Florida welcomes more than 130 million visitors every year. Tourists come for the beaches, theme parks, cruise ports, and warm weather — but accidents happen, and when they do, many visitors have no idea what rights they have or what to do next.

If you were injured while visiting Florida, the good news is this: you have the same legal rights as any Florida resident. You can file a personal injury claim, and you do not need to be physically present in Florida for most of the legal process.

• Hotel and resort accidents — slip and falls, pool accidents, elevator injuries, negligent security
• Theme park injuries — ride malfunctions, slip and falls, crowd crush incidents
• Rental car accidents — collisions caused by another driver's negligence
• Beach and water accidents — drowning, watercraft collisions, rip current rescues gone wrong
• Cruise ship injuries — accidents aboard or during shore excursions (see our cruise ship injury guide)
• Restaurant and bar accidents — slip and falls, food poisoning, assault due to negligent security
• Tour and excursion accidents — ATV tours, airboat rides, parasailing, zip lines

Your health comes first. Even if you feel fine, some injuries — traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, spinal damage — do not show symptoms right away. See a doctor before you leave Florida if at all possible. A documented medical record from the date of the incident is critical to your claim.

Report the accident to the property owner, hotel manager, theme park, or police — whoever is appropriate. Get a copy of any incident report. If police respond, get the report number.

• Photograph the scene, your injuries, and any hazard that caused the accident
• Get names and contact information of witnesses
• Keep all medical bills, receipts, and records
• Do not post about the accident on social media

Hotels, resorts, and theme parks often send representatives to injured guests quickly — sometimes within hours. They may offer a small settlement or ask you to sign a release. Do not sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first. Once you sign a release, you typically cannot pursue further compensation no matter how serious your injuries turn out to be.

You do not need to be in Florida to hire a Florida lawyer. At Juan Cordero Lawyers, we handle tourist injury cases throughout the state. We communicate by phone, video call, and email — and we come to you for depositions and court appearances when needed.

We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

Yes. Florida courts have jurisdiction over Florida businesses and property owners. If a Florida hotel, theme park, or property owner was negligent and you were injured, you can file a lawsuit in Florida regardless of where you live. We handle cases for clients from all 50 states and internationally.

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages — including time missed from work back home
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Florida's statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is 4 years from the date of injury (§95.11(3)(a)). However, some cases — particularly those involving government entities or cruise ships — have much shorter deadlines. Do not wait.

If you or a family member was injured while visiting Florida, call Juan Cordero Lawyers at 305.525.8957 for a free consultation. We fight for tourists, out-of-state visitors, and international clients throughout Florida — and you pay nothing unless we win.