Being injured in an accident abroad can have devastating consequences, and in some circumstances, this could lead to a loss of employment upon your return home.
The most common accidents that our expert international lawyers deal with are road traffic collisions; including quad bike and jeep accidents, accidents around swimming pools, accidents in hotel rooms - falls on stairs, ramps and in other public areas, cycling accidents, cruise and boating accidents, adventure holidays, medical negligence and assaults.
To protect yourself from accidents while away on holiday and for advice on what to do if you do suffer an injury, follow our expert tips:
Before travelling, ensure you have travel insurance with good medical assistance cover for the whole duration of your trip. If you are holidaying within the European Economic Area (EEA), an EHIC card will enable you to secure access to state healthcare in other EEA countries. You can get one online or at your local post office for free, but you shouldn’t rely on this alone. This would not cover the cost for you to be repatriated by air ambulance back home if you were seriously injured
It is important to read the fine print of your insurance policy to make sure that it gives you the right level of cover. Look out for policy limit and exclusions
Look out for any safety advice and warning signs around your holiday complex for guidance on what the local customs and rules are and for any advice on how to avoid injury. The same advice goes for any excursions you go on
When you get into your hotel room/accommodation, check for any faults and report these to the hotel staff or to your holiday rep in the form of an inventory. If possible, take photographs to provide evidence
If there isn’t already, request a sticker from hotel staff to place on any glass doors
If you do have an accident, you must report it as soon as possible to your resort representative and/or hotel staff
As soon as possible after the accident, contact your travel insurance provider to seek advice on your level of coverage for medical attention. Some companies have a strict timing policy with a set period for making a claim from the time of the accident, which is worth checking before you travel. It is also useful to keep the contact number for your provider to hand
Make sure that your accident has been recorded in the hotel’s accident book, and keep a copy of this. If possible, take photographs of where the accident happened and what might have caused it. If there were any witnesses to the accident, take a note of their names and contact details
If you seek medical attention, keep a report of any doctor’s notes, hospital documentation, and medical treatment receipts
If you can, it might be helpful for you/a member of your family to keep a diary of your appointments or any discussions with hotel staff or management
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