What to do if you have had an accident on holiday?
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident on holiday, there can be a lot of people and to deal with, especially in the initial few weeks.
Here are some solutions to specific problems that you may utilize.
Please keep in mind that these suggestions are not legal advice and should only be used as a guide. If you would like to discuss an accident that you have been involved in, please contact us.
- Do not accept responsibility until you have obtained independent legal counsel.
- Take down the name(s), contact information, mailing addresses, and email addresses of any potential witnesses.
- Take pictures of the collision scene with your camera or smartphone.
- Before you go, check for any CCTV cameras that may have recorded the accident and ask for a copy if there are any.
- Take down the details of the accident and notify your tour operator or a first responder, who will record it in the incident report book. Obtain a copy of the report.
- If you or anyone involved in the collision is hurt, contact an ambulance or visit a physician as soon as possible.
- Ask for a copy of your medical records if you go to the hospital for medical care.
- If you believe that the accident was not your fault, get expert legal counsel from a personal injury law firm.
Who is responsible for an accident on holiday?
The tour operator for a package holiday might be held responsible if you have an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Even if the accident took place outside of the United Kingdom, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim in the UK.
To be considered a victim, you must have been on an organized tour that departed from or returned to your hotel complex.
If you have broken a health and safety regulation and the accident was your own fault, you will not be able to claim any compensation.
You must show that the trip accident was not your fault in order to prove that it was not.
This implies that if your accommodation was not keeping local health and safety requirements, or you were not informed of any potential hazards that might have put you in danger.
If you have been in an accident while on a tour, you should immediately notify the representative of your travel company or, if there is no representative, call the UK headquarters and notify hotel management.
You should also notify your travel insurance provider as soon as possible, who will be able to give you with any advice or medical care you may require.
Keep a record of all things related to your accident, including:
- Names and addresses of witnesses
- Holiday tour operator and on-site representative
- Guests who are with you
- Any medical treatment taken
- A copy of the accident report book entry
- Take photographs of what and where the accident / injury was
- Any medical reports given to you
When you return back to the UK it is wise to seek legal advice and claim compensation for a number of things such as:
- Injury, pain and discomfort
- Loss of enjoyment of your holiday
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Transport cost
- In extreme cases, you can sometimes get the cost of your holiday back