Half Price Holiday in Greece???

Written by Nolan Mortimer
Monday, 28 May 2012 07:03
With the uncertainty surrounding Greece, the holiday industry is bracing itself for a wave of compensation claims from people whose holidays in Greece are ruined by hotels, tour companies, excursion providers and other firms looking to survive what's happening to the country by cutting corners and saving money. In this blog we imagine a worst-case-scenario for a holidaymaker in Greece; inspired by the many holiday compensation claims we have run over the years for people whose holidays have been ruined. I heard a comment on the radio last week "Holidays in Greece are getting much cheaper, grab yourself a bargain...". I have no doubt that you can get some cheap holidays, but I'm not sure what you could expect when you get there? My interpretation of the news and media coverage along with a large dose of imagination, makes me think the worst case scenario of a holiday from hell in Greece would go something like this... A quick scan of the "Holidays, Holidays, Holidays" website tells me that I can get a holiday in the 4* Super Great Hotel in Crete for just £692 per person, a saving of a whopping £352. It's all inclusive too, so I don't have to worry about having too much money with me. I'm booked and ready to go. Let's see what happens. My flight leaves on 5 June, about a week away. I think I'm in luck because there probably won't be too much happening before the Greek people return to the polls on 17 June. The euro may lose a bit of value, but I'm confident I'm going to get to my holiday destination without the world's finance crashing around me... might wait until the day before to get my holiday money though. So what happens when I arrive? Luckily, I've booked a package holiday, so I have got the protection of travelling with Holidays, Holidays, Holidays, a reputable tour operator. If things go wrong, they are responsible for helping me out. Also, I don't have to worry about the organisation, it's all taken care of. My transfer from the airport saves me trying to find a taxi. Whilst I think they've given up striking, I'm not sure whether they can afford to put fuel in their cars anyway. When I arrive, I realise that Crete has been taking a bit of a battering from the austerity measures. The mood is quite low and I can see Greeks walking around with their pockets stuffed full of euros because they're too scared to keep it in a bank. Other than that, the sun is out and I'm off to the hotel. The hotel doesn't have as many guests at the moment, but I say hello to the other resident and wish him a good day. We have a quick chat about the Greek Hokey Cokey (in, out, in, out) and I change into my shorts to go and explore. A bit disappointing really, partly because I realise I've been taken to the wrong hotel and it's only a 2* and partly because it's rubbish. It's not very clean, there are less facilities and there are no staff. Bearing in mind that 15% of Greece's GDP is from tourism, you would think they would treat their tourists well, but I suppose if they can't afford to have them in the first place, then it's a catch 22. After going into the city, I'm pleased to see there are no signs of the riots I was expecting and no signs of destruction, but now I think about it, there are no signs of anything. Greece seems to be at an impasse. I'll spend some time in my hotel. Gladly, it's all inclusive so I don't have to worry too much about going into the baron streets. Oh dear! Holiday illness alert. I've managed to contract food poisoning from the hotel food. It might have been the rehashed food, or it could have been the pink chicken. I'll worry about making a holiday compensation claim when I get home. In the meantime, the tour operator will look after me because I'm on a package holiday. A nice trip to the hospital, but unfortunately there's not much they can do for me because there is a significant shortage of drugs because of the austerity measures. I think the nurses are on strike anyway. I think I need to go home early. I join the airport queue of Greeks with their pockets stuffed full of cash and pay to get home. I did ask the tour operator, but they said they would get back to me next week, I might have shrivelled up by then. I get home and continue my recovery. It's time to start my holiday compensation claim, but it seems that the tour operator doesnt really care - they try and fob me off with a small sum that i dont think is anywhere near enough. They say they are overwhelmed with complaints from holidaymakers who they have transferred to poor holiday properties and haven't got time to dealt with my illness complaint. I'm worried there's nothing else i can do, then I contact www.accidents-abroad.com on 0800 0126 129 and speak to a specialist travel solicitor about making a holiday claim for my illness and get compensation for my ruined holiday. They listen and tell me in minutes if I have a claim. They give me some advice about what I should do and how I can try and get my money back. They take on my claim and now its a case of letting their solicitors get on with the work of running my holiday claim and winning me compensation. This is quite typical of the stories we commonly hear from people making holiday claims with us, albeit with a bit of an exaggerated Greek viewpoint. If this resembles a holiday illness experience you have had, then call today and see how we can help. For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Claiming After a Friend Injures You on Holiday

