Hurt Out of State? How to Handle Vacation Injuries

Attorney Jack Hickey | 888-393-1388 | Free Consult

If you’re hurt out of state while on vacation, what should you do? Do you need a lawyer in the state where the injury occurred or a lawyer in the state where you reside?

John H. “Jack” Hickey is an injury attorney and maritime lawyer based in Miami. In this Quick Question, he explains what to do if you’re injured out of state.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-393-1388 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

In general, a personal injury claim must be filed in the state where the injury occurred.

Though not always the case, in most circumstances it is necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state where the injury occurred. This information may be especially pertinent for vacationers, especially those who find themselves injured while on a cruise. If injured on a cruise, the lawsuit will need to be filed in the city of headquarters, most often Miami, Florida. If you are unsure where to file a personal injury claim or how to find an attorney in that area to handle your case, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and can guide you to the right attorney if they are not a fit for your case. It is also important to note that laws vary from state to state, which is just another reason why it is important to find an attorney in the place where the injury occurred to ensure they have knowledge and experience working with the laws of that state.

A local attorney can point you in the right direction.

The important thing after being injured out of state is to take action in a timely manner. Personal injury cases are subject to a statute of limitations, or time limit. After this time limit passes, the injured party may no longer take legal action against the responsible party for that injury and the time limit varies depending on the state. This is why it is important to be prompt when contacting an attorney, even a local one. In fact, some experts recommend contacting an attorney even if you are still on vacation. Don’t stress about who to call; even a local attorney can point you in the right direction and refer you to a law firm in the area where the lawsuit will need to be filed.

If money seems like a barrier that could keep you from talking to a lawyer, it may help to note that these attorneys offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t owe a penny unless an attorney wins your case.

To learn more, contact Jack Hickey directly by calling 888-393-1388 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Video Transcript:

Rob Rosenthal:

If you're injured while you're on vacation, what do you do? That's what we ask Florida attorney Jack Hickey in this AskTheLawyers.com™ Quick Question.

Jack Hickey:

If you contacted a local attorney, that attorney is going to contact someone who has a national reputation. Hickey Law Firm enjoys a reputation throughout the United States on trial lawyers. The bottom line though, is that you gotta file suit where the accident happened, generally speaking, so it's best to just go ahead, contact the attorney locally. If it's in South Florida, you want to contact an attorney in Miami, such as myself.

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only. In some states, this video may be deemed Attorney Advertising. The choice of lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.