Accidents Abroad Claims

Accident abroad compensation claims

If you’ve been abroad – whether on holiday or for any other reason – and you suffered an injury or an illness because of someone else’s negligence, you could make a claim for compensation.

Can I make an accident abroad claim?

Going abroad doesn’t reduce your chances of suffering from an accident. You can come across negligence wherever you go. This means you may end up suffering from the same kind of personal injury abroad as you could here in the UK.

If you have suffered an accident while abroad because of someone else’s negligence, you could make a claim for compensation.

Can I make a claim for a package holiday accident?

Yes, in most cases of a package holiday accident, you’ll be able to make a claim for compensation. It is often more straightforward to make a claim for an accident on a package holiday.

This is because your holiday provider is liable for any injuries or illness you suffer the hotel or on a trip they arranged. So if you had an accident while on a package holiday, you could make a claim.

Common accidents abroad

• Holiday illness

Suffering from an illness on holiday can ruin your time abroad. No one wants to deal with symptoms like nausea and vomiting while trying to enjoy their holiday. If you’ve suffered from a holiday illness as a result of negligence – including food poisoning or hygiene-related illnesses – you could be able to make a claim for compensation.

• Sports injuries abroad

When you’re abroad, you might decide to participate in more extreme sports than you would normally. But along with the excitement comes risk. Taking part in a sport you’re not used to could increase the chances of an accident. If you suffered an injury while playing a sport or activity abroad, you could be able to make a compensation claim.

• Road traffic accidents abroad

Careless drivers are found on all the world’s roads, not just those in the UK. A road traffic accident abroad can have lasting consequences for you. If you were the victim of a road accident while abroad that wasn’t your fault, you could claim compensation for your injuries.

• Accidents in hotels abroad

Although hotels are generally safe, you could find yourself suffering from an accident or illness as a result of a hotel’s negligence. You might have suffered from a fall on badly maintained floors or stairs, contracted food poisoning or even have dealt with bed bugs. You could claim compensation for any injuries or illnesses you suffer.

• Slip, trip or fall

When you’re abroad, you’re usually less familiar with your surroundings. This could lead to a higher risk of slip, trip or fall accidents when out and about. You might slip on a wet floor in a shopping centre or fall down poorly lit stairs. Whatever your injury, if it’s someone else’s fault, you could claim compensation.

How much compensation will I receive?

Every accident and injury is unique. That means it is difficult to say exactly what you might be entitled to without a free initial consultation with our team.

Our Compensation Calculator can give you an idea of what you might be entitled to. You can also feel free to get in touch and talk through your situation with our experienced advisors.

Our table of examples below could also  help you work out what you could receive in compensation for a successful claim:

Is there a time limit to make an accident abroad claim?

In the majority of accident abroad cases, you’ll have three years in which to make your claim. Although this can sound like a long time, it’s always a good idea to start your claim as soon as possible.

The sooner you start your claim, the more straightforward it will be to access any evidence you may need. The details of what happened will also be clearer in your mind if you begin your claim as soon as possible.

What evidence do I need to make an accident abroad claim?

If you’ve had an accident abroad, to make a claim you’ll need to present strong evidence. This can include:

• Accident book records

Make sure that if you are injured or fall ill in a hotel, you report it to the hotel’s staff. Get them to record the incident in their accident book and make sure they do it. Get a copy of the report for yourself, if possible.

• CCTV

If your accident happened in public, you may be able to access CCTV footage of it. The earlier you request this footage, the higher your chance of getting it. If you’re able, you could request it immediately after your accident, before you leave the scene.

• Photographs and video

Photographs and video of the accident scene and your injuries can form compelling evidence in an accident abroad claim. As soon as you’re able to, take the appropriate photos of the scene and your injuries – or get someone else to do it if you’re unable.

• Witness statements

Make sure you get the details of any witnesses to your accident – including names, contact details and addresses. They could help to strengthen your case by providing a statement detailing what they saw happen.

• Symptom diary

You could also list the symptoms you’ve experienced since suffering your injury and how they have affected your daily life. Explain how the severity of your injury has changed and how it has made certain aspects of your life difficult – from going to work to participating in your favourite hobbies.

Can I make a claim for a holiday accident in the UK?

You may have suffered an accident while on holiday in the UK. In this case, you could likely make a claim for compensation within three years of the date of the accident.

If you’re not sure whether you have a claim, just get in touch and our friendly advisors will help you work out what the best course of action for you is.

Give us a call, request a call back at a convenient time or start your claim online and we’ll be in touch.