Florida is perhaps the theme park capital of the world. With the presence of Disney World, Wet n Wild, Epcot Center, Sea World and Universal Studios, there are countless of theme parks that attract millions of visitors every year. Unfortunately, besides the fun and the excitements, there is also a downside to it – theme park accidents and injuries.

Instead of visitors having fun and good times in the parks, they end up getting injuries, some of which are so severe that they end up spending months in the hospital. If you are ever involved in a theme park accident or you get an injury in the course of having fun in the theme park, it is imperative to get an Orlando theme park injury attorney to help you recover any damages you suffered as a result of the injury.

What causes theme park accidents and injuries?

Theme parks feature thousands of acres of land and they are designed to accommodate millions of visitors every year. There are a myriad of facilities within the parks for entertaining and thrilling guests, and though they are designed to be safe for every user, accidents and the injuries do happen at these facilities.

For instance, the roller-coasters move at dangerous speeds and if appropriate safety precautions are not taken, then the visitors will always be prone to accidents and injuries. The same is the case with the water slides where users may get off track and land on the hard surfaces with a devastating impact.

Here is a brief glance at some of the causes of most accidents and injuries in the theme parks in Orlando:

• Failed safety devices
• Food poisoning
• Negligent security officers
• Failure of mechanical parts
• Slips and falls
• Fatigued ride operators
• Lack of adequate maintenance
• The use of old equipment

Certain precautions are always taken before the respective facilities or equipment are used, and this may include strapping safety belts to prevent falling off the air when one is hundreds of feet from the ground or having floaters before jumping in the pools. But there are other unforeseen incidents which may still happen, irrespective of the observed safety measures. For example, mechanical problems are sometimes inevitable and come with deadly consequences.

Premise Liability Law and Amusement Parks

It is the responsibility of theme park operators to invest in proper machinery maintenance to ensure that rides don’t break down with people mid-air. However, it is not just problems with the rides that concern the theme park operators. Other hazards such as food poisoning may also become a liability to the operators when they fail to ensure all the food vendors have safe and fresh foods for the visitors. There is also the potential dangers of slips and falls in wet sections of the park, as well as in the poorly lit areas.

What to do if you are injured in the theme park

When you get involved in an accident or you sustain an injury when you are on the theme park, there will be concerted efforts by the theme park representatives to try and defend the park and stop you from getting damages from your injuries. You may even receive a call from the risk management department requesting a statement on the incident.

You must never talk to anyone about the incident before talking to a theme park injury lawyer in Orlando. It is vital to seek professional representation as soon as possible, and before the accident is quickly swept under the carpet in the usual misleading red tape.

Time to check and update your insurance policies

The New Year is a good time for resolutions and for doing a review of your insurance policies. This may save you from a nasty surprise in case of a loss. Many people I speak with tell me that they have “full coverage” usually that means the full required insurance, but actually it’s simply the minimum coverage allowed. A few minutes now may save you a lot of misery later.

Auto insurance:

Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This insurance pays 80% of your medical bills after an accident. This is required, but you may still have a deductible. If you have a deductible, get rid of it.

Medical Payments (Med Pay): This is an optional coverage, it would pay the leftover 20% from PIP and then pay additional medical bills up to the limit of coverage. You should have at least $10,000.00.

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): This is also an optional coverage. It covers you in the event that you are injured by a driver with no bodily injury coverage. (Bodily Injury coverage is not required in Florida.) You should have at least $20,000 but I would recommend at least $100,000.00.

Home insurance:

Water damage: Policies are now being written with water damage exclusions or low limits on water damage claims. A water loss can easily do $50,000 to $100,000 damage to your home. If you have a water damage exclusion or low limit have this eliminated.

Mold damage: Like water damage, policies are now being written with mold damage exclusions or low limits on mold damage claims. Mold also can easily do $50,000 to $100,000 damage to your home. If you have a mold damage exclusion or low limit have this eliminated

Dogs: Many policies are now written with dog bite exclusions. If you have a dog you need to have this coverage.

Flood Insurance: Homeowners policies do not cover floods, which is interpreted as any ground water intrusion. You must buy a separate policy for this.

Finally, if you have Peoples Trust Insurance, get another company immediately. It is absolutely the worst company to deal with and requires you to use their own company to repair your home. This company Rapid Response has in every instance I have seen uses substandard materials and workmanship. They will only take orders for repairs from the insurance company and you will not have any input into how your own home is repaired.

I will be happy to review your policy for free, please contact us today at (407-599-2100) or email (david@heil-law.com) if you have any questions.

Still a Common Threat to Any Workplace

Recent studies have revealed that workplace sexual harassment is just as common today as ever, even more so with the added threat of online harassment. Although state and federal statutes clearly define the rights of employees to be free of such instances, the occurrences are still shockingly frequent. In many cases, when supervisors and Human Resources are dismissive or unhelpful it may be necessary to consult the aid of an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer to pursue a fair and just response.

Recognize Harassment

The largest setback in battling sexual harassment comes from a thorough lack of understanding of what constitutes such harassment and what your rights as an employee are. Many victims of sexual harassment are shamed into tolerating unacceptable treatment under the belief that their discomfort is unwarranted. However, any sexual or antagonizing behavior that causes you to feel unsafe or uncomfortable at work is a violation of your rights. Contact a qualified Orlando personal injury attorney if your employer fails to address any of these inappropriate behaviors.

• Any unwelcome physical contact

Even if other coworkers are comfortable with hugging, touching, or bumping, you do not have to tolerate any sort of unwanted physical contact. The simple fact is that No means No.

• Lewd comments, jokes, or pictures

You have a right to expect respectful conversation from your peers in any situation. If your coworkers are fond of dirty humor or illicit material, you should only have to tell them once to keep offensive topics to themselves. Whether the offensive material was shared directly with you or simply in your presence, you can object to this behavior to your supervisor and then to an Orlando personal injury lawyer.

• Inappropriate solicitations

Many businesses do allow consensual dating among employees, but you have the right to refuse such advances. Under no conditions should feel pressured to compromise to what makes you feel uncomfortable. 

• Unlawful retaliation

Victims of sexual harassment often avoid seeking help because they fear retaliation, especially if the harasser is the supervisor or employer. Offering or refusing job perks, promotions raises, or anything else in regards to the inappropriate solicitation is unlawful and unacceptable. If you are forced out of your right to earn a fair wage because you were unwilling to tolerate sexual mistreatment, contact a personal injury attorney for Orlando immediately.

Do Not Be Afraid to Speak Up

Sexual harassment can cause lifelong mental anguish, and many victims that choose to quit their jobs instead of filing complaints are only part of a continuous line of victims. Harassment should never be tolerated by anyone in any work environment. Before involving an Orlando personal injury lawyer, the first step in preventing sexual harassment is stating directly and clearly that such behavior is offensive. Some coworkers are more comfortable with physical contact and questionable language, but you are well within your rights to explain clearly what your personal limits are. If the harassment continues, you should then voice your concerns to your immediate supervisor or HR department. Many companies have expressed policies for responding to such claims, and a fair investigation without fear of retaliation should follow. If you fear that your employer will not take reasonable steps to protect you from sexual harassment, and then document a detailed report of the treatment you have suffered and report these events to an Orlando personal injury attorney.