Frequently Asked Questions about accident abroad claims
1. What type of injuries are covered by Foreign Accident claims?
Accidents abroad can vary, from swimming pool slips to skiing and snowboarding injuries, or faulty hotel equipment and accidents on the road. These can result in laceration or broken bones, through to scalds, brain or spinal injury, as well as loss of life.
2. How can I make a Travel Accident claim?
The rules about whether you can make a travel accident claim can be complicated. We explain below how we can help you to make a claim for different types of accidents abroad.
Accidents while traveling abroad
If you tripped and fell in your hotel grounds of the hotel you are staying in because of a badly maintained footpath, then you could make a holiday accident claim against your UK-based travel agent through the courts of England and Wales. But if you fell because of a pot hole in the local town centre, while you may still be able to claim, the process might be more complicated.
Road accidents abroad
We can provide legal advice on how to claim for a road accident abroad that wasn’t your fault. If your car accident abroad happened within Europe, your claim can currently be settled in UK courts and is protected by EU law, but this may change depending on the outcome of Brexit. You can still make a claim if you the road accident in a non-EU country if the journey was organised as part of a package holiday, or if you made the contract for the holiday in the UK.
Accidents while working abroad
Whether you’ve been injured while working abroad during your studies, on a business trip or as part of a project, we can help you to make a claim if the person who organized for you to be in the foreign country is a UK business or have a registered office in the UK. If the accident was during the course of you being abroad for your employment by a UK business, the claim process would work in the same way as an accident at work that occurred here, and our accident abroad solicitors will investigate your working conditions to determine whether your employer was responsible for your injury.
For free legal advice on whether you are eligible for foreign accident compensation, contact Thompsons Solicitors today on 0800 0 224 224.
3. Can I only make a claim for accidents that happen on package holidays?
No, not necessarily. If you booked your holiday as part of a package deal through a UK-based travel agent, and were injured because of a fault of that travel agent or their representatives, such as hotel staff, then Thompsons Solicitors can deal with a claim within the courts of England and Wales.
If you booked your own travel and accommodation without going via a third party, you may still have a valid claim for compensation if you were injured abroad.
Get in touch with our expert solicitors who can give you expert advice on travel accident claims and the likelihood of your case being successful.
4. How long do I have to make a travel accident claim for compensation?
There is a strict three-year time limit on making travel accident claims.
While there are a few exceptions to this rule, if you are thinking of making a claim, then it is advisable to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Thompson Solicitors’ friendly legal advisors are on hand to answer any questions you may have on 0800 0 224 224.
5. What should I do if I am injured abroad?
If you have an accident abroad while on holiday, it is important that you can prove another person or party was responsible.
You should:
- Get medical treatment immediately – if you do not, then it may affect the success of your claim;
- Report your holiday accident or injury to the hotel staff or your travel representative, where relevant, as soon as you can;
- Log your accident in any relevant accident book and take procures of the area where it occurred;
- Keep receipts for any expenses incurred in relation to your holiday injury, such as travel costs;
- Make sure you seek professional legal advice as soon as possible.
6. I had an accident abroad. Can I make a claim now that I’m back in the UK?
Yes. If you were injured abroad in the last three years and it was someone else’s fault, then it may be possible to claim for compensation through the courts in England and Wales.
The rules are complex, so it’s best to seek professional advice quickly to find out if you have a valid case for compensation.
7. I had an accident while on holiday in the UK. Am I still entitled to make a holiday accident claim?
Yes. If you live in the UK and have been injured whilst on holiday in this country in the last three years, and you believe it was the fault of someone else, then your holiday injury will be dealt with in the same way as any other travel accident claim.
To start a UK-based holiday accident claim, call us today on 0800 0 224 224 or complete our online claim form.
8. What’s the average compensation claim pay-out for an injury abroad?
Compensation for accidents abroad can range from hundreds of pounds to tens of millions of pounds, depending on the severity of the injury inflicted and its short and long-term impact.
The more severe and life-changing the injury, the more compensation is awarded.
Our accident abroad solicitors will be able to give you a better idea of how much compensation you could secure after reviewing your case.
9. Is making a travel accident claim going to be complicated or stressful for me?
It shouldn’t be. The rules regarding whether your case can be heard in the courts of England and Wales are complicated, but that’s why we recommend you enlist the support of one of our experienced accident abroad solicitors.
Thompsons Solicitors has decades of experience and has secured compensation for many people who have suffered an accident abroad. Our accident abroad solicitors are accustomed to dealing with holiday injury cases and will strive to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation as soon as possible while keeping the process stress-free for you so that you can focus on your recovery.
10. When will I get my holiday accident compensation?
There is no set time period for settling compensation claims. The more complicated your claim is, the longer your case may take to resolve.
Thompsons Solicitors prides itself on securing your compensation as quickly as possible, without compromising the value of your claim.
11. Will making an accident abroad claim leave me out of pocket?
No. Your financial circumstances should not dictate whether or not you can seek recompense for an injury you have suffered because of someone else.
If you are a trade union member then you are entitled to free legal representation and support from our accident abroad solicitors, so visit your union hub as soon as possible to find out what your legal package entitles you to.
For those who aren’t members of a trade union, Thompsons Solicitors recommends a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement for people making holiday injury claims. More details can be found on our fees and payment page.
