How to Avoid an Accident Abroad

When going on holiday, the last thing you expect to experience or want to experience is an accident. However, for many people the experience of an accident while on holiday is a sad reality. Suffering an injury in any scenario is traumatic but while abroad the payments involved in treatment, travel home and recovery can potentially be costly – especially if the victim has no travel abroad insurance. Therefore, we have outlined some tips to try and stay safe when abroad. 

Avoiding Accidents with Transport Abroad

When travelling abroad many people worry about the possibility of experiencing a plane crash, which causes a lot of anxiety both prior to and during the flight. However, flying is actually one of the safest modes of transport possible, with a very low ratio of accidents compared to the number of planes that fly in a year. When considering what mode of transport, you should take to get abroad you should not necessarily discount flying due to a fear of suffering an accident.

However, you could potentially be injured due to unsafe driving. Whether you were in a taxi or someone else crashed into your rental car, you deserve compensation if the accident was not your fault. You should always be aware of your own surroundings to help avoid an accident if you are driving. If you are being driven by someone else, it is important to not be afraid to ask them to moderate their driving behaviour if you feel they are being unsafe. If they continue to be unsafe then it is a good idea to ask to leave the vehicle. You can always get picked up by another taxi if you felt the person who was originally driving you was unsafe. 

Driving Accidents in Other Countries

Driving in a different country can be very daunting for a lot of people. It is unfortunately associated with the greatest proportion of accidents and fatalities for holidaymakers. However, there are lots of measures that you should take to minimise the risks associated with driving abroad. For example, you should ensure that you know the local road laws for the area you are travelling to before you start driving. There are certain laws, such as speed limits, which might be different to what you are traditionally used to. For example, the speed limits in many European countries are given in km/h rather than the mph speed used in the UK. 

If you hire a car it could be useful to drive the car around a quiet area, such as the renting place car park if possible, so that you get used to driving it before going on busy roads. 

Avoiding Accidents with Holiday Accommodation

Accommodation is another key aspect of any holidaymaker’s journey. If you want to avoid an accident while abroad, especially in a potential area of unfamiliarity, it is important to take care when walking around the local area and to be aware of your surroundings. If you are staying in a resort it is important to be wary that not everyone else staying there may be as vigilant as you about avoiding accidents. For example, someone may leave something in a walking path near to the pool, which could potentially cause an accident. It is good practice to always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. 

You should make sure that health and safety standards are up to scratch, especially when food is concerned. This is important no matter where you are eating, whether you are eating at a hotel, a resort or a restaurant. You should also make yourself aware of where the nearest fire exit is in relation to your room. 

Accidents with Hotel Swimming Pools

If you are staying in a hotel it is worth making sure that the hotel swimming pool has a well-qualified lifeguard on hand. If you have children it is also important that you keep an eye on them while they are swimming and do not leave them unattended in the pool area, as the lifeguard has to survey the whole pool so there is always the risk that they could miss an incident. 

Water Sports Accidents on Holiday

While on a beach holiday, many people enjoy taking part in water sports. While these activities are often very fun, they can also potentially be dangerous. You should make sure that there are adequate safety precautions in place, such as the supply of life jackets. If you are making use of an instructor while on holiday, whether in water sports or another activity like skiing, you should ensure that they are well-qualified. 

Amount of Compensation for Accidents Abroad

The amount of compensation will be unique to each case. The injuries you have suffered as well as the circumstances surrounding the type of accident you were involved in will determine how much compensation you are owed. There is such a large amount of variation in terms of accidents that can occur while abroad that it is best to speak to a personal injury solicitor about the specifics of your case to determine what injuries you have suffered and how they have impacted upon your life.

To find out more about how much compensation you could be owed for a specific injury type, please use our compensation calculator. 

It is also important to note that compensation usually also takes into account special damages. Special damages refer to the costs which are associated with accident and injuries, such as a loss of finical earnings due to being unable to return to work. These extra costs can often be claimed back through compensation. Therefore, it is worth keeping any receipts, such as travel expenses when going to receive treatment, as these may be able to be claimed back in your compensation settlement. 

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have been injured while abroad, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury is available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. 

To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0333 358 2345 or contact us online. 

Explore: Holiday Sickness and Accident Claims