Accidents and Illness Abroad Claims  

Illness Abroad Claims 

Expertise And Understanding From Irwin Mitchell

Holidays are an important time for all of us – a time for us to relax and recuperate. If you suffer illness whilst on holiday abroad, it can not only ruin your holiday, but may even cause lasting damage to your health.

If you’ve suffered an illness on holiday then you could make a claim for compensation.

At Irwin Mitchell our lawyers fight fearlessly to achieve the best outcome for your claim. We’re renowned for our understanding of the issues affecting you and your family due to an illness abroad, and we know what positive action to take to make a difference.

Our lawyers offer the highest level of professionalism and expertise, combined with dedication and sensitivity.

Above all, we put you first.

Handling Illness Abroad Claims With Expertise And Sensitivity

If you have been unlucky enough to suffer illness abroad, whether in a hotel, on a cruise-ship or in other circumstances, you may well be able to apply for compensation or damages.

Here at Irwin Mitchell, we act for individuals – and groups of clients - who have suffered an illness (including food poisoning) on holiday. Our clients range from individual families to groups of 1,000 clients or more who make holiday complaints resulting from illness abroad. Many people may be entitled to receive compensation for damages or losses sustained as a result of the holiday illness.

Just because your illness occurred abroad, you do not always have to make a claim in that country. If you have suffered illness in a hotel as part of a package holiday then it may be possible, depending on the circumstances, to bring a claim in the UK Courts against the Tour Operator. In other cases, claims may be made abroad, for example against the hotel.

Irwin Mitchell is the UK's leading firm of solicitors in travel litigation. We have an enviable reputation for pursuing group actions and individual claims for people who have suffered illness abroad.

As well as a team of specialist English holiday illness lawyers who are well equipped to handle holiday complaints, we also have several Spanish, French, German and other foreign lawyers who are able to provide specialist advice on foreign law issues.

Proven Expertise In Illness Abroad Claims

Irwin Mitchell is also one of the largest and most experienced personal injury law firms in the country.

Our team includes many of the country’s finest personal injury lawyers. They operate in highly specialised teams, offering the highest level of legal expertise in Illness abroad claims.

We offer an efficient, friendly and dedicated personal injury team with extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with compensation claims arising out of illnesses and accidents which have occurred abroad. We have 50 lawyers who litigate on claims ranging from several thousand pounds to seven figures. We deal with foreign agents in more than 80 jurisdictions throughout the world. We also have offices in Madrid and Málaga.

Our Head of Practice, Clive Garner, is championed as a lawyer “at the very top of his game.” He secured millions of pounds in damages for illnesses and injuries suffered abroad in 90 class actions in one 12-month period alone. The group has successfully recovered damages for more than 10,000 clients who suffered illness abroad, including group actions involving holidaymakers at hotels in southern Spain, Majorca, Turkey, Tunisia and Dominican Republic

Irwin Mitchell won The Lawyer Award for ‘Litigation Team of the Year’ in 2000 and has also won The Lawyer Award for the ‘National Law Firm of the Year’ in 2007.

We are top-ranked in both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for work for claimants in relation to accidents and illness claims abroad. The 2008-2009 Chambers and Partners entry stated:

‘With huge resources, an impressive track record and a constant flow of cases, this firm is one of the recognized leaders in claimant work. Lawyers at this “eminent and highly motivated practice” are applauded for their wide-ranging experience, and for “always responding extremely quickly to clients’ needs.”

Members of our team regularly lecture internationally, are consulted on international law reform issues and hold positions of responsibility in several leading international organisations, including PEOPIL, and the American Association of Justice.

Irwin Mitchell’s Commitment To Making A Difference

Irwin Mitchell’s first commitment is to you, and to achieving the best outcome for your claim.

We also have a long history of campaigning with leading organisations in numerous personal injury fields. Together with those organisations we seek improvements in health and safety, to prevent accident and injury where possible, and improve the quality of life and levels of compensation for those who have suffered injury.

We have also pursued many leading legal cases in order to improve the prospects of success of claims for various forms of personal injury, and to obtain fairer compensation.



£10,000 awarded for IBS contracted at the Beach Club Hotel

Alan and Karen Turnbull, of Tyne & Wear both arrived at the Beach Club Hotel in March 2002. That evening, they were told by another guest that there was an illness bug in the hotel. When they approached a Tour Representative they were shocked to find out that he had been sick himself.

Mr Turnbull suffered from very severe vomiting and diarrhoea along with loss of appetite. Fortunately his symptoms ceased after four days. Mrs Turnbull, however, still suffers from ongoing problems. Initially, she experienced severe sickness and diarrhoea, with very painful stomach cramps. Even now, she has to be careful about what she eats, having been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Mrs Turnbull said, "It is absolutely shocking that the Tour Operator was not willing to tell people that there was an illness outbreak at the hotel. We had a right to know about the problems before we flew out there. If I had been told, then under no circumstance would I have stayed at this Hotel".

We successfully negotiated settlement of the claim despite liability having been contested since the beginning of the case.

Mrs Turnbull commented on her claim settlement: "I am very pleased that I received £10,000 in damages, but even this does not fully make up for what we have been through."

We have lawyers with the expertise and experience needed to help you with your claim. Choose from the list below to learn more about our experts in this area.

Name Location Job Title Telephone
Philip Banks Birmingham Partner 0870 1500 100
Suki Chhokar Birmingham Partner 0870 1500 100
Demetrius Danas London Partner 0870 1500 100
Clive Garner Birmingham, London Partner 0121 214 5239
Michael Zurbrugg London Partner 0870 1500 100
Ana Romero Malaga Associate +34 952 209 860

Guidance With Strength And Sensitivity

We understand that contacting a lawyer might seem like a big step - especially if you have not done so before and we have therefore made it easy for you to contact us for free initial advice about your claim.

At Irwin Mitchell we understand the real impact of personal injury. Our team of specialists have the skills and experience to give you clear advice about the chances of pursuing a successful claim and to guide you through the claims process. You can then decide if you want us to pursue your claim on your behalf.

We are renowned for our understanding of the issues affecting you and your family, and we know what positive action to take to make a difference.

At Irwin Mitchell we will fight fearlessly to give you the greatest chance of winning your case, with the best possible outcome, and we will support you every step of the way.

Awards and accreditations

Investors In People    Endless LLP St Nick Awards Winner 2009Personal Injury Pro Claim Award Winner Action Against Medical Accidents - Clinical Negligence SpecialistsYorkshire Lawyer Awards Winner 2009Diversity ChampionRehabilitation First Awards 2010 The Law Society Personal Injury Accreditation The Law Society Clinical Negligence Accreditation ISO 9001:2008 AccreditationISO SGS 27001 AccreditationSGS ISO 14001 with UKASHeadway Personal Injury SolicitorA conformance icon, W3C-WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0