Written by Ross Smith

Monday, 16 July 2012 08:45

Friendships can quickly turn sour if you are forced to make a holiday claim against one of your closest friends. At accidents abroad we've helped people in these situations and understand how difficult it can be. It seems as popular as ever for people to holiday with their friends. People’s finances are pushed in so it makes sense to share the cost. Whether a plush luxury holiday or a few too many people sleeping on someone’s hotel room floor, going on holiday with friends is obviously a great fun way of holidaying sharing differing interests to vary your holiday. However, it is not always just sun and sangria – accidents on holiday do happen and harm or injury can still be caused by a good friend. Claims after being injured by a friend on holiday The consequences for people injured on holiday by a traveling companion or friend can be monumental. Naturally, the holiday for the traveling party is often ruined from that moment forward, but more seriously someone’s livelihood and ability to pay their bills can be affected if they can’t work because of their injuries. At Accidents Abroad we represent several different clients who have unfortunately suffered at the hands of a friend. Normally there is no malice but the consequences whatever the intent can still be far reaching. Two cases spring to mind: A friend pushed our client into a swimming pool as a prank. Our client landed in the shallow end hitting the bottom of the pool with her back causing quite a significant back injury for which she made a holiday claim. A skiing accident where the friend when leaving the ski lift, skied over our client’s skis causing them to fall very awkwardly resulting in a very bad knee injury for which they had to make a claim for compensation. If your friend injures you on holiday what should you do? The best thing is to be prepared before you even set off on holiday. My first top tip is to make sure that everyone you travel with has taken out travel insurance. If they have not you may have to contemplate suing your friend personally for compensation, which will not do much for your friendship. At least if your friend has taken out travel insurance with public liability cover you will in effect be seeking compensation from their insurer. If there is no insurance cover and you need to make a holiday compensation claim after an accident, you may have to contemplate getting it through repossession property or belongings of your friend if they have assets. We suggest that you: take the name(s) and address(es) of anyone who saw the incident where possible take photographs of the accident location or ask another friend to do so. You will have to be diplomatic in acting upon these suggestions, but evidence can be key to the success of a case so don’t be shy in doing what is right for you. Accidents are naturally rare, so please do still enjoy the holidays, but if the unfortunate does occur feel a bit better for knowing you have traveled with friends sensible enough to take out insurance cover. If the worst happens, you don’t have to use the solicitors your insurance suggest – you can come to the travel experts at Accidents Abroad. We only have your best interests at heart and provide a no win no fee service. Make a holiday claim with us and not only can we help you get the compensation you deserve; we’ll make sure the holiday will be the only thing ruined and not your friendship as well.   For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Half Price Holiday in Greece???

Half Price Holiday in Greece???

