Trip of a Lifetime?

We are of course referring to your holidays and not a mishap. However with the summer holiday period fast approaching, if you do suffer an injury abroad here are a few things worth knowing:

– remember to pack your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card) if you are travelling to the EU or EEA. However you should also take out travel insurance for the additional costs (over and above medical treatment) that you may incur.
– you should check whether you are travelling on a packaged holiday (i.e. if you booked the flight and accommodation through the same company). If not, different laws will apply and you will probably have to commence proceedings where the accident happened (travel insurance is essential in such cases).
– if it was a packaged holiday, then your rights are the same whether injured at your holiday accommodation or on a daily excursion. You will be entitled to sue in England and Wales, but you will have to establish that the accident was not your fault – as you would with a personal injury sustained at home.
– report the accident to your holiday rep or the hotel/accommodation and get medical assistance abroad and advise your insurers of your plight as soon as possible so that they can advise and guide you so that you do not prejudice your policy. Do not wait until you come home.
– take as much information home with you as you can such as photographs of the scene, names and addresses of witnesses and relevant medical records
– keep and a note of all expenses incurred as they do add up so that it will make it easier to pursue a claim, if you decide to do so, upon your return.
Happy holidays folks!