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A new report by Tripadvisor shows that 3 cities in Florida – Orlando, Miami and Key West – are among the top 5 most popular vacation destinations in the U.S. The Sunshine State boasts beautiful weather, gorgeous beaches and waterways, fun night life, exciting theme parks and water parks, and of course, delicious cuisine. Figures from VisitFlorida.org show that in 2021, Florida saw 122.4 million visitors. With that many people coming to Florida, there are bound to be some mishaps that lead to injuries.

Below you will find the top five most common injuries suffered by tourists visiting Florida:

  1. Fractures and broken bones: Falling from a height or other traumas can certainly result in fractures or broken bones, but the most common reason for fractures or broken bones are car accidents. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, around 200,000 car accidents occur annually on Florida’s roadways, equaling out to 650 crashes per day. Visitors who are unfamiliar with the road and traffic patterns are at a greater risk of being involved in a car accident. Many tourists elect to not drive themselves and use rideshare services, like Uber or Lyft. These are great services, but also carry risks. If you are injured while on a ride with an Uber or Lyft driver, we can help.
  2. Internal organ injuries: Florida is ranked as the No. 1 most dangerous state in the country for pedestrian deaths, according to U.S. News. With that said, tourists are at a great risk of being hit by a car while walking or biking to their destinations. If you are lucky enough to survive being struck by a car, then you could be left suffering severe damage to internal organs, like your stomach, spleen, heart, kidneys, liver, and brain.
  3. Injured-on-Vacation-300x300Neck and head injuries: Car accidents, slip and falls, trip and falls, sporting and recreational accidents, and too much alcohol consumption are all common causes of head and neck injuries. Using golf carts, bikes, electric scooters – all popular modes of transportation in the Sunshine State – can present risks to tourists who are not used to using these vessels. Hiking, surfing, paddle boarding, parasailing, snorkeling, and kayaking are all recreational activities that many tourists partake in, but there are inherent risks.
  4. Soft tissue injuries: These injuries involve muscles, tendons, and ligaments and commonly result in sprains, strains, tendinitis, bursitis, and contusions. Many of these injuries are the result of sporting activities, but they can also occur from slip and fall or trip and fall incidents. Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents often happen at resorts and hotels in Florida vacation destinations, especially those that have beach access and swimming pools. Hotel owners are responsible for making sure that their premises are free from any and all hazards that could lead to guests sustaining injuries. If the premises are not properly maintained and clear of clutter, water, and debris, or have no warning signs about any dangerous conditions, then the hotel could be held liable for any injuries suffered by guests.
  5. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): A TBI is an injury that affects how the brain works. A blow, bump or jolt to the head can lead to a mild TBI or concussion, a moderate TBI or a severe TBI. The CDC reports that there were 64,000 TBI-related deaths in the U.S. in 2020. There can be numerous reasons for TBIs, but most Florida visitors suffer TBIs from recreational activities, like jet skiing, swimming and diving, boating, and parasailing.

Whatever injuries you have suffered, whether from a negligent hotel or a faulty jet ski rental beach company, our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can pinpoint who is liable and pursue financial compensation for your suffering. We specialize in all types of personal injuries and wrongful death cases, including what is known as “resort torts,” or injuries or death that happen while on vacation and staying at a resort, hotel, or in a recreational setting. Continue reading

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LADY LAKE, FL – Two teens were killed and two others were sent to the hospital following  single-vehicle crash in the Lady Lake area on Sunday afternoon.

According to WESH, the 18-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle near the intersection of Water Oak Boulevard and Teague Trail at about 3:15 a.m. The vehicle then struck a curb, ejecting the driver and one back seat passenger.

The driver and one of the back seat passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. They were not wearing their seatbelts when the incident occurred

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GAINESVILLE FL – A man was fatally struck by a vehicle in northwest Gainesville while riding his bicycle this morning.

According to WCJB, the victim was riding on Waldo Road near the intersection with Northeast 127th Street when he was hit by an unspecified vehicle.

The bicyclist, an unidentified 28-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

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SPRING HILL, FL – A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle collision east of Spring Hill on Friday morning, the Tampa Free Press reports.

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol say the motorcyclist was heading south on Anderson Snow Road when he turned left at Corporate Boulevard and crashed into a northbound Jeep Wrangler.

The motorcyclist, an unidentified Spring Hill man, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

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HAWTHORNE, FL – A woman was killed in a head-on collision in Alachua County on Saturday morning.

According to Ocala News, the 27-year-old man driving a 2009 Chevrolet SUV was heading south on US-301 when he lost control for unknown reasons. The SUV crossed the median and entered the oncoming lanes, where it slammed into a 1996 Ford pickup truck.

A 24-year-old passenger of the SUV was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries a few hours later. The driver was taken to the same hospital with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries.

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GAINESVILLE, FL – A man from Gainesville was killed early Sunday morning following a single-vehicle crash in Alachua County.

According to Ocala News, the incident took place at about 4 a.m. along FL-121 near the intersection with Southwest 78th Lane.

Troopers say the victim’s SUV drifted off the side of the roadway for unknown reasons and overturned. The driver, a 69-year-old Gainesville man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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TAMPA, FL – A woman was killed in a collision involving a police patrol vehicle near Tarpon Springs this morning.

According to WFLA, the crash took place at about 2:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of US-19 near the exit to Klosterman Road.

FHP said several patrol vehicles were parked on the inside lane of the freeway when a 2010 Hyundai Accent slammed into the rear of one of the cruisers.

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ZEPHYRHILLS, FL – Two people were hospitalized today after a vehicle they were working under fell on top of them, reports WFLA.

The incident happened on Windknob Court at an unspecified time on April 18. Pasco County Fire Rescue designated the men as trauma alerts and scrambled two medical helicopters to the area.

Little else is known about the incident at this time. We will provide updates as possible.

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LAND O’ LAKES, FL – A pedestrian was killed by a driver in a Land O’ Lakes parking lot on Monday reports FOX 13.

The collision happened in the parking lot of a permanently closed dance and gymnastics center on Venezia Drive near SR-54. a driver in a black Jeep Wrangler ran over an adult pedestrian and fled the scene.

The victim died of their injuries.

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WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – A man died and three people suffered serious injuries after a collision on FL-54 Thursday morning.

The fatal crash happened around 10:15 a.m. as a Zephyrhills man was traveling eastbound in an SUV approaching Foxwood Boulevard reports the Tampa Free Press.

The 79-year-old man lost control of the SUV and crashed into several construction barrels on the outside shoulder. The SUV then crossed the roadway and struck an oncoming van nearly head-on.

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