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Serious Injury Abroad Claims

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Serious injuries are devastating, life-changing events wherever they occur. But when injuries have happened abroad, getting your life back on track can become that little bit more complicated. In situations like this, it helps to have the experts on your side.

If you've been seriously injured while abroad in an accident that wasn't your fault, our lawyers could help you claim compensation from the party responsible for your injuries.

Our highly experienced lawyers have helped to recover hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation for clients who have been seriously injured in a wide range of accidents abroad, whether they were overseas for work or on holiday. Circumstances in which we've made successful claims include:

  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Accidents at sea
  • Road traffic accidents
  • Skiing and sports injuries
  • Medical negligence
  • Criminal and sexual assaults
  • Hijacking and terrorist incidents
  • Accidents at work

Most of the international personal injury claims we handle are made in England & Wales. But in some cases it may be beneficial to make your claim abroad. We can advise you on this in a free initial consultation about making a claim.

Compensation claims in England & Wales are normally funded through a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there's nothing to pay upfront, and that you won’t have to pay any legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful*.

We have an unrivalled track record for our successful work for the victims of serious injuries and have successfully represented clients in many highly complex, ground-breaking and precedent-setting cases in the English Courts as well as courts overseas - including the European Court of Justice. A number of our clients have won record awards of compensation.

To arrange a free initial consultation about your international serious injury claim call us on 0800 121 6558 or contact us online.


No Win No Fee
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Philip Banks
Philip Banks Partner Meet the team

Serious Injury Abroad Claims - More Information

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 121 6558 and we'll be happy to discuss your options in a free initial consultation.

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 121 6558 for a free consultation on your case, and we'll be happy to help.

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.

If your illness or accident has resulted in a hospital stay in another country, it's still vital that you contact us as soon as possible to ensure you get your claim started within the relevant time limits.

We can begin working on your claim while you're still abroad – all you need to do is contact us. You can do this online or by phone on +44800 121 6558, or a relative can call us on your behalf on 0800 121 6558.

You can advise us on the best way to contact you while you're abroad, and you can update this once you're back in the UK if you need to.

Our personal injury team deals with thousands of successful claims each year, and our award-winning lawyers are recognised as leaders in their fields.

Meet our team of accident and illness abroad lawyers.

I am relieved that our legal battle is finally over. Our holiday was a nightmare and we were so disappointed. We’re glad Irwin Mitchell has managed to achieve a successful outcome for us”

David, client

Jason's Story

Father Walks Again Seven Years After Life Changing Car Accident jason-icon


Jason, 50, was cycling on holiday in Portugal when he was hit by a car. He suffered serious spinal injuries and the doctors told him that he would never walk again.

But now Jason can look forward to walking his daughters down the aisle despite the doctors’ predictions. Our expert solicitors have secured a settlement from his serious injury claim that’s paid for a high-tech exoskeleton, which lets him walk independently again. He’s even completed the Paris Half Marathon!

Find out more about Jason’s story

 


jason-quote

"I just feel so lucky to be in the position that I am today. I feel like I’m able to live life to the full and I’m determined to ensure nothing holds me back in the future.” – Jason

bronwen-quote

“Securing the ongoing funding for his exoskeleton was extremely important to Jason, and has enabled him to walk again; something he hasn’t been able to do since the accident." – Bronwen Lancaster, Chartered Financial Planner

Read More Client Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

What's The Process For A Serious Injury Abroad Claim?

To make a compensation claim for a serious injury 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, 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:

  1. Investigation. We'll establish who is responsible for your injury, which could involve speaking to witnesses, or accessing reports made by the emergency services. We'll also arrange for a medical examination to find out the full extent of your injuries, as well as assessing your medical and care needs.
  2. Rehabilitation. We'll help you to access the necessary medical treatment and support you deserve to help you to live as independently as possible following a serious injury. This could include physical therapy or surgery, as well as mobility equipment and home modifications.
  3. 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 have incurred, and your ability to get back to work. We'll put this amount to those responsible, who can either accept blame or contest the claim.
  4. Conclusion. If your opponent accepts blame, you'll be awarded compensation. If not, the case will be resolved in court – although most cases are settled without this being necessary. If you do have to go to court, we'll be there to represent and support you and your family every step of the way. If we agree to handle your claim under a No Win No Fee* arrangement, then you won't have to pay anything if you are unsuccessful.

If you have any questions about the claims process, contact us today on 0800 121 6558 for your free initial consultation.

Will I Have To Travel Abroad As Part Of My Serious Injury 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, but don't let this put you off making a claim for compensation that you're entitled to.

It's incredibly rare that our clients have to go abroad again as part of the claims process. In fact, if the party liable for your compensation is a UK or EU-based national employer or tour company, or is insured by a EU based insurance company, you should be able to bring your claim through the UK courts. We help most of our clients to negotiate a settlement without the need to ever go to court, but if you do have to attend court, we'll represent and support you and your family every step of the way.

If your claim does need to be made abroad, which can be the case for claims in the USA for example, we work with an international network of law firms to support and represent our clients around the world.

Any court hearings can usually be attended by your representative abroad, meaning that you can focus on recovering as much as possible while we handle every aspect of your case.

If you have any concerns or questions, give us a call on 0800 121 6558 for a free initial consultation on your case. There's no obligation for you to continue, you're free to just ask us for our expert advice.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell For A Serious Injury Claim?

Making a claim for compensation can seem like a daunting prospect no matter what the circumstances, and we understand that claiming for a serious injury that occurred abroad can seem particularly complex. In situations like this, it helps to have the experts on your side.

We aim to make every aspect of the claims process as simple as possible for you, handling your case from beginning to end. When you do need to make decisions, we'll offer our advice in plain English, without any legal jargon.

Rehabilitation is a key part of our service, and we're dedicated to ensuring that our clients receive all of the care and support they are entitled to following a serious injury. Our compassionate, client-focused approach has seen us become six-time winners of Post Magazine’s Rehabilitation Award for Claimant Solicitors.

Our team of specialist international personal injury lawyers is the largest in the UK, and we've secured hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation for our clients who have been injured or become ill abroad.

To find out more about how to make a claim, and how we can help, call us today on 0800 121 6558 for a free initial consultation about your claim.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Serious Injury Abroad Claims

Road Traffic Accidents Abroad Claims - our expert lawyers could help you secure compensation for injuries and distress
Court of Protection - help protect what's important to you and your family
Rehabilitation - we specialise in helping you get the rehabilitation and support you need to make the best recovery you can.
Asset Management - our Asset Management team can advise you on how to take care of your compensation

* To make a No Win No Fee claim, you need to enter a No Win No Fee agreement that's linked to a suitable insurance policy. We'll explain this in more detail before we start your claim.

About Irwin Mitchell

Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

It's what we call 'expert hand, human touch'.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

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