Written by Nolan Mortimer

Monday, 28 May 2012 07:03

With the uncertainty surrounding Greece, the holiday industry is bracing itself for a wave of compensation claims from people whose holidays in Greece are ruined by hotels, tour companies, excursion providers and other firms looking to survive what's happening to the country by cutting corners and saving money. In this blog we imagine a worst-case-scenario for a holidaymaker in Greece; inspired by the many holiday compensation claims we have run over the years for people whose holidays have been ruined. I heard a comment on the radio last week "Holidays in Greece are getting much cheaper, grab yourself a bargain...". I have no doubt that you can get some cheap holidays, but I'm not sure what you could expect when you get there? My interpretation of the news and media coverage along with a large dose of imagination, makes me think the worst case scenario of a holiday from hell in Greece would go something like this... A quick scan of the "Holidays, Holidays, Holidays" website tells me that I can get a holiday in the 4* Super Great Hotel in Crete for just £692 per person, a saving of a whopping £352. It's all inclusive too, so I don't have to worry about having too much money with me. I'm booked and ready to go. Let's see what happens. My flight leaves on 5 June, about a week away. I think I'm in luck because there probably won't be too much happening before the Greek people return to the polls on 17 June. The euro may lose a bit of value, but I'm confident I'm going to get to my holiday destination without the world's finance crashing around me... might wait until the day before to get my holiday money though. So what happens when I arrive? Luckily, I've booked a package holiday, so I have got the protection of travelling with Holidays, Holidays, Holidays, a reputable tour operator. If things go wrong, they are responsible for helping me out. Also, I don't have to worry about the organisation, it's all taken care of. My transfer from the airport saves me trying to find a taxi. Whilst I think they've given up striking, I'm not sure whether they can afford to put fuel in their cars anyway. When I arrive, I realise that Crete has been taking a bit of a battering from the austerity measures. The mood is quite low and I can see Greeks walking around with their pockets stuffed full of euros because they're too scared to keep it in a bank. Other than that, the sun is out and I'm off to the hotel. The hotel doesn't have as many guests at the moment, but I say hello to the other resident and wish him a good day. We have a quick chat about the Greek Hokey Cokey (in, out, in, out) and I change into my shorts to go and explore. A bit disappointing really, partly because I realise I've been taken to the wrong hotel and it's only a 2* and partly because it's rubbish. It's not very clean, there are less facilities and there are no staff. Bearing in mind that 15% of Greece's GDP is from tourism, you would think they would treat their tourists well, but I suppose if they can't afford to have them in the first place, then it's a catch 22. After going into the city, I'm pleased to see there are no signs of the riots I was expecting and no signs of destruction, but now I think about it, there are no signs of anything. Greece seems to be at an impasse. I'll spend some time in my hotel. Gladly, it's all inclusive so I don't have to worry too much about going into the baron streets. Oh dear! Holiday illness alert. I've managed to contract food poisoning from the hotel food. It might have been the rehashed food, or it could have been the pink chicken. I'll worry about making a holiday compensation claim when I get home. In the meantime, the tour operator will look after me because I'm on a package holiday. A nice trip to the hospital, but unfortunately there's not much they can do for me because there is a significant shortage of drugs because of the austerity measures. I think the nurses are on strike anyway. I think I need to go home early. I join the airport queue of Greeks with their pockets stuffed full of cash and pay to get home. I did ask the tour operator, but they said they would get back to me next week, I might have shrivelled up by then. I get home and continue my recovery. It's time to start my holiday compensation claim, but it seems that the tour operator doesnt really care - they try and fob me off with a small sum that i dont think is anywhere near enough. They say they are overwhelmed with complaints from holidaymakers who they have transferred to poor holiday properties and haven't got time to dealt with my illness complaint. I'm worried there's nothing else i can do, then I contact www.accidents-abroad.com on 0800 0126 129 and speak to a specialist travel solicitor about making a holiday claim for my illness and get compensation for my ruined holiday. They listen and tell me in minutes if I have a claim. They give me some advice about what I should do and how I can try and get my money back. They take on my claim and now its a case of letting their solicitors get on with the work of running my holiday claim and winning me compensation. This is quite typical of the stories we commonly hear from people making holiday claims with us, albeit with a bit of an exaggerated Greek viewpoint. If this resembles a holiday illness experience you have had, then call today and see how we can help. For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Which side of the road do I drive on?

