Different situations that arise during a vacation can lead to a range of serious injuries, from slip and fall accidents to car accidents. Often, a person or organization is at least partly at fault for the incident. If you or a loved one are suffering from an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial recovery.
Whether you’re a resident or visitor of Panama City, our experienced Panama City personal injury lawyers at Fasig Brooks can review your case for free and help you file a personal injury claim. Learn more from our personal injury team about pursuing compensation after a Florida vacation accident.
What Should I Do if I Am Injured While on Vacation?
An academic study on tourist fatalities found that roughly 30% to 50% of global travelers became injured or ill each year. Fortunately, you can take action to protect your rights after getting hurt while away from home.
Report the Accident
Immediately after an injury happens, you should report it to whoever is in charge. Who this is will depend on the location where the incident takes place. For example, you may need to report your accident to the manager or owner of an establishment or another executive responsible for the guests.
If you get hurt in an auto accident in Panama City, you should call 911 or the Panama City Police Department and request a copy of the accident report the officer creates. Reporting an accident to the appropriate person is vital evidence that proves where your accident happened, how it occurred, and which individuals were involved.
Collect Evidence
If possible, take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries. If your clothing was torn or other items of yours were damaged, place them in a plastic bag until you have talked to a lawyer, who may use them as evidence in your case.
Seek Medical Attention
After reporting the incident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you wait too long to be seen by a doctor, an insurance company could use that piece of information to reduce your settlement or deny your claim altogether. When your doctor refers you for further treatment, you must follow through with that treatment.
Contact a Lawyer
If you decide to file a claim against the liable party, you should hire an attorney to assist you. A Panama injury accident lawyer will understand the strict deadlines to adhere to and the documentation necessary in Florida cases.
Start Your Free Case Evaluation
Who Might Be Liable for My Injury?
The person or entity responsible for your injury depends on the type of accident that took place. Every case is different and may be covered by different kinds of insurance policies.
Property Owners or Operators
If your injury happened at an amusement park, hotel, rental property, or another establishment, you could hold the property owner or the business owner accountable due to premises liability. If one of these parties failed to address or warn you of known hazards on the property, a premises liability claim could cover the losses resulting from your injuries.
In an injury accident, it’s possible to file claims against more than one insurance policy. Hiring an experienced Panama City vacation accident attorney will help you determine where your settlement might come from and how much monetary compensation you could recover.
If an accident occurs on someone’s property, you’re typically eligible for compensation under their liability policy. Florida law requires all property management companies and businesses to carry liability insurance with the legally required coverage limits.
Motor Vehicle Drivers
For a car accident, you could receive compensation in one of three ways: from the other driver’s insurance, your own uninsured motorist coverage, or a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Regardless of which state you live in, you could seek compensation from the liable motorist or possibly your own insurance. If you happen to live in the state of Florida, you could also seek benefits from your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
Water Vessel Owners
Although boat owners are not required to carry liability insurance, most people with boats rely on coverages available with their homeowner’s or auto insurance policy.
If a boater is responsible for your injury, you may be able to pursue a claim with the boater’s car or homeowner’s insurance. If a business owns the boat that caused your accident, you could go after the company’s liability insurance.
Start Your Free Case Evaluation
How Much Compensation Can I Win?
Every personal injury case is different, so the amount of compensation you can recover depends on various factors that are unique to your situation.
Some of the factors that can affect your recovery amount include:
- The type of accident
- The extent of your injuries
- The effects of the injury
- The intent of the responsible party
If you can show evidence of malicious intent or extreme negligence, the compensation you receive may be substantially higher.
Start Your Free Case Evaluation
Do I Need a Panama City Vacation Accident Lawyer?
Many vacationers try to handle their personal injury claims on their own. However, this decision often leads to problems. When the insurance adjuster sees that you don’t have legal representation, they might try to take advantage. They’ll make the claims process difficult and offer a lower settlement than your case’s actual value.
An experienced vacation accident attorney in Panama City can help you file your insurance claim, submit the appropriate documentation, and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. You shouldn’t have to pay medical bills and other expenses for the harm caused by someone else’s carelessness.
If you or a loved one are dealing with the aftermath of a severe injury, this isn’t something you need to handle on your own. We aim to remove as much of the burden of recovery from your shoulders as possible so that you can focus on getting back to everyday life.
Speak With an Experienced Panama City Vacation Accident Lawyer
The team at Fasig Brooks will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and work tirelessly to get you compensated for your injuries. We are more than ready to take your case to court if an acceptable settlement can’t be reached.
Our Panama City vacation accident lawyers will use our experience and resources to resolve your insurance claim or lawsuit in a way that represents the full value of your case. The sooner you take action, the sooner you can begin to recover and move forward with your life. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Start Your Free Case Evaluation
