People usually associate Florida with theme parks, which is understandable, since Florida is home to numerous theme parks. Trips to theme parks are supposed to be fun and exciting, providing you and your family with enjoyable memories to look back on.
However, accidents can still happen amidst the fun times. Slip-and-falls are among the most common theme park accidents. A slip-and-fall accident can cause serious injury, interrupt your day and ruin your trip.
It is important to take the following actions after sustaining a slip and fall at a theme park.
It’s OK to change your plans because of an accident
Seek immediate medical attention. While you may want to pretend that you are fine to go about your day to not disrupt anyone else’s good time, this is not a good idea. Your health and safety must come first.
Most theme parks have medical stations to provide you with immediate aid, but you should call an ambulance or head to the nearest hospital for a checkup. In addition to getting any medical help you may need this creates documentation of your injuries.
Gathering your evidence
Keep the clothing and shoes you were wearing during the incident. These could be valuable evidence, especially if the defense tries to argue that the clothing or shoes caused or contributed to the accident.
Your clothing and shoes are just one piece of evidence that can help you build a personal injury case. Take pictures of your injuries and any other damage such as torn clothing. Document the scene where the slip and fall occurred. Take pictures of the area you slipped and fell and pay particular attention to any dangerous conditions around it.
Talk with any witnesses who saw you slip and fall. Obtain their contact information and get their statements in writing, if possible.
Talking with the theme park and insurance company
Notify the theme park staff about the injury. Find a security officer, park manager or anyone else in charge who can take an official report. Provide them with the date, time and location of the incident and request a copy of the report.
Once you file a personal injury claim, the theme park’s insurance company will likely contact you and offer you a settlement. Be careful when speaking with any representatives who contact you, as your statements could be used against you.
Personal injury claims require proving negligence. Florida uses a comparative fault standard in negligence cases, meaning that any damages you recover are reduced by your own percentage of fault. This is one reason why you should be careful about what you say to an insurance company representative. Even a simple apology could be seen as admitting fault.
If you experience a slip and fall accident at a theme park in Florida, taking these steps can help you protect your rights and increase your chance of receiving compensation for your damages.
