Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for British Tourists Injured While on Holiday in Florida

The State of Florida leads the nation when it comes to theme park tourism, with over 80 million visitors to the state’s theme parks in an average year. Disney World alone attracts over 20 million visitors each year, many of those from the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, Florida also has nine of the country’s most dangerous cities for pedestrians, with Orlando ranked number one, according to the 2019 “Dangerous by Design” report from Smart Growth America. If you are a British tourist who was injured in a pedestrian accident while visiting one of Florida’s theme parks you may not know what your legal rights are or who to turn to for help.

At Bailey Fisher, our personal injury lawyers are experienced at helping UK citizens who have been injured or lost a family member while visiting Florida. We understand how a pedestrian accident can devastate you and your family and are dedicated to helping you navigate the complex United States judicial system to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for all your physical and emotional injuries.

Florida Is Dangerous for Pedestrians

Figures revealed in the Smart Growth America report indicate that Florida has an annual average of 2.73 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people or a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) of 182. To put that number in perspective, consider that the national U.S. average is 1.55 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 and the national PDI is 55.3. Also compare Florida’s PDI of 182 to that of Texas (111.9), California (68.2), and New York (24.6).

Causes of Florida Pedestrian Accidents

Given the number of visitors to the various Florida theme parks each year, it is no surprise that each park also experiences a high volume of motorized traffic as well. Visitors travel in their own vehicles from nearby states, while others visiting from farther away rent vehicles after arriving by air. In addition, the theme parks have their own traffic, ranging from golf carts moving employees to large trucks delivering supplies and products. All of these pose a risk to pedestrians.

Among the most common causes of Florida pedestrian accidents are:

Distracted drivers — The risk of encountering a distracted driver is heightened in and around theme parks because drivers are often using electronic devices to navigate unfamiliar streets, trying to calm excited children in the vehicle, or paying attention to the attractions instead of the roadway.
Impaired drivers — Vacation and alcohol often go hand in hand. When an impaired driver gets behind the wheel, he/she poses a threat to nearby pedestrians.
Failing to yield or stop — Theme parks are typically packed with pedestrians walking to and from nearby hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. Drivers navigating the roadways may fail to yield or stop for those pedestrians, causing a catastrophic accident.
Speed — Drivers must reduce their speed as they near theme parks or when operating a vehicle within the park precisely because of the presence of pedestrians. Nevertheless, drivers often fail to adjust their speed for the driving conditions, which can result in a pedestrian accident.

Florida Tourist Pedestrian Accident Injuries

The victim of a Florida tourist pedestrian accident may suffer injuries to the head, limbs, spine, or internal organs. Among the most common injuries are:

Brain injuries — Pedestrians are at great risk for suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a collision because their head is unprotected if an impact occurs. A TBI can result in life-altering injuries or death.
Spinal injuries — When a pedestrian collides with a motor vehicle, the pedestrian can suffer serious spinal injuries, ranging from herniated discs to permanent paralysis if the spinal cord is severed.
Limb injuries — A pedestrian accident may result in broken bones in the arms or legs. More severe injury could lead to the loss of a limb.
Death — When a pedestrian accident results in death, the Florida Wrongful Death Act (FWDA) may apply, if the death was caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default or breach of contract or warranty of another person.

Legal Recourse for British Victims of a Pedestrian Accident in Florida

The victim of a pedestrian accident, or the surviving family members of someone who was fatally injured in a pedestrian accident, must often deal with the physical and emotional injuries caused by the accident, along with the stress of navigating the medical and judicial systems.

Trying to find your way through Florida’s healthcare system, as well as trying to understand the insurance procedures and applicable laws can seem impossible for someone who is unfamiliar with them. The pedestrian accident lawyers at Bailey Fisher can help you and your family handle these challenges.

Allow us to utilize our experience and resources to ensure that the negligent party is held accountable, and you are fully compensated for your injuries. This may include compensation for your current and future medical expenses, lost wages, decreased earning capacity, pain, suffering, and diminished capacity to enjoy life.

Experienced Legal Help for British Tourists Injured in a Florida Pedestrian Accident

If you are a British tourist who was injured in a theme park pedestrian accident, or who lost a family member in one, the experienced pedestrian accident lawyers at Bailey Fisher can help. We are the lawyers travel agents trust to help their British clients when an injury occurs while they are on holiday because we are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured victims and helping them navigate the unfamiliar, complex Florida judicial system. Our team is committed to helping you obtain the compensation you deserve for all your injury-related medical expenses, pain, suffering, and losses.

Call us at 407-250-8630 or submit our online form today for a free case evaluation.
One of our experienced Florida pedestrian accident lawyers will listen closely to what happened and advise you on your best course of action. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve.

Sources

Smart Growth America. (2019). Dangerous by design.
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Dangerous-by-Design-2019-FINAL.pdf

Statista. (2020). Attendance at the Magic Kingdom theme park (Walt Disney World Florida) from 2009 to 2019 (in millions).
https://www.statista.com/statistics/232966/attendance-at-the-walt-disney-world-magic-kingdom-theme-park/