Matthew Mincone | February 5, 2025 | Personal Injury
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre theme park that combines the excitement of an amusement park with the diverse wildlife of a zoo. With over four million visitors annually, accidents and injuries are not uncommon. If you suffer an injury at the park—whether from a slip and fall, food poisoning, or an animal-related incident—you may be left dealing with physical pain, emotional distress, and financial burdens. Understanding your legal rights is crucial in these situations, and seeking legal guidance can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Steps to Take
Take the following steps as soon as you can after the accident. If you cannot do so because of the seriousness of your injuries, ask whoever accompanied you to the park to help. You should:
- Seek medical help: Depending on the seriousness of your accident, you may or may not need to call 911 to summon an ambulance. Even if not, you should still go to the hospital to get checked if you suffered any impact at all. The closest hospital to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is AdventHealth Tampa, about three and a half miles away (a 10- to 15-minute drive). It offers emergency care if you need it. Medical records are among the most persuasive possible types of evidence.
- Get contact details for any witnesses: Take advantage of the fact that crowds tend to gather around the scene of an accident. Act quickly to obtain contact details of any witnesses to the accident before they drift away. You can ask your lawyer to interview them later.
- Gather evidence at the scene of the accident: If you are physically able, document the accident scene as thoroughly as possible. Take photos or videos of the hazard that caused your injury, such as a wet floor, broken railing, or unsafe ride conditions. Capture different angles and include any visible injuries you sustained. If applicable, keep any damaged personal items as evidence. This documentation can be crucial in proving liability and strengthening your claim.
- Ask Busch Gardens to prepare an accident report: Busch Gardens should prepare a written accident report and provide you with a copy. This will help you negotiate with the insurance company. Make sure the person who prepares the report signs it. A court may or may not admit the report as evidence, but if it doesn’t, you can call the person who prepared the report as a witness. Your case probably won’t go to trial anyway.
- Write down the story of the accident before you forget it: Write down as many details as you can about the accident before you forget it. Don’t try this if you are under the influence of painkillers or anesthesia–wait until your mind is clear. Nevertheless, don’t delay any longer than you need to.
- Keep all correspondence related to the accident: Keep copies of any correspondence you send or receive in a centralized location. That includes paper records and electronic records such as emails.
Once you have taken the above steps, consider contacting a personal injury lawyer for help.
An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Can Make a Difference
Insurance adjusters prefer dealing with unrepresented claimants because it allows them to minimize payouts for their employers—the insurance companies. Their primary goal is to protect company profits, not to ensure you receive fair compensation. However, once they learn that you have secured skilled legal representation, their approach often changes, leading to more favorable settlement negotiations.
Contact the Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers, based in Tampa, Florida, is dedicated to protecting your rights and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve. Most of our cases settle out of court, saving clients time and stress. Our services come at no upfront cost—we only get paid if we win. If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tampa, FL, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve Hillsborough County and its surrounding areas:
Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers
1925 E 6th Ave Ste 10
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 800-0810
About The Author
Attorney Matthew Mincone is the founder of Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers. He earned his law degree while attending night programs in New York and is licensed to practice in Florida and New York. With over 15 years of legal experience, Matthew focuses on personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents involving cars, commercial trucks, and motorcycles. His commitment to personally handling each case ensures clients receive dedicated representation. Click here to view some of the remarkable case results that Matthew has successfully achieved.
Location: Tampa, FL
