Theme park representatives will likely try to downplay the seriousness of your injuries and may even deny that their park was at fault. Don’t let them take advantage of this vulnerable time. Get in touch with our amusement park injury attorney in Orlando, FL, so we can review the details of your case and determine how to proceed.

What kinds of injuries occur at amusement parks?

There are countless ways to be injured at an amusement park or theme park. Rides malfunction and throw riders from their seats. Roller coasters derail or water slides collapse, causing serious injuries or even death. Park employees may fail to properly secure guests in their seats or harnesses, leading to them falling out or being thrown from the ride.

These are just a few examples—in reality, any number of things can go wrong and cause an accident. If you were injured at a theme park, our amusement park attorney in Orlando, FL, has helped individuals with the following injuries:

• Sprains and strains
• Lacerations
• Concussions
• Skull fractures
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Dismemberment or amputation
• Wrongful death

What happens after an amusement park injury

Families and individuals go to theme parks expecting to have a good time. However, people should be prepared in case an accident does occur. Here’s what to do if you or a loved one is injured inside a park:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the wounds seem minor. A full evaluation from a professional is necessary for the purpose of documentation.
• Do not speak with park representatives until you have spoken with an attorney. Their team members will likely downplay the seriousness of the injury or try to deny that their park was at fault.
• Gather the names, phone numbers, and contact information of witnesses who saw what happened. Their testimonies could be crucial in proving your case.
• Take photos of the area, if possible. This will help document the conditions that led to the accident.
• Call Heil Law as soon as possible. Our attorneys represent individuals who were injured in major theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World.

What to expect from an amusement park accident case

You may be entitled to full compensation for medical bills and lost wages if you were injured in an amusement park accident. The amount of money received depends on the severity of your injuries and how the accident occurred.

Theme park cases can be complex, and you should have the right attorney on your side. Heil Law has represented people who were injured in many kinds of accidents, including those caused by:

• Ride malfunctions
• Operator error
• Mechanical failure
• Improperly secured harnesses or seatbelts
• Defective equipment
• Inadequate safety measures

Whether your accident occurred at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens, or EPCOT, call David R. Heil, PA, for a quick consultation in Orlando, FL. Our attorney will review the details of your accident and provide the compensation you deserve.

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Working with a Winter Park personal injury lawyer is important to ensure the compensation you deserve if you were harmed or injured in a slip and fall. David R. Heil, PA, can examine your case, file a lawsuit, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to get the funds needed to cover medical bills and other damages. Call our personal injury lawyer in Winter Park, FL, to learn about our services and get the process started.

What happens during a slip and fall?

A slip and fall may occur at any time and on any kind of property. They are usually the result of negligence on the part of the property owner or manager. For instance, someone could fall in a grocery store if the staff does not clean up a spill. The same may happen if a restaurant does not have good lighting or if an outdoor walkway is not properly maintained.

Our team members at Heil Law frequently help individuals who have encountered:

• Wet floors
• Poor lighting
• Loose carpeting or floorboards
• Unsafe staircases
• Uneven sidewalks

A slip and fall may cause pain, severe damage, or disfigurement that requires extensive medical treatment. Treatment costs can become overwhelming quickly, especially if you cannot return to work in Winter Park, FL. Nobody should have to suffer from such a large and unexpected financial burden.

What should you do after a slip and fall?

• Seek medical attention immediately: This is an essential step, even if the damage seems minor. Some injuries, like concussions, may not show symptoms immediately.
• Take pictures: Take photos of the area or hazard that caused your fall. This will be helpful evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
• Get witness information: Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses to your slip and fall. Even a short testimony could be crucial in proving your case.
• Keep track of expenses: Save any medical bills, lost wages, or other expenses related to your accident. This will be helpful in calculating any damages you are owed.

How does a personal injury lawyer help with a slip and fall claim?

Those injured in a slip and fall can file a personal injury claim against the property owner or manager. They can provide compensation to cover expensive medical bills, lost wages, and other related damages. Because these claims tend to be complicated, it’s best to speak with a personal injury attorney about how to move forward.

Our team members at Heil Law help with tasks like investigating the accident, filing a lawsuit, and negotiating with an insurance company about compensation. We have a proven track record of success in personal injury claims in Winter Park, FL, and are dedicated to getting each client the best possible outcome.

