Follow this guide on what to do if you are injured as a tourist in South Florida.
Visiting the beautiful beaches, theme parks, and nightlife of South Florida can make for an amazing vacation. However, injuries and accidents can happen even when you’re far from home. If you suffer an injury during your Florida travels, there are important steps to take right away to protect yourself, document what happened, and seek proper medical care and compensation. Follow this guide on what to do if you are injured as a tourist in South Florida.
Seek medical attention immediately
If you experience any injury, even if it seems minor, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. This serves two purposes – first, to get proper care and treatment for your injury. Second, it creates an official record of your injury with a timestamp and location. According to FL Health Charts, over 8 million people visit Florida emergency rooms each year, with falls, motor vehicle injuries, and lacerations among the most common tourist injuries treated. Don’t delay in seeing a doctor and getting checked out.
Document the scene
Take photos and videos of the scene where your injury occurred before anything gets moved or changed. If you fell due to a wet floor in your hotel lobby, snapped your ankle stepping off a theme park ride, or got in a car accident on the highway, photograph and film the area for evidence. Take pictures of any hazards or dangerous conditions that caused your injury. Ask any witnesses who saw you get hurt for their contact information. All of this documentation will assist when talking to personal injury lawyers later.
Notify your travel insurance provider
Contact your travel insurance company right away if you purchased a policy for your trip. Travel insurance often includes emergency medical coverage that can help pay for medical bills you incur in Florida. Be sure to follow all procedures outlined in your policy, which commonly include reporting your injury within a certain timeframe and using approved medical providers. Your travel insurance can also give guidance on the next steps for handling your injury claim. According to Personal Finance Insider, around 35% of travelers report having travel insurance. Use your coverage if you have it.
Consult with a personal injury attorney
Getting legal advice from qualified personal injury attorneys is highly recommended if you’re hurt in South Florida as a visitor. A lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal, medical, and insurance issues that arise after an injury. Personal injury lawyers assist with gathering evidence, communicating with insurance companies, calculating damages/losses, filing claims against responsible parties, and getting you fair compensation. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning legal fees come out of any settlement you receive. Having an experienced Florida personal injury attorney on your side can make all the difference in seamlessly handling your injury case and getting full remuneration.
File an accident/incident report
For any injury that occurs on someone else’s property or because of another party’s negligence, file an official accident report with the property owner or appropriate authorities. If you’re hurt in a theme park, notify the park’s guest services. Injured in a hotel? Alert the hotel management right away. Hurt in a car accident? Call the police to file a crash report. Creating this paper trail is crucial for linking your injury to the negligent party for legal action. Don’t leave the scene without filing some kind of report.
Track medical records and bills
Keep thorough records of all doctors’ visits, hospital care, medications, procedures, and other treatments related to your injury. Request copies of all medical reports and bills. Stay organized with paperwork, as you’ll need to provide this documentation for insurance claims and possible lawsuits. Maintain notes on any lost wages or income resulting from your injury as well. Ongoing medical care and lost earnings are common damages covered in injury claims, so have the figures to back it up.
Follow up on compensation options
Pursue financial compensation through every available avenue. This includes filing claims with property owner or accident liability insurance, travel insurance providers, homeowner or renters coverage, auto insurance, etc. If compensation offers are unsatisfactory, consult a personal injury lawyer regarding your legal options for getting full remuneration through a personal injury lawsuit.
Don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Enjoying everything South Florida has to offer should be your top priority. But if an unforeseen injury occurs, take the necessary steps to protect your health, safety, and legal rights. Being proactive and following this advice will help you smoothly handle any injury and get proper recourse.
