5 Common Tourist Injuries To Watch Out For In Florida

Whether you are in Florida to experience Miami’s nightlife or take the family to Disney World, there is no shortage of attractions and activities for you to enjoy. Floridians are accustomed to hosting tourists from around the world. As with any popular tourist destination, however, a number of tourists are injured annually in Florida, according to a personal injury attorney.

Whether you are involved in a car crash on Interstate 75 or you slip and fall at an amusement park, tourists are susceptible to the same injuries as Florida natives. Knowing common ways that you might be injured in Florida and how to reduce your risk can help you and your family have a more enjoyable experience while visiting the Sunshine State.

For Florida tourists, the following five types of injuries tend to be the most common:

1. Fractures

A fracture is a broken bone, and Americans suffer nearly seven million broken bones annually that require medical attention. Fractures range in severity from tiny partial fractures that are only visible on X-rays to compound fractures that pierce the skin and are easily visible. The more severe the fracture, the longer your recovery will be.

As a tourist, you can experience broken bones in the hands, feet, legs, and arms in a minor or moderate accident. More serious slips and falls could lead to broken hip or shoulder joints.

Bone fractures are a common injury following a motor vehicle accident or slip-and-fall. Practice safe driving techniques while on the road and avoid driving while impaired. Watch your footing when you are at the store or outside at an attraction, and take care not to trip on wires, uneven walkways, or wet and slippery surfaces.

2. Organ Damage

Trauma to your internal organs may not be immediately noticeable. You may suffer a blow to your abdomen but not feel any differently afterward. Eventually, symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and blood in your bowel movements can confirm that something is wrong. Without prompt medical attention, some organ damage can be life-threatening.

If you suffer any significant blow to the abdomen or are involved in a motor vehicle crash, going to the nearest emergency room for evaluation is recommended. There, doctors and nurses can conduct medical imaging to discover any organ damage you might have suffered. Early intervention and treatment can prevent a medical emergency later.

Motor vehicle accidents and bicycle accidents all carry the potential to inflict injuries to your spleen, stomach, and other internal organs. For example, getting into a bicycle accident can cause your body to hit the handlebars with enough force to tear an internal organ. The same damage can occur if you are riding in a vehicle and must come to a sudden stop.

3. Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

As many as 500,000 individuals suffer some degree of spinal cord injury annually. Some falls, and severe car accidents inflict trauma on the spine and spinal cord. For example, you might slip, fall, and land on your back while shopping or visiting an amusement park. 

Similarly, vehicular and bicycle accidents can also directly or indirectly cause harm to the bones of your spine and the nerves that comprise your spinal cord.

If your spinal cord is damaged, you could experience shooting pain that radiates from your back out into your arms and legs. Pain in your back is also often a telltale sign of a herniated or bulging disc. Severe nerve damage from a fall or vehicle wreck can leave you partially or completely paralyzed.

4. Loss of Limbs

Amputations or loss-of-limb injuries occur when a finger, toe, or other body part is severed or crushed in a traumatic accident. Alternatively, they can occur when a body part suffers such trauma that the muscles, nerves, and vessels of that body part cannot be repaired. At this point, medically amputating the body part becomes necessary. 

Hundreds of thousands of people undergo a limb amputation every year. Losing a limb in an injury accident is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical care. In some cases, doctors may be able to reattach the severed limb. Otherwise, medical care is focused on addressing blood loss and limiting any damage to surrounding tissues.

Car accidents and motorcycle accidents are common situations that can lead to an amputation or loss of limb. Fingers, toes, hands, and feet can be severely injured in these accidents. Amusement parks where hands and feet can be crushed by machinery can also lead to an amputation.

5. Traumatic Brain Injuries

In 2021 alone, over 200,000 people were hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and more than 60,000 people died. Tourists are just as susceptible to a head injury as Florida residents. The carefree attitude that many adopt while on vacation can blind them to the risks they face when engaging in certain activities.

Slips and falls and motor vehicle crashes are common ways that you can suffer a concussion — a common form of TBI. However, a near-drowning accident can also lead to a traumatic brain injury. If you ingest too much water, your brain becomes deprived of oxygen. If you persist in this state for more than a few minutes, your brain begins to die.

No matter the type of brain injury you suffer, it is imperative that you get medical care as soon as possible. The faster you are diagnosed with a TBI and begin receiving treatment, the greater the chance you have of preventing severe and permanent harm. 

Tourist Safety When Visiting Florida

Many of these common injuries occur in accidents that can be prevented. When visiting Orlando or other cities in Florida, you can feel confident that residents and businesses want you to enjoy your stay. However, it’s important to always remain aware of your surroundings and avoid taking unnecessary risks. 

If you experience an accident while in the Sunshine State, a personal injury attorney can help you navigate a personal injury claim and seek compensation.