Accidents abroad can be expensive. Finding adequate treatment can leave a hole in your pocket but fortunately, you may be able to claim compensation for your financial losses.
Here is a step by step process that you should always follow if you’ve been injured on holiday.
- If you or a loved one has an accident abroad, you should always report the incident to the hotel or service provider. If you don’t do this, the court may ask why as the issue could have been resolved at this stage.
- Seek medical treatment. You may need to go to the hospital or local pharmacist. Make sure to keep hold of any receipts or records of your visit to any health centre.
- Assess what could have caused the injury. Common incidents could be slips and trips in the hotel due to cracked pathways or excursions provided by the hotel/tour operator that have been inadequately supervised.
- Talk to witnesses. Other holidaymakers may have seen the accident; they may be able to recall what happened. Ensure you get their contact details in case a statement is needed in the future.
- Collect evidence. Take photos and keep hold of any medical records or prescription receipts. You may also be able to claim for travel expenses to and from medical centres, so keep hold of any receipts for travel.
- Is your holiday a package holiday? A package holiday consists of an arranged combination of services such as transport (plane tickets), accommodation and any other services (excursions).
- Collect all the paperwork regarding your holiday; most importantly look for the holiday provider’s terms and conditions as that will tell you who to sue. The Package Travel Regulations 1992 states that liability is placed upon the organiser, the retailer or other parties within the contract. Your personal injury solicitor will be able to tell you who is liable for your injuries.
- What are they liable for?
– Breaching a duty of care such as health and safety standards being below par
– Not providing services with reasonable care and skill as stated in the contract - You can claim for compensation for the injury itself, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the loss of enjoyment and any financial losses you may have suffered. For example, you may have had to pay for medical care whilst you were abroad. The compensation you receive is completely dependent on the nature of your injury, its severity, how it has affected you and the prognosis of recovery.
- Here at GSR solicitors, we will take on your case under a no win, no fee agreement. We are personal injury specialists that have been experts in this field for many years.
Examples of Accidents Abroad
- Road Traffic Accidents
- Food Poisoning or Holiday Illness – must have happened in the last 3 years, must be a package holiday, symptoms must have lasted more than 7 days and must have been caused by poor food hygiene.
- Legionnaires Disease
- Bed Bugs
- Norovirus
- Infections
- Food poisoning from e-coli/salmonella
- Accidents on Airplanes
- Burns from hot drinks
- Slips, trips and falls whilst alighting and leaving the plane
- Head injuries
- Injuries from falling objects not properly contained in the overhead compartments
- Accidents at Hotel and Swimming Pool
- Head injuries – a diving board may be placed in an area of the pool that is not deep enough
- Contaminated/unsafe water – may lead to bacterial infections
- Broken glass causing injury
- Cuts, slips and falls due to health and safety issues around the pool such as broken tiles or unmarked wet floors
- Sports Injuries: football, skiing, snowboarding etc.
- No supervision
- Staff were untrained
- Equipment was unsafe
Here at GSR, we are personal injury specialists who always make the time for our clients. We work with you on a no win, no fee basis so you won’t have to pay anything if your case in unsuccessful. Contact us on 01772 356201 or email team1@gsrsolicitors.com today for your free consultation so we can assess your case.
