• Sunscreen and water. Make sure to apply sun block and drink water often, especially for tourists who are not used to the Florida heat and sun.
• Avoid restricted areas. Any place that is fenced or gated off  is for a good reason. If you cross a barrier where you are not permitted, the park may not be liable for any injuries.
• Follow the rules. Safety rules and park guidelines are written for a reason, so make sure you and your children obey them. They are posted for your own safety.
• Stay inside the carts on rides. Be cautious of your arms, legs, hands, hair etc. There are many moving parts on rides and they can be dangerous. Hold on to handrails.
• Pay attention to restrictions. If you or your children are too small—or big—for a certain attraction, do not attempt to sneak on. This is simply asking for trouble.
• Stay in your seat. Don’t attempt to wiggle out or let your children move around. Remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop. Make sure your safety bar or belt is secure.
• Don’t drink. Do not attempt to ride or visit an attraction under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Keep your eyes peeled. If any part of a ride or attraction does not appear to be functioning properly, alert the staff immediately. Better safe than sorry.

So keep these tips in mind when enjoying Orlando’s many attractions this year.

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

In Florida, these parks are required to report their safety and accident statistics to the state each year. This information is made available to the public annually. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractons, 280 million guests visited amusement parks in the United States and rode on over 1.7 billion rides. Patrons suffered a total of 1,086 reported injuries on these rides. 65 of the injuries were considered “serious,” which is classified by whether or not the victim stayed at least one night in a hospital. Serious injuries made up for 6% of all theme park ride injuries.

If you are a victim of a theme park injury, you will want to immediately consult an attorney who has experience with these parks and their complicated laws. You may be entitled to damages and other compensation.

Wooten, Kimbrough and Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

A: Please keep in mind that I can only respond based on the information in your question, and my answer is not legal advice. With that being said, it sounds like you do have a case. The restaurant at Walt Disney World is responsible for your medical bills as well as any general damages, including pain and suffering. You should look to retain an attorney in Orlando, particularly one who specializes in tourist injuries.

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando personal injury attorneys.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, one of the injuries at Universal Orlando involved a man from Puerto Rico was struck by something in his eye while on the Dragon Challenge roller coaster.  The victim’s lawyer claimed that the man suffered a lacerated eye and ultimately had to have it removed.  The Sentinel reported that Universal listed the injury in the state report as ‘eye discomfort.’  Another 61-year old woman at Walt Disney World fell and broke her leg on the Haunted Mansion.

Are these injuries just a normal part of the industry, or do you think they should be doing more to prevent potential tourist injuries?

Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando injury attorney.

State officials agreed to allow Legoland to qualify for a 22-year-old exemption that was originally intended for Disney World and other theme parks.  The park’s rides and other attractions will be subject to the internal safety inspections from their parent company, Merlin Entertainments Group.

“Within our industry, it is common practice for the theme parks to govern themselves as far as ride inspections go,” said Jackie Wallace, Legoland spokeswoman.  “We are following suit.”

What do you think?  Should this park be allowed to govern itself, or is the state responsible to monitor them to prevent possible tourist injuries?

Law Offices of Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A.—Orlando injury lawyer.

1. Universal Orlando’s Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls

2. Epcot’s Mission: Space

3. Wet ‘n’ Wild’s The Black Hole

4. Islands of Adventure’s Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rate Barges

5. Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the top personal injury lawsuits filed against Florida theme parks involved slip and fall injuries, which make up almost half of the lawsuits filed. Most cases were settled out of court, rarely reaching a trial phase, and majority of the settlements are kept confidential. Eleven others — from Disney World’s peaceful boat ride, It’s a Small World, to Sea World’s high-speed roller coaster, Kraken — have each attracted two personal injury lawsuits.

An Orlando injury lawyer can provide guidance if you have been injured while visiting one of the many theme parks in Florida.

Universal Studios in Orlando said that it has stopped simultaneously launching a pair of intertwined, suspended-seating roller coasters that together make up the Dragon Challenge ride. As a result, the roller coasters no longer pass within feet of each other as they advance along the track, in near-misses that have long been the attraction of the ride.

The first incident occurred July 31, when 52-year-old Carlos Montalvo suffered an injury to his right eye while sitting in the front seat of one of the coaster trains. Montalvos’ family was visiting Orlando from Puerto Rico and called their vacation a nightmare. Montalvo’s injury required permanent removal of the injured right eye and the man was already virtually blind in his left eye.

The second rider, 19-year-old Jon Wilson of Ohio was injured last week when something hit him on his foot, arm and face while riding the roller coaster. Theme park’s officials have launched an investigation into the causes of the incidents and believe the ride itself did not play a role in the injuries.

An Orlando injury lawyer can provide guidance if you have been injured while visiting one of the many theme parks in Florida.

Officials said the call came in just before 6:30PM when the ride stopped with riders on board. Universal Studios confirmed that eleven people were 8 to 10 feet off the ground. It took about half an hour for the rescuers to get everyone safely to the ground using a ladder, but the ride remained shut down.

The park opened up the E.T. theme ride at its normal time the next day after an overnight inspection and testing. Universal Studios claims it was a minor technical glitch, but fire officials confirm it was a blown breaker. The riders were lucky that they did not suffer any injuries, but they must have been terrified while awaiting to be rescued.

Some theme park goers are not as lucky to escape uninjured. Walt Disney World reported six guest injuries during the second quarter of 2011, some that occurred on Space Mountain, the iconic Magic Kingdom roller coaster. In one incident, a 48-year-old woman came into the unload area unconscious an was later diagnosed with a hemorrhage. In another injury, a 47-year-old woman felt nauseous, dizzy and out of breath.

An Orlando injury lawyer can provide guidance if you have been injured while visiting one of the many theme parks in Florida.

Walt Disney World decided to keep the roller coaster closed throughout the busiest tourist season as federal investigators continue to probe the fatal incidents, especially that of a mechanic who was killed while working on the attraction in March. The decision to keep the roller coaster ride closed coincides with a six-month deadline facing the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to complete its investigation into the death of Russell Roscoe, a 52-year-old mechanic who was struck by one of the attraction’s ride vehicles. Roscoe suffered a severe brain injury and died the following day.

Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts declined to say what changes they were making to the 9-year-old ride or whether or not they will make any safety adjustments.

An Orlando injury lawyer can provide guidance if you have been injured while visiting one of the many theme parks in Florida.

The watches were also sold at other amusement parks such as Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line ships and the Magic of Disney Shop at Orlando International Airport. Disney, along with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the batteries in the watches can interact with the stainless steel backing, potentially causing burns on children’s skin.

Disney also warned that the Lightning McQueen light-up watch, Tinker Bell light-up watch, and Buzz Lightyear light-up watch batteries interaction with nickel in the watch’s stainless steel back can cause skin irritation to children who are allergic to nickel. The defective watches were manufactured by Time Industrial Manufactory Limited in China. Disney Parks and Resorts has received at least six reports of skin irritation and burning sensations involving this item.

An Orlando injury lawyer can provide guidance if you have been injured while visiting one of the many theme parks in Florida.