Orange County is a No. 1 destination for 66 million tourists and travelers from across the world, with its unparalleled theme parks, sporting events, culture, arts, education and economic opportunities. It’s also the place 1.2 million Floridians call home. Many others commute here for work.
Originally dubbed, “Mosquito County” in the 1820s, the county got its current moniker from the fruit that was its chief export throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. When the citrus industry peaked in the 1970s, approximately 80,000 acres in Orange County were filled with fruit trees. However, a series of weather-related setbacks in the 1980s, combined with the state’s overall population growth and the success of nearby Walt Disney World and Universal Studios has resulted in a dramatic shift for the community, from an agricultural society to an urban one.
Orange County today is vibrant, diverse and naturally beautiful. The steady stream of global tourists to our 13 towns and cities are the lifeblood of so many local industries, including hospitality, food service, entertainment, transportation and more.
But of course, every community has its risks too. Here in Orange County, there are of course negligent drivers, some irresponsible businesses and workers and occasionally careless public employees.
The Orange County injury lawyers at Freeman Injury Law are committed to representing the rights and best interests of those who suffer serious injuries or wrongful death as a result of others’ negligence, carelessness or recklessness. While there is much to enjoy about living, working and visiting in this community, there are also a host of potential concerns.
Some of the Orange County injury claims we handle include:
The Florida Department’ of Health’s Injury Prevention Strategic Plan reports that injuries are the No. 1 cause of death for Floridians between the ages of 1 and 44, and the third leading cause of death for everyone, behind heart disease and cancer. The injury-related hospital charges in this state exceeded $5 billion in a single year recently.
The vast majority of personal injuries are needless and preventable. Among the top causes of fatal injuries:
Our experienced injury attorneys handle cases from both tourists and locals. We understand the many logistical and financial challenges visitors face in suffering a personal injury far from home, and we work to minimize that impact and serve as a strong advocate to protect their legal rights and obtain compensation and justice.
Orange County Roadway HazardsTraffic congestion is an ongoing issue throughout Florida. As the fifth-most populous county in the state, Orange County is no exception.
In addition to I-4 and Florida’s Turnpike, there are more than a dozen other major highways that weave through Orange County. These thoroughfares are daily packed with locals, working commuters and visitors from every corner of the globe. That lends itself to a host of issues on the road, including:
There are also the 2,800 lane miles of roads in unincorporated Orange County. The local government maintains a $1.4 million annual budget just for striping and re-strips 190 miles every year. Roads are painted, resurfaced and re-striped on a seven-year cycle. However, there are some cases when road conditions deteriorate faster than crews can keep up. The government has a responsibility to ensure roadways are reasonably safe. When it fails in this and the result is an accident, it may be responsible to compensate the victims.
Other Orange County InjuriesIn addition to roadway risks, a sizable number of Orange County injuries in some way involve the tourism industry. A significant number of these are types of premises liability. This is where the owner of a property fails to ensure the reasonable safety of those on site.
When individuals are on site for the financial benefit of the owner (i.e., at a hotel, restaurant, shopping center, theme park, etc.), the owner owes the highest duty of care to those patrons. That means property owners must not only address known (or knowable) hazards, they must also routinely inspect for potential dangers. Failure to do so is a form of negligence. So too is failure to make sure a site has adequate security to ensure visitor safety.
Medical malpractice also is a concern. Lake Nona Medical City employs some 30,000 people who are paid nearly $3 billion in annual wages and spur $7.6 billion in yearly economic activity for the region. These workers are considered top-notch. Patients have a right to expect their medical providers will adhere to a certain standard of care. When doctors, nurses and other health care providers fail in this, patients do have avenues of legal recourse.
Other cases we see a lot of include construction accidents. Housing and retail development have been booming in Orange County, but not all companies adhere to the best safety practices. Injured workers may pursue workers’ compensation and, potentially, third-party liability lawsuits.
The bottom line is: If you have suffered a personal injury in Orange County, you will need a law firm that is familiar with this region, is knowledgeable about state and federal laws and will fight for your right to be compensated for someone else’s wrongdoing.
Freeman Injury Law – (800) 561-7777 -- Someone on YOUR Side