaintiff” rule. This means the store is liable for all your injuries — even those made worse by weak bones. Low bone density does not reduce the store’s fault. A serious fracture can increase what you recover.

If you have osteoporosis or low bone density, make sure your doctor documents this. Your doctor should explain how your condition made your injuries worse. This information can be vital to your case.

What Compensation May Be Available?

A successful premises liability claim in Florida may cover:

• Medical bills — emergency care, surgery, imaging, therapy, and follow-up visits
• Future medical costs if you need ongoing care
• Lost wages if you missed work
• Reduced earning capacity if the injury affects your future work
• Pain and suffering — physical and emotional
• Permanent disability or impairment
• Home care costs during recovery

Florida uses modified comparative fault. Under Florida Statute § 768.81, your payout drops if you were partly at fault. But you can still recover if you are less than 51% responsible.

How Can a Miami Slip and Fall Lawyer Help You?

Fighting a large retailer’s insurance company alone is hard. Their adjusters are paid to keep payouts low. An experienced Miami personal injury attorney can help.

Wolfson & Leon can:

• Gather and preserve key evidence right away
• Handle all talks with the insurance company
• Find all liable parties — including cleaning contractors or property managers
• Add up the full value of your damages, including future costs
• Push for a fair settlement
• File a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to negotiate

You pay nothing unless they win your case. Call a Miami car accident lawyer at Wolfson & Leon at (305) 285-1115. The firm handles all personal injury cases across Miami and Florida. For car accident cases, see their car accident page. A Miami car accident lawyer at the firm is ready to help you today.

What Should You Bring to a Free Consultation?

Bring these items to your first meeting:

• Photos or video from the scene
• A copy of the incident report if you have one
• Medical bills and records so far
• A list of witnesses and contact details
• Your health insurance card
• A written account of what happened while the details are fresh

Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful Resources

• Florida Statute § 768.0755 — Slip and fall premises liability
• Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a) — Personal injury statute of limitations
• Florida Statute § 768.81 — Comparative fault
• NIH — Osteoporosis overview
• Wolfson & Leon — Premises Liability
• Wolfson & Leon — Car Accidents
• Wolfson & Leon — Serious Injury
• Wolfson & Leon — Spanish
• Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Since 1963, Jerome Wolfson, Esq. and the team at Wolfson & Leon have proudly served accident victims across Florida:

• Miami
• Orlando
• Tampa
• Jacksonville
• Fort Lauderdale
• West Palm Beach
• Fort Myers
• Cape Coral
• Sarasota
• Clearwater
• Tallahassee

Let us help you get back on the road to recovery. Call (305) 285-1115 today. Our team will handle your case with the personal care and attention you deserve.