Written by Nolan Mortimer

Friday, 10 August 2012 07:59

More than 1 in 10 holiday makers have driven on the wrong side of the road A recent survey by insurer Aviva has suggested that at least 16% of people have driven on the wrong side of the road whilst driving abroad. That doesn't really surprise me and I'm still astounded by the amount of people who have a car accident on holiday as a result of driving out of the car hire compound in a foreign country and simply forgetting what side of the road to drive on. What I also find surprising is that it's quite common for the person who is returning their car to be the one who causes the car accident on holiday and they then have to face the prospect of a compensation claim being made against them. Surely they would have got the hang of it by the end of their break? It makes you think what carnage have they left behind them! The Aviva survey of 1,000 people also shows that at least 5% of those driving as part of their holiday arrangements have had a car accident abroad. The cause of the accidents is unclear but a huge 28% of them admit to misreading foreign road signs when driving abroad. It's not surprising that this is considered a factor in many holiday car accidents. Car Accidents on Holiday: Don't Always Blame the Tourist! To be fair, I often find that getting used to the different driving styles in different countries can cause problems, and it's not always the holidaymaker who is in the wrong. I've seen several cases where a local driver cause a car accident with a tourist simply because they are driving how they usually do and the holidaymaker isn't used to it. The survey comments on various other risks and highlights the lack of familiarity with a route as a big concern, with 28% of people admitting that had the potential to cause a car accident on holiday. Safe Driving Abroad This is probably a good point to remind you of our recent news item about the importance of preparing for a trip abroad and so when you do decide to travel you can make sure you are as safe as can be. If the unthinkable does happen and you do get into a car accident on holiday or any other accident abroad, then we are here to help you through the painful aftermath. We give straightforward, practical advice and can help you make an accident compensation claim. Call us on the above number to speak to an expert advisor for FREE. For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Holidaymakers being bought off in resort?

Written by Ross Smith

Thursday, 16 August 2012 08:58

Holiday Companies Offer Tourists Cash and Vouchers Not to Make Compensation Claims - is it Worth it? Approaches by tour operators and holiday firms to tourists looking to pay them off before they make a compensation claim, either for an accident that wasn't their fault or for contracting food poisoning or another illness, are becoming more and more common. In such a situation its easy to understand why both the holiday maker and the tour operator might want to draw matters to a close, but be warned - the true cost of such problems may not be apparent until much later, by which time bringing a holiday claim wont be an option. I have spoken to quite a few holidaymakers recently who suffered from holiday illness. That part may not come as a surprise, because we are helping people all the time. However, I have noticed that more and more of them are being approached by staff from the holiday company who were responsible for making term sick in the first place and they are offering them compensation for their ruined holiday before they go home. On the one hand I welcome the proactive approach, but are the motives for the holidaymakers benefit or for the tour operators? Offering Cash and Vouchers The tactics seems to differ from one holiday company to the next. I have spoken to people who were thinking about making a holiday claim against TUI, one of the largest holiday companies operating in the UK and they have offered both cash and vouchers in resort to try and avoid a holiday compensation claim being brought when the passengers get home. I've also heard from some holiday makers who have had a letter on their doorstep when they get home, with an offer of compensation. In some cases an offer of money or vouchers in resort can be very welcoming. Such compensation may well be very good for the more trivial of matters. However, my concern is that having seen a similar process take place in other areas of law, it is usually the victim who loses out. You Can't Know What Your Case is Worth I have heard of many stories for example where an insurance company for a road traffic accident has turned up at someone’s doorstep offering money to settle matters. Most people do not know what their case is worth so someone could be swayed into accepting and amount of compensation which is lower than the true value. It is best to consult with a lawyer. The tour operator has a certain extra advantage when the client is at resort. Some might say that we when are away on holiday that we are more relaxed. So there may be a tendency that we may be more open to settling a matter than say when we are back home. The tour operator therefore could have a tactical advantage to nip matters in the bud before they could be bigger or potentially more serious. The problem is the innocent victim of food poisoning doesn't know if there is any permanent damage done! Don't Sign a Waiver Before You Know What You Could Claim Lets take an example; You are on holiday and you suffer an upset stomach due to the poor quality of the food on holiday. You report the matter to the Rep and you are offered a few hundred pounds to settle matters, in exchange for signing a waiver confirming you won't make any more claims. All well and good if your illness was very trivial and caused little or no disruption to you and your traveling party. But at that stage you probably don't even know damage there has been and most people won't know how much holiday compensation they will be entitled to. I continue to help people who have suffered illness or an accident abroad. For an illness claim, it is not unusual for an average compensation payout to be around £2,500. We have represented other people whose illness has sadly been far more complicated and on occasion been permanent or lasted several years. One case always springs to mind where a lady suffered irritable Bowel Syndrome after having contracted salmonella after eating a chicken sandwich