Howard Coker | October 7, 2025 | Personal Injury
A day out at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. But when you get hurt during a fun family trip, it can be anything but. What happens next? And, more importantly, who’s responsible?
Under Florida’s premises liability laws, the zoo has a legal duty to keep the property safe for anyone who visits. That includes everything from keeping walkways clear to putting proper signage around water features and animal enclosures. If someone drops the ball and a visitor gets hurt as a result, they could face a lawsuit.
How Do People Get Hurt at the Zoo?
While zoos aren’t inherently dangerous, they do contain a mixture of elements that increase the chances of someone getting hurt—crowds, water, stairs, animals, uneven ground, etc.
Injuries can happen in a number of different ways, including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Encounters with animals (bites, scratches, and even trampling)
- Trip hazards
- Playground or ride malfunctions
- Injuries in the food court (spills, burns, allergic reactions, etc.)
When it comes to figuring out who’s responsible for an injury sustained at the zoo, the circumstances that led to the accident matter.
Who Could Be Legally Liable?
Some people assume that the zoo itself is always to blame when a visitor gets hurt, but that’s not always the case. Liability depends on the specific details of the incident.
Here are a few of the parties who might be liable for an injury at the zoo:
The Zoo
If the zoo’s staff failed to address a known hazard in a reasonable amount of time (or at least put up signs warning visitors that it’s there), the facility itself could be named as a responsible party in a personal injury lawsuit.
Contractors/Vendors
Most zoos hire outside companies for things like maintenance, food service, and animal care. It doesn’t matter if these parties don’t actually work for the zoo—they can still be held accountable if they did (or didn’t do) something that led to someone getting hurt.
Another Guest
In some cases, another zoo visitor might have triggered the incident. Perhaps they started a fight or shoved through a crowd and caused someone else to fall. Along the same lines, it’s not uncommon for parents to let their child run around without supervision.
The Injured Person
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so if the injury victim acted carelessly (ignoring warning signs or climbing into an animal enclosure, for example), their compensation would be reduced based on their share of fault.
What Kinds of Compensation Are Available?
When someone gets hurt and negligence plays a role, they may be eligible to obtain financial compensation for their various losses.
This may include:
- Medical bills (both current and future)
- Any potential future costs connected to the injury
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
The specific types and exact amount of compensation depend on how bad the injury is and how it has affected the victim’s life.
Not All Injuries Lead to a Lawsuit
Just because your injury happened at the zoo doesn’t mean you automatically have a case. No personal injury case is viable without clear evidence of negligent behavior. Even if your case seems cut-and-dried, gathering evidence can be tricky. You need to be able to demonstrate that someone at the zoo didn’t address a danger they should have known about.
Know Where You Stand Legally After an Injury
Getting hurt at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens can be a stressful experience, and unfortunately, these kinds of incidents can sometimes fall into a legal gray area.
The law doesn’t always work the way people expect, so it’s important to look beyond assumptions and focus on the facts. When your health, financial stability, and peace of mind are on the line, legal clarity is essential.
Contact Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, you don’t have to face the challenges ahead on your own. At Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to protecting your rights, standing up to insurance companies, and securing the compensation you deserve.
Our team will give your case the personal attention it needs while fighting aggressively on your behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward justice and recovery.
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville personal injury law firm of Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County and its surrounding areas.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers
136 E Bay St #5438
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-6071
Find us with our Geo Coordinates: 30.32569719086265, -81.65515220132858
