Injury Recovery And International Visitors

Miami welcomes millions of international visitors each year. Tourists come for the beaches, nightlife, shopping, and culture, and many choose to rent cars while they’re here.

Should an accident occur and the at-fault driver is from another country, the process of pursuing compensation for injuries can become complex. If you were injured in a crash involving an international visitor, have a conversation with a Miami personal injury lawyer.

Specific Tourism-Related Challenges

Florida law requires all drivers, including international visitors, to obey traffic laws and operate vehicles responsibly. When a tourist causes an accident, they are just as liable as a Florida resident, yet there may be differences in the recovery process.

There are a range of details to consider, including rental car coverage and foreign insurance policies. Most international visitors rent vehicles. Rental companies in Florida are required to carry minimum liability coverage, but that coverage may not be enough to fully compensate for serious injuries. And while some tourists rely on international auto insurance or travel insurance, these policies can create complications. Coverage limits, claim procedures, and even language barriers may affect the process.

Certain issues can create further issues, too:

• Difficulty locating the driver later. Once a visitor leaves the United States, communication and legal enforcement may be harder to pursue without experienced counsel.
• Multiple insurers involved. Claims may involve the rental car company’s policy, the visitor’s foreign insurer, or supplemental travel insurance coverage.
• Jurisdictional questions. Filing suit against a foreign individual may raise questions of jurisdiction and enforceability, although many cases can still be pursued in Florida courts if the crash occurred here.
• Language and documentation barriers. Police reports, insurance communications, and claim forms may be confusing for non-English speakers, which sometimes leads to disputes about liability.

When a person is injured in an accident and the collision was caused by an international visitor, immediate steps to protect a claim need to be taken. For one, call the police and document everything. A police report will be critical for establishing fault, especially if the visitor leaves the country soon after the event. Collect the driver’s passport details, rental agreement information, and insurance documentation.

Moving Forward After a Tourist-Related Accident

Tourism is central to Miami’s identity, but accidents involving international visitors require careful handling. The legal and logistical challenges may seem overwhelming, but you are not without recourse. With the right legal guidance, you can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, even when the at-fault driver comes from overseas.

Seeking prompt medical care and consulting an experienced Miami personal injury lawyer is part of protecting yourself. Medical records not only protect your health but also provide evidence of your injuries. Your injury attorney can untangle the insurance and jurisdictional complexities, negotiate with multiple parties, and, if necessary, pursue litigation to secure fair compensation.

Could you use legal support after being struck by an international driver? The attorneys at Spencer Morgan Law represent accident victims injured by rental car drivers. Call 305-423-3800 to book a confidential consultation.