Holidays should be a time for rest and recovery but not if that means recovery from an accident sustained while on holiday. Accidents happen every day, and holidays are the worst time for motor vehicle accidents. Holiday parties, and the vibrant celebrating that often ensues, entice greater numbers of people to take the wheel after drinking, placing other people like you and your family in danger during one of the most joyous times of the year. But not all holiday accidents involve alcohol and vehicles.
Many people travel during the holidays, and yes, accidents happen wherever people go, causing various levels of personal injury. Most come back from holiday having had a wonderful experience, but some will return home having had a less than enjoyable experience, ruined by a holiday accident or illness.
What are Holiday Accidents?
Holiday accidents range from slipping on the sidewalk in front of your favorite stores to suffering personal injury while skiing. Some of these accidents may warrant necessary and immediate actions while on holiday:
• Road traffic accidents
• Airport and travel accidents
• Slips, trips and falls
• Accidents involving collapsing furniture, faulty fittings or defective flooring
• Accidents in or around restaurants and bars
• Water sport accidents
• Skiing accidents
• Food poisoning as a result of poor hygiene standards
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Other illnesses such as Legionnaires disease or Norovirus
• Boating and cruise ship accidents
• Hotel accidents
• Swimming pool accidents
• Other extreme sports and activities
Most holiday accidents can be prevented, but when they are not, it is important to know your rights and begin your recovery as soon as possible. Wherever you are, those responsible for organizing and facilitating your holiday and activities have a duty of care to you. What this entails is the obligation insofar as a reasonable duty to keep you out of harm’s way. For example, a tour operator in your holiday destination that does not keep his or her vehicles and equipment maintained in a safe working manner may be responsible for any accident that occurs to you or your friends and family.
All companies should have some sort of risk management plan intact. Surprisingly, many companies ignore this option, underestimating their risk levels, opening themselves up for accident claim compensation. If you or someone you know has sustained an injury while on holiday, there are a number of common sense strategies that you can take to make it less stressful in claiming holiday compensation.
• Record the name of the location where the injury occurred
• Record the address
• Record the date and time
• Retain any receipts attached to the location
• Take photographs of what caused the accident
• Take photos of the scene
• Take photos of the injuries you have suffered
• Retain receipts for any care on location or off
• Record the current contact information for any witnesses on scene
Record as many details relating to the injury as possible and also make sure you file your claim in a timely fashion. This will not only make it easier to file your claim, but it will help get you the compensation you deserve to recover in a timely and healthy manner.
If you or someone you know has become ill or suffered personal injury by the recklessness or negligence of a third party over the holidays, it is possible that you may be able to make a holiday accident and compensation claim. This compensation will cover such things as your initial injury as well as loss of your enjoyment while on holiday. If you unjustly suffered an injury over the holidays through the negligence of others, protect your rights and contact an experienced personal injury attorney that will fight to get you the compensation you need to fully recover.
