Michelle was enjoying a package holiday in Greece when a fall at her hotel left her injured. 

The accident happened near the hotel swimming pool, where Michelle slipped and fell at the foot of a staircase. She believed unsafe conditions in the area had contributed to the accident, including a lack of adequate safety measures and warnings for guests using the poolside facilities. 

After returning home, Michelle instructed Thompsons Solicitors’ specialist cross-border personal injury team to investigate. 

Establishing liability overseas 

To support Michelle's case, Thompsons instructed an experienced Greek civil engineering expert to examine the circumstances of the accident and identify the safety standards that applied to the hotel. 

These included the absence of a legally required second handrail, a failure to carry out the appropriate risk assessments and a lack of warning signs in an area where guests were exposed to slipping hazards. In his opinion, the accident was preventable. 

The evidence provided a strong foundation for the claim and directly challenged the defendant's position that the hotel had complied with local requirements. 

Overcoming obstacles during the claim 

Despite denying liability throughout the case, the defendant encountered difficulties during the litigation process. 

Court deadlines were missed and important procedural steps were not completed. This included failures relating to witness evidence and challenges to the claimant's expert evidence. 

When the defendant later attempted to extend deadlines and remedy those failures, Thompsons argued that doing so would unfairly disadvantage Michelle. The matter was ultimately referred to the court. 

The judge rejected the defendant's application and ordered it to pay the legal costs associated with the dispute. This significantly strengthened Michelle's position as the claim moved forward. 

With reduced scope to challenge the evidence that had been gathered on Michelle's behalf, the defendant was placed under increasing pressure to resolve the case.

The outcome 

Following negotiations, the parties reached a settlement without the need for a contested trial. 

Michelle recovered five figures in compensation, together with payment of her legal costs.  

The result ensured that she received compensation for the injuries and losses she had suffered while abroad and brought the matter to a successful conclusion. 

Thinking about your rights after an accident abroad? 

If you've been injured while on holiday overseas, you may be able to bring a claim in the UK. Our specialist cross border personal injury team has extensive experience helping people secure compensation after accidents on package holidays. 

Find out more about our Cross Border Personal Injury team, and how we could help.