Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers | January 7, 2026 | Personal Injury
Big‑box retailers like Lowe’s serve millions of customers, but accidents can still happen. Whether you slipped on a wet floor, were struck by falling merchandise, or were injured by faulty equipment, you have the right to seek compensation.
This article outlines how Florida residents can file a personal injury claim against Lowe’s, including steps to take after an accident, challenges you may face, and the importance of legal representation.
Immediate Steps To Take After a Store Accident
If you’re injured at Lowe’s, your actions immediately after the accident can help protect your health and support your claim. Follow this checklist:
- Seek medical care: Your well‑being comes first. Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a healthcare professional. Some injuries, like concussions or soft‑tissue damage, may not show symptoms right away.
- Report the incident: Notify a store employee or manager and fill out an incident report. Describe what happened without admitting fault. Request a copy for your records.
- Document the scene: Take photos or videos of the hazard, such as a puddle or misplaced item, and the surrounding area. Capture any lack of warning signs or safety barriers.
- Gather witness information: If anyone saw the accident, ask for their names and contact details. Witness statements can support your version of events.
- Save records: Keep receipts and records of all medical treatment, prescriptions, and related expenses. Maintaining a file of your costs helps prove your damages.
These steps lay the groundwork for a strong personal injury claim.
How Florida Premises Liability Law Applies to Lowe’s Accidents
In Florida, most injuries inside a Lowe’s store are governed by premises liability law. Because Lowe’s invites customers onto its property, shoppers are considered invitees, meaning the store owes them a high duty of care.
Lowe’s must regularly inspect the premises, fix dangerous conditions, and warn customers of hazards it knows about—or should have discovered through reasonable care. Common claims involve wet floors, falling merchandise, poorly maintained aisles, or unsafe equipment.
When Lowe’s fails to address these hazards and a customer is injured, the store may be held legally responsible. To recover compensation, however, the injured person must still prove negligence.
The Elements of Negligence and How To Prove Your Claim
To win a premises liability case based on negligence, you must show four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
- Duty: Lowe’s owes a duty of reasonable care to customers, meaning it must inspect the premises and fix or warn of hazards.
- Breach: The store breached that duty by failing to clean up or warn about a spill, secure merchandise, or maintain equipment.
- Causation: The breach directly caused your injury. For example, slipping on an unmarked wet floor led to a broken arm.
- Damages: You suffered actual losses—medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering—that can be compensated.
Evidence to support these elements includes maintenance logs showing how often the area was inspected, training records for employees, and testimony about how long the hazard existed. An attorney can subpoena these records and preserve surveillance footage before it’s erased.
Challenges in Proving Liability
To hold Lowe’s liable, you must prove that the store’s negligence caused your injury. Under Florida premises liability law, businesses owe customers a duty to keep the premises reasonably safe. However, large corporations often challenge claims aggressively. Common defense tactics include:
- Blaming the customer: The store may argue that you were distracted or not paying attention and that the hazard was obvious.
- Claiming lack of notice: Lowe’s might say it didn’t know about the dangerous condition or that the hazard appeared too recently to fix.
- Pointing to warning signs: Even if no sign was present, the company may claim that a reasonable person would have seen and avoided the danger.
- Questioning your footwear or behavior: The defense might suggest that your choice of shoes or your actions contributed to the accident.
Successfully countering these arguments requires evidence. Photos, incident reports, witness statements, and store surveillance footage can show that Lowe’s employees knew about the hazard or failed to maintain safe conditions.
Taking Action After a Lowe’s Accident in Fort Lauderdale
If you’re injured at a Lowe’s store in Florida, protect your health and your legal rights by seeking immediate medical care, documenting the scene, and contacting an attorney. Building a strong case requires prompt action, evidence, and legal expertise.
By following these steps and enlisting professional help, you can pursue compensation for your injuries and hold the store accountable for its negligence. If you need help, call Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers. We offer a free consultation with a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney.
We proudly serve Fort Lauderdale, Clermont, and its surrounding areas:
Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
633 S Andrews Ave Ste 401, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 361-3997