As the children are counting down to the six week’s holidays many families are looking forward to getting away to enjoy the sun.

Whether you are looking for an action-packed trip, some city sightseeing or a relaxing beach holiday, there is always a chance of an accident resulting in you or a family member becoming injured and putting an end to the fun.

Some examples of injuries we have seen from accidents on holiday include;

• Slips and trips on wet marble floors in hotels or shopping centres
• Slips and trips on uneven floors, curbs or dangerous obstacles in walkways
• Pool-side accidents or accidents in swimming pools or on waterslides, including drowning
• Injuries whilst taking part in activities and excursions
• Breaks, sprains and head injuries from sports such as skiing, surfing and sailing
• Road accidents in cars, taxis, coaches, trams, as a pedestrian or on hired vehicles
• Accidents on theme park rides and attractions
• Animal bites
• Severe food poisoning

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from an injury abroad, knowing what to do may help alleviate some of the stress.

Here we highlight some things to consider, should you or a loved one get hurt whilst on your summer holiday.

Plan Ahead

• It can be daunting to find yourself hurt in a foreign country. Ensure that you have brushed up on your language skills or have a phrase book / language app to hand in case of an emergency.

• When you arrive, ask where the nearest hospital or medical centre is. If you are staying in a hotel, most will have a dedicated medical centre for guests, but if you are in a self-catering villa or travelling around then always ask when you check in.

• It is also useful to make a note of the emergency services number for the country you are visiting. If in doubt, then dialling 112 or 911 will connect you and most mobile phones now have emergency services numbers pre-programmed so that you can call them without unlocking your mobile device.

Insurance

• It goes without saying that you should always have travel insurance whenever you go away. Make sure the policy covers everything you would expect it to and that it reflects what you are doing on your holiday. For example, if you plan to be windsurfing, hiking and bungee jumping – you may want to upgrade your insurance policy to reflect this.

Seek Urgent Medial Attention

• If you are involved in an accident or injure yourself then make sure that you receive medical attention urgently to avoid your injury becoming worse. Often injuries that are treated promptly will help avoid complications, further pain and also shorten your recovery time.

Paying For Treatment

• Depending on where you are travelling and the type of passport you carry, you may need to pay for treatment or healthcare. Ensure that you keep a log of what you have paid out and ask for receipts and bills – this evidence will be crucial if you have a claim to make once you are well and return home. Be aware that the cost of hospital treatment abroad and away from our NHS can be quite pricey. If your travel or private medical insurance will cover these costs, you will be expected to pay out for them first and claim back the cost later.

Report It

• Ensure that you formally report the incident where it occurred. You must report to the hotel manager, tourist attraction or to the relevant authorities.

• Check that they have logged your account of what happened on a computer system or diary.

• Take names of who you spoke to, note the time and date to ensure you have a timeline of events should you need to make a claim.

• If you have booked a package holiday, report the incident to your Holiday Rep or call the UK headquarters if no Rep is available on site.

• If you suffer an accident on the roads or pathways whilst abroad, report it to the police or embassy. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the injury.

Gather Evidence

• Write down what happened as soon as possible so that you can recall the details accurately.

• If there were any witnesses, ask for their written account and their contact details.

• Take photographs of the location of the accident and of your injuries.

• Record dates and times of all phone calls, reports, treatments and medical care visits – both whilst away and when you are back in the UK.

• Keep medical bills and receipts, plus copies of any bills relating to your injury – for example taxis if you were unable to walk, hire of a wheelchair, trips missed or flights changed etc.

Once You Are Home

Often an accident or injury abroad can completely ruin your holiday and a serious incident can become a blur due to the shock or upset. Once you are home you may recall more information about what happened and start to consider whether you have a claim.

Even if you do not feel that you require any further medical attention, it is recommended that you visit the hospital or see your GP as often the levels of service are different to those in other countries and a second opinion may be critical if something has been missed or you have been ill-advised.

If your injuries were caused by the negligence of a third party then you may be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured along with financial losses incurred as a result. To bring a successful claim you will need to prove that the accident was caused by negligent actions of another party – i.e. the hotel or tour operator.

Lamb Brooks is an experienced firm of solicitors who will be able to take all of the details of your accident and advise you promptly whether you have a viable claim. Our team of Personal Injury Experts work on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis, so you do not need to worry about incurring further costs.

A holiday is meant to be a joyous occasion that you have saved up for and looked forward to all year. It is not fair to have your vacation ruined by an accident that was not your fault, especially if you are still suffering or unable to work on your return.

If you come back from holiday with more than a tan and fond memories then please call our compassionate team on 01256 844888 or email enquiries@lambbrooks.com today.

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice.  The law may have changed since this article was published.   Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.