The store manager said they’ll “take care of everything”—should I trust that?

Picture this: You slip on a wet spot in a big-box store. Your back lights up. Your pride takes a hit. You’re embarrassed, shaken, and trying to get to your car without making a scene.

Then the manager pulls you aside with a calm voice and a friendly smile, saying they’ll take care of everything…Now, after the emotions have subsided and the chaos is over, you’re wondering, “Should I trust that?”

It sounds reassuring—like the problem is taken care of.

But here’s the reality in Florida injury cases: a store manager’s promise is not a settlement, not a check, and definitely not a legal deadline extension. In many cases, it’s the beginning of a process run by a claims department that has one job: pay as little as possible, as late as possible, or not at all.

And because Florida’s statute of limitations recently changed, waiting can cost you your entire case.

Verbal promises vs. the claims department: two different worlds

Store employees are trained to de-escalate. They may genuinely want to help. But most businesses—especially chains—don’t “handle” injury claims in the store. They report the incident, and the file gets kicked to corporate risk management or an insurance adjuster.

That’s when the tone often changes:

• “We’re still investigating.”
• “We don’t see negligence.”
• “Can you give a recorded statement?”
• “We can offer you a small amount for your trouble—today.”

None of that is “taking care of everything.” It’s positioning.

A helpful way to think about it: the manager is like the front desk at a hotel after a bad room. They can apologize and offer a new key. The claims department is the corporate office deciding whether they owe you a refund at all.

Why “we’ll take care of everything” can be risky

Even if the manager means well, relying on that promise can put you behind the curve in ways that matter:

1) Evidence disappears fast
In a slip and fall or negligent security case, key proof can be gone in days:

• Surveillance video may be overwritten.
• Employees’ memories fade.
• The scene changes (mats moved, lighting fixed, warnings added).
• Witnesses vanish into the world.

2) Your injuries can evolve
A lot of injuries don’t fully show up at the scene—especially back, neck, and head injuries. People try to tough it out. Then weeks later, the MRI tells a different story.

3) You may be pushed to say the wrong thing early
Adjusters often call quickly—sometimes before you’ve even had follow-up care. They may sound friendly, but their questions are designed to lock in a narrative:

• “You’re feeling better now, right?”
• “You didn’t see anything on the floor?”
• “You were looking at your phone?”

Those early statements can be used later to minimize your claim.

Florida’s deadline got shorter: the two-year clock is real
This is the part too many people don’t hear until it’s too late.

Florida law:

Florida law now generally gives you two years to file most negligence lawsuits, including many car accidents and premises liability cases. Florida Statute 95.11 lists “an action founded on negligence” under the two-year limitations period.

That change is tied to Florida’s 2023 tort reform law, House Bill 837, which has an effective date of March 24, 2023.

Practically speaking:

• If your accident happened on or after March 24, 2023, you should assume the two-year deadline applies in most negligence cases. (The Florida Senate)
• Waiting for a business or insurer to “do the right thing” can quietly run out the clock.

And once the statute of limitations expires, you can lose the right to pursue compensation—no matter how legitimate the claim is.

What you should do instead (without being confrontational)
You can be polite and still protect yourself. Here’s a practical checklist we give clients after a slip and fall or other store injury:

• Get medical care and follow up. Your health comes first—and documentation matters.
• Ask for an incident report and note the manager’s name (take a photo of a business card if possible).
• Take photos/video: the hazard, lighting, warning signs (or lack of them), your shoes, and the surrounding area.
• Get witness contact info. Even one neutral witness can change the trajectory of a claim.
• Don’t sign releases or accept quick checks without understanding what you’re giving up.
• Be cautious with recorded statements. If you do speak, keep it brief and factual.
• Don’t assume the business will preserve evidence. In many cases, a lawyer can send a preservation request quickly to help keep key materials from “disappearing.”

Why having a Florida accident attorney changes the dynamic:
At Tucker Law, our job isn’t to pick a fight—it’s to build a case that can’t be brushed aside. That looks like:

• Fast evidence preservation (video, incident reports, witness statements)
• Clear medical documentation that connects the injury to the incident
• A damages presentation that captures the real impact: lost wages, future care, pain and suffering
• Handling the claims department so you don’t get pressured into a lowball settlement
• Being responsive and hands-on, so you’re not left guessing what’s happening next

Our firm is proud of the results that have been achieved for injured Floridians and others who were just visiting, but at Tucker Law our firm will always be straightforward: every case is different, and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes. What we can promise is this—your situation will be taken seriously, and deadlines will be treated like the hard lines they are.

One more time, because it matters: the deadline doesn’t care what the manager said
The statute of limitations is like a boarding gate. You can have the best reason in the world for being late—traffic, a long line, someone telling you “it’ll be fine”—but once that door closes, it closes.

If you were injured in a Florida car accident, slip and fall, or other negligence situation, don’t let friendly words turn into a missed deadline. (Online Sunshine)

Call Tucker Law at 1-800-TUCKERWINS
If a store, property owner, or insurer is telling you they’ll “take care of everything,” let’s make sure that actually happens—and that your rights are protected under Florida’s new two-year timeline. Call Tucker Law at 1-800-TUCKERWINS for a straightforward conversation about your options.