Suffering an injury while on holiday can be an incredibly distressing experience. A time meant for rest and enjoyment can quickly turn stressful, especially if your plans are disrupted. At best, an injury may cut your trip short or force you to cancel activities; at worst, it could mean a lengthy hospital stay in a foreign country or even permanent life changes.
If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. This could cover your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and even the loss of enjoyment of your trip. It may also help with necessary lifestyle changes or rehabilitation costs.
However, identifying who is legally responsible for your injury isn’t always straightforward. That’s why it’s important to speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor early on. Our specialist solicitors are here to help.
Was Your Holiday a Package Holiday?
Whether your trip qualifies as a package holiday will affect how you make your claim. A package holiday includes two or more travel services, such as flights, accommodation, or tours, booked together as part of one transaction or linked booking.
If your holiday was part of a package, the tour operator has a legal duty to keep you safe. This includes your travel, hotel, and any activities they arranged. If you’re injured during a transfer, hotel stay, or an organised activity, the tour operator may be liable, and you could make a claim through UK legal channels.
If you booked each part of your trip separately, things get more complicated. In these cases, individual service providers (like airlines or local hotels) are responsible for your safety while using their services. However, because they may be based abroad, pursuing a claim can be more difficult and costly.
What to do if You’re Injured on Holiday
If you’re injured during your trip, follow these steps:
- Get medical help immediately.
Getting treatment is essential, not only for your health but also as evidence in any future claim.
- Keep all receipts and records.
Save receipts for treatment and travel to medical appointments. These can be included in your compensation claim.
- Gather evidence.
Take photos of the accident scene, note what happened, and collect contact details of any witnesses. If you’re unable to do so, ask a companion to help.
- Report the incident.
Inform your tour rep or hotel staff and ensure the accident is logged officially, this could be crucial later.
How to Start a Holiday Accident Claim
Before making a claim, confirm which company was responsible for your holiday arrangements. This can sometimes be unclear, especially if multiple service providers were involved. Look at your booking confirmation or ATOL certificate, these usually identify the tour operator.
A solicitor can help you determine liability, gather evidence, and start your claim. At Oliver & Co we offer a free initial consultation and work on a no win, no fee basis, so you won’t pay if your case is unsuccessful.
It’s also important to act quickly. In most cases, you have three years from the date of the injury to make a claim. Speaking to a solicitor early increases your chances of building a strong case.
People we have Helped
We recently settled a claim for a young woman who sustained an injury to her nose whilst on holiday in Cyprus. She was staying in a hotel and was walking through automatic doors which suddenly closed on her, injuring her nose. The claim was pursued against TUI UK & Ireland as her accident occurred on a package holiday arranged by them. She was awarded £6000 in compensation.
Another claim we have pursued involved a lady who booked a package holiday through Love holidays. She was staying in Egypt and injured her foot when she stepped on a protruding nail on her hotel room balcony. We were pleased to be able to settle her claim for £4500
Need Help?
To find out if you have a valid claim and what steps to take next, get in touch with Oliver & Co Solicitors. Our specialist personal injury team is here to guide you through the process with expert advice and support. You can call us on 01244 312306, email us at law@oliverandco.co.uk or fill in our Contact Us form and we’ll get in touch.
