Accidents Abroad

The number of UK citizens requiring hospitalisation after an accident on holiday or on a business trip is rising year-on-year. If you have suffered an accident abroad and you booked a package holiday, Sheldon Davidson may be able to help you make a personal injury claim against your tour operator through the UK courts.

Tour Operators such as Thomas Cook and Thomson have certain legal duties to look after their customers. If the Tour Operator or anybody connected with the package holiday is at fault, then your Tour Operator could be legally liable to compensate you.

Claims for accidents abroad may include compensation for the injuries or illness suffered, loss of enjoyment for you and your family, loss of income due to time off work and costs to help with medication and rehabilitation.

Holiday accident compensation

Some of the most common types of personal injury claims abroad include:

• Slips, trips and falls caused by negligence such as wet floors, dim lighting, uneven flooring or faulty railings.

• Illnesses or food poisoning caused by poor food hygiene standards.

• Injuries resulting from negligence that occur while on excursions, or participating in activities planned by the tour operator.

But remember, the tour operator or holiday organiser must be at fault for your injury. If someone else was at fault or you did not book through a tour operator, any personal injury claims would be dealt with through the courts of that country, which can be a complicated process. Meanwhile, those injured abroad while under the influence of alcohol will find it difficult to prove it was not their own fault.

Road accidents abroad

One of the most common reasons for hospitalisation on holiday is road accidents, including car, pedestrian, bus or taxi passengers, and motorcycle, moped or pushbike riders. Even if you did not book through a tour operator, you could make a traffic accident compensation claim if you were travelling in the EU; under the 4th EU Motor Directive 2003, drivers and their insurance providers are listed on a central database to facilitate compensation claims for car accidents abroad.