Tourist / Vacation Injuries
The entire state of Florida benefits from a vibrant tourism industry. In Northeast Florida, vacation destinations include St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra (the site of the Tournament Players Championship), Jacksonville Beach, sporting events at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville’s cruise ship terminal and Amelia Island. Unfortunately, visitors to our area sometimes suffer serious injuries.
Tourism is considered Florida’s number one industry and delivers a huge economic benefit. In 2018, it is estimated that over 126 million people visited Florida, with more than 14 million visitors coming from overseas. In 2018, tourism contributed over 85 billion dollars to Florida’s gross domestic product. More than a quarter of visitors reported engaging in water and beach related activities. The Jacksonville and St. Augustine areas are no exception with miles of beaches, the intracoastal waterway and the St. Johns River.
Our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys often handle claims for vacationers or tourists injured while staying in local hotels. Common hotel injuries include stairwell accidents, falls on wet or uneven floors, swimming pool accidents, elevator malfunctions and unsafe rooms. Other common tourist accidents include car or trucking accidents, attraction related accidents, moped accidents, and falls.
Disconcertingly, tourists suffering injuries require medical care from providers with whom they are unfamiliar. Not only do their vacations get cut short, but the trip home can often be very challenging if a person is no longer able to fly or drive due to their injuries.
Florida law will apply to your injury claim even if you live in another state. As such, you are benefitted by hiring a Jacksonville personal injury attorney instead of an attorney where you live as that attorney may not be familiar with the rights and requirements provided by Florida law.
If you are injured in a car or trucking accident in Florida, Florida law will apply with respect to your claim against the at-fault driver and the owner of the vehicle that hit you; however, if you have your own uninsured motorist coverage, the law of your home state will apply. This is a common occurrence that we see. Even though another state’s laws may apply to the uninsured motorist portion of the claim, the case would typically be brought in Florida alongside the case against the at-fault parties.
Visitors rarely know a local attorney and usually must rely on information that can be found on the internet. We encourage everyone to read our on-line reviews. We have a perfect 5 star rating on Google based on numerous client reviews. In addition, before you hire an attorney we encourage you to speak with him or her. Be wary of any firms that do not offer a consultation directly with the attorney who will be representing you.
If you have been injured in an accident in Northeast Florida while on vacation, contact our personal injury lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida. If we accept your case, you do not have to pay us anything unless we make a financial recovery for you. Consultations with an attorney are always free. We handle injury cases throughout Northeast Florida.