What Happens When I Make A Claim?
To make a compensation claim for an accident or illness abroad, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with us for a free initial consultation. We'll discuss the circumstances surrounding your accident or illness, advise you on whether or not we think you can claim, and whether you could benefit from a No Win No Fee* arrangement.
If you choose to go ahead, your claim will usually go through the following four stages:
Investigation . We'll establish who's responsible for your accident or illness, and arrange for a medical examination to find out the full extent of your condition.Rehabilitation . If you have any medical care or support needs, we'll help you to access the necessary treatment and advice that you are entitled to.Compensation . We'll work out how much compensation you should get based on the severity of your injuries and your pain and suffering, any medical expenses you've had, and your ability to get back to work. We'll put this amount to those responsible, and they can either accept blame or contest the claim.Conclusion. If your opponent accepts blame, you'll be awarded compensation. If not, the case will be settled in court – although this is rare. If you do have to go to court, we'll be there support you every step of the way. If we agreed to handle your claim under a No Win No Fee* arrangement, then you won't have to pay anything if you were unsuccessful.
If you have any questions about the claims process, please contact us today on 0800 056 4110 and we'll be happy to discuss your options in a free initial consultation.
How Much Compensation Can I Expect?
How much compensation you receive after an accident or illness abroad will depend on a number of factors related to your injury or illness, its circumstances, and the support and rehabilitation you need.
The amount of compensation you could claim is based on:
Your condition, and its severity
Psychological trauma experienced
Current and future loss of earnings if you've had to stop working in the short or long-term
Medical expenses you've had to or will have to pay both abroad and in the UK, as well as travel expenses to any appointments
Your care and support needs – both now and in the future
Modifications to your home
Mobility aids
The amount you had spent on your holiday or travel abroad, and the loss of enjoyment you've experienced
Your pain and suffering
Other financial loss or expense due to your injury
For more information, call us on 0800 056 4110 and we'll be happy to discuss your options in a free initial consultation.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim?
Many of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk to you when making a compensation claim.
At the start of your case, we'll discuss funding options with you, advising you which we think is most suitable. If you have legal expenses insurance (LEI) or are covered by a trade union policy, these may be best for you. Legal expenses insurance is included in many household, travel or car insurance policies, so it’s always worth checking whether you’re already covered.
If we think you're best supported by a No Win No Fee agreement, we'll explain the process clearly. You'll only have to pay anything if your claim is successful – even then your opponent will pay most of our fees, with the remaining costs coming out of your compensation settlement.
Please visit our No Win No Fee page for more information on how it works.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Claim?
In the UK, you usually need to make a compensation claim within three years of your accident or illness.
In fatal cases, the family of the deceased has three years to make a claim, starting from either the date your loved one died, or the date you received the post-mortem results.
However, these time limits vary a great deal from country to country and are much shorter in some countries, so when an accident or illness has taken place abroad, it's vital that you contact us as soon as possible. We are experts in international law, and have a worldwide network of partner law firms that we work with, so we'll be able to advise you on specific time limits. Contact us today on 0800 056 4110 for a free consultation on your case, and we'll be happy to help.
Can I claim compensation after a holiday accident?
If you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or became ill through someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
To find out if you could make a holiday accident or illness compensation claim, speak to our solicitors today.
How do I make a claim for an accident on holiday?
To begin making a claim for compensation, your first step is to contact us. We’ll arrange a confidential chat with one of our specialist lawyers in a free initial consultation. During this consultation, we’ll listen to what happened to you and advise on whether you can make a claim.
There’s no obligation to go any further, but if you decide to pursue your claim with us, we’ll begin by gathering all available evidence to support your claim. Evidence we can use depends on the circumstances around your injury or illness, but typical pieces of evidence can include:
Receipts
Eye-witness statements
Independent medical expert opinions
Photographic/CCTV evidence
Medical records.
We’ll then contact the individual or institution responsible for your illness or injury and inform them we intend to claim against them. If they accept liability for what happened to you, we’ll be able to settle your claim without needing to go to court.
If they accept blame, we’ll work to get you interim payments, which are taken out of your final settlement amount. Interim payments are made before your claim is settled and can be used to pay for ongoing medical or travel expenses you’ve incurred due to your injury or illness.
However, if they dispute responsibility or how much compensation we feel you need, we may need to begin court proceedings. Many claims can still be settled out of court even once trial dates have been set, but if you need to go to court, we’ll make sure you’re as comfortable and prepared as possible.
What types of accidents can you claim compensation for?
The types of accidents and illnesses you can claim for in a holiday claim vary widely. Some of the most common things people make a claim for include:
Road traffic accidents
Sea and cruise injuries
Accidents while working abroad
Criminal and sexual assault
Skiing injuries
Medical negligence abroad
Sports injuries
Food poisoning
Terrorism.
This list isn’t exhaustive. If you were injured or became ill through another cause not listed here, we may still be able to help you. Get in touch with us to discuss what happened to you and we’ll advise whether you can claim.
How much compensation can I claim for a holiday accident?
We can’t give you an estimate of how much your claim could be worth until we know more about the circumstances surrounding your illness or injury. Every claim is unique, and so is the amount of compensation awarded in each case.
Get in touch with us to tell us what happened to you. We’ll listen to your story and advise you on how much you could claim for. How much compensation you could be entitled to is based on several factors, including:
The circumstances surrounding your illness or injury
The type of illness or injury you have
Your long-term prognosis
Expenses, such as medical and travel expenses for hospital visits
Loss of earnings
Any specialist equipment you need
Any modifications you may need making to your home.
How long after an accident on holiday can you claim compensation?
You’ve three years from the date of the accident or becoming ill to make a claim for compensation under the law of England and Wales. The exceptions to this three-year limit are:
Children under 18 years old (the time limit begins from their 18th birthday)
People who don’t have the mental capacity to make their own claim.
The time limits can vary in different countries, so it’s always advisable to start your claim as soon as you can. This is because the details of the incident are fresher in your mind and the minds of any witnesses who can support your claim. The evidence is also often easier for us to obtain.
Will I have to travel abroad as part of my holiday accident claim?
We understand that, while recuperating from a serious injury, the last thing you'll want to do is travel abroad again for hearings and court appearances.
However, it’s unlikely you’ll need to go abroad again as part of the claims process. In fact, in many circumstances, you should be able to bring your claim through the UK courts. We help most of our clients to negotiate a compensation settlement without needing to go to court. Although if you need to go to court, we’ll be with you every step of the way and we have a strong international network of law firms who represent injured people all over the world.
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