Brevard County, Florida, Tourist Accidents
Attorney Mark Anthony Gager — 23 Years of Serving Brevard County
Tourism is vitally important to Florida's economy — 83.9 million tourists brought $65 billion to the state in 2006, providing employment for almost a million Floridians.* With so many visitors coming from out-of-state — many unfamiliar with Florida's language, laws and landscape — the laws of probability dictate that some will be involved in accidents, with tourists injuring themselves and others.
For a free consultation, contact us.
"Just because a place is a vacation destination does not make it safe or free from potential hazards."
Mark Anthony Gager
In general, most tourist accidents arise from cultural confusion and disorientation:
- Language: People who are unable to read warning signs are also unable to follow them. In one groundbreaking example, a Brazilian girl suffered a very severe spinal cord injury after diving headfirst into a pool three feet deep, thinking it was three meters.
- Traffic laws: Many countries have different traffic laws and signage from the United States and many countries drive on the left-hand side of the road. If someone who is unfamiliar with our rules of the road rents a car and causes an accident, the car rental company can be held liable for handing him or her the keys.
- Ignorance of natural dangers: It happens more often than one might expect but many tourists find the prospect of swimming in Florida's lakes and rivers appealing — until they realize they are encroaching on the natural habitat of alligators. Others walk barefoot through forests unaware of poisonous, thorny dangers. Although property owners are not generally liable for these injuries, Florida courts have recognized some exceptions to this rule.
- Amusement park injuries: Rarely, an amusement park ride will malfunction and cause serious injuries to the passengers on board. More commonly, someone from a cold climate will suffer severe dehydration at an amusement park during a hot Florida day.
When someone from outside the state of Florida injures or is injured by a citizen of Florida, that case transcends state laws and must be settled in a federal court. Lawyer Mark Anthony Gager is licensed to practice in U.S. District Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and also the U.S. Supreme Court.
To discuss your tourist accident during a free consultation with Mr. Gager, contact us or call 321-473-3275.