Contact us in Winter Park, FL, for a consultation and learn how we can help with your slip and fall claim.

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Rain and threats of rain have started to become the norm again in Central Florida. With many days featuring overcast skies and the occasional shower, we find ourselves having to watch our step more than usual. As the seasons progress, and rain becomes more common, caution becomes more important than before. With the wet weather, there will be an inevitable increase in instances of slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall is the most common personal injury claim, but when the wet weather is factored into the equation, the inevitable question people must ask themselves is: do I have a case?

The purpose of this article is to clarify the legal doctrine of reasonableness, and explain how it applies to slip and fall accidents and personal injury law in general.

The Reasonable, Prudent Person

Most legal theory rests on an essential assumption: that all parties involved are reasonable, prudent individuals, and are capable of behaving as such. This is because the law recognizes that certain hazards are common hazards that people are expected to navigate as a matter of course. Take staircases as an example. If one falls down a set of stairs, and investigation reveals the staircase was well maintained, in good repair, had guard-rails, met all building codes, and there were no hazards to impede progress or cause a loss of footing, the owner would not be liable. The reason for this is that a reasonable, prudent person is expected to be able to navigate a set of stairs.

This doctrine applies to all aspects of life, and can mean the difference between liable and not liable, or criminal and non-criminal infractions. If you step off the curb without looking both ways in a city for example and are hit by a car, this doctrine of prudence would prevent criminal liability. However, in that same scenario, the driver may be held to civil liability because the prudence doctrine cuts both ways: a reasonable driver must be cautious of pedestrians in major metropolitan areas. This becomes even more important if the driver in question was speeding or violating traffic laws.

Slip and Fall in the Rain

This is where the rain comes into play. As a natural consequence of the rain, sidewalks and city streets are likely to be wet. Furthermore, entryways to stores and shops are also very likely to be wet. This means that you, as a reasonable and prudent individual, are expected to walk cautiously, conscious of the rain. It is also unreasonable to expect a store to keep their parking lots dry in the midst of a rain storm, thus one cannot claim the store was being negligent in any way if you slip and fall outside.

If you move indoors, however, that is where things take a different turn. It is not unreasonable to expect a store to have mats on which a customer can dry their feet as they enter, nor is it unreasonable to expect a store owner to keep aisles and other parts of the interior that are far from the entryway dry. At the entryway, it is incredibly difficult to keep things dry and safe, but further into the aisles the environment is easier to maintain. Again, reasonableness cuts both ways: a reasonable individual recognizes that rain means things are slipper, and a reasonable store owner understands customers will be tracking water in and should probably give people a way to dry off their feet as they walk.

So Do I Have a Case?

As clarified above, every case is different. Not every injury and bump will merit a civil penalty against the property owner where your accident occurred. However, there are cases where it seems like your injury resulted from your failure to meet the doctrine of reasonableness, but there are other factors that contributed to your fall you did not know about. If you fall getting information such as witness names and photographs of the scene are many times the difference between getting a recovery and not getting a recovery. Use the above as a general guide and a reminder that nothing beats vigilance.

If you have any questions about a fall or any other type of injury, call me at (407)599-2100.

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Most would be surprised the number of fall deaths among those 65 and older is four times the number of fall deaths among all other age groups.

We usually know of a friend or relative who has fallen, or maybe you’ve fallen yourself. Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities, resulting in more than 25,000 fatalities in 2009. The risk of falling, and fall-related problems, rises with age and is a serious issue in homes and communities. Take the time to remove slip, trip and fall hazards to keep your family safe.

Slip and Fall prevention Tips from the NSC:

• Secure electrical and phone cords out of foot traffic areas
• Remove small throw rugs or use non-skid mats to keep them from slipping
• Remove tripping hazards (paper, boxes, toys, clothes, shoes) from stairs and walkways
• Periodically check the condition of walkways and steps, and repair damages immediately
• Never stand on a chair, table or other surface on wheels
• Clean up all spills immediately and completely with proper cleaning solutions

It’s important to know that property owners or store operators are responsible for maintaining their premises in a safe condition, their failure to do so will entitle you or someone you know to recover for the injuries.

Tip: If after you are injured do not give a statement to anyone, as the sole purpose of obtaining these  statements is to either defeat or to lessen the value of your claim.

Contact us for a free consultation about any related slip and fall accident, we want to make sure you know your rights.

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