I Was a Tourist Injured While on Vacation: What Should I Do?
A dream vacation can turn into a sudden nightmare if you or a loved one was shockingly involved in a harmful accident caused by another person’s negligence. When this happens far from home, it can be incredibly confusing to understand what your legal options are. That’s when a personal injury attorney can help.
So many people vacation in Daytona Beach, Palm Coast, and surrounding cities like Flagler, Holly Hill, and DeLand. Because of this, I make sure that tourists know me and my personal injury law firm are here to represent them. We can help out-of-towners seek the maximum compensation they deserve for their injuries.
Injured Tourists Should Hire a Florida Lawyer
The first thing you must understand about your vacation accident is that regardless of where you are from, your case is governed by Florida law if:
- The accident took place in Florida
- The person who harmed you lives in Florida
You can also sue a person who does not live in Florida in our state’s courts as long as the accident took place here. If you need a lawsuit filed, you need an attorney licensed in Florida to handle it.
Understand That Our State’s Laws Apply to Your AccidentThere are some state-specific laws in Florida that may be different from the ones where you are from. It is critically important that you know about the statute of limitations to file a case and comparative negligence. You Have a Two-Year Deadline to File an Injury LawsuitThe statute of limitations for both a personal injury and wrongful death lawsuit in Florida is two years from either the date of the accident or the date of your loved one’s passing. Missing this deadline will cause you to forfeit your ability to receive compensation. You Can File a Lawsuit Even if You Were Partly at FaultSome states, like Maryland and Virginia, bar victims from any type of civil lawsuit compensation if they caused even 1% of their accident. It is very important that you know Florida is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning a victim can recover compensation as long as they were not the primary cause of their accident (50% at fault or less). |
There Are Many Vacation Accidents You Can Sue For
Often, when people think of personal injury lawsuits, car accidents or motorcycle crashes come to mind. You should be aware that there are many types of vacation accidents you can sue for, such as:
Amusement Park Injuries
Many people come to the Orlando area to go to one of its many world-famous theme parks. Unfortunately, a great day with the family can be marred by malfunctioning rides or a slip and fall accident.
Hotel and Resort Accidents
All kinds of injuries can occur while staying at a hotel or resort. This includes slips and falls in the lobby, trips down escalators, foodborne illness from restaurants or room service, and drowning at the hotel pool.
Boating Accidents
Many families come to Daytona Beach and surrounding cities like Bunnell, Port Orange, and Ormond Beach to enjoy various boating activities. You can sue a boater for colliding with you or even for causing a dangerous wake.
Hit and Run Accidents
Because our area is home to many major events like the Daytona 500 and Daytona Bike Week, there tends to be reckless driving that may include damaging hit and run crashes. You should know that there are various ways our lawyers can try to identify the driver who hit you and seek compensation. For example, me and my team can:
- Track the vehicle
- Obtain witness statements
- Review security footage
- Evaluate police reports
Depending on the specifics of your insurance policy, we may also be able to file an uninsured motorist claim to collect compensation under your own policy.
You Can Help Win Your Florida Lawsuit While Still in Your Home State
Even if you are currently thousands of miles away from Florida, there are several steps you can take to help win your case in my state:
- See a Local Doctor in Your Area: Have a medical professional examine your injuries. Not doing so can be construed as evidence you weren’t really hurt.
- Don’t Talk About Your Accident: Anything you say can be used to minimize your claim. This includes social media posts.
- Duplicate All Evidence: Back up and save any pictures, video, bills, and other documents related to the accident. Making sure you have all photos and videos is invaluable.
Hiring Me Won’t Cost You AnythingSometimes, victims of accidents on vacation decide to put the past behind them because they are worried about having to pay exorbitant attorney fees to pursue their compensation. Free Consultations and Contingency RepresentationYou should know that at my law firm, we charge absolutely nothing upfront to handle a personal injury or wrongful death case. We handle these lawsuits on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid by taking a percentage of any verdict or settlement we obtain. This ensures that our focus is on getting the most money possible while allowing you to focus on recovery. |
We Strive to Collect the Best Possible Settlement or Verdict
Unlike larger firms that take on a lot of cases with the hope of making money on volume (a necessity to pay for their high overhead costs), we never have to move too quickly or accept low settlement offers.
We also maintain a strong commitment to maximizing the value of every case we take on.
This allows us to provide the level of attention every client needs and deserves.
As a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers and a leader of a law firm that has won more than $100 million in damages for our clients, I can confidently say that we have the knowledge and resources to provide excellent representation.
A Storied Record of Service and Client-Focused Legal Counsel
The Chanfrau family has roots in the Volusia County justice system. My great-grandmother was the first female court reporter in the state of Florida. My grandfather was appointed by the Governor to succeed my great-grandmother in that position in 1960. My father began practicing law in Florida in 1973, part of a legacy that my sister and I continue today.
Collectively, the attorneys at Chanfrau & Chanfrau have almost a century of combined years in legal practice.
I started my legal career in 1997, spending four years in the State Attorney's Office before joining Chanfrau & Chanfrau in 2001. I now personally have more than two decades handling all sorts of personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits for Florida locals and visitors to the Sunshine State.
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Speak With Skilled Central Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
If you were injured while visiting Central Florida on vacation, call or write to request a consultation. If you are away from Florida, feel free to call either my Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, or DeLand office.
About William Chanfrau, Jr.
William M. Chanfrau, Jr. began his legal career in 1997 working for the State Attorney's office. He joined his father's practice in 2001 and became a managing partner at the firm in 2007. Mr. Chanfrau is a member of the Florida Bar, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, the Volusia Civil Trial Lawyers Association, and other legal organizations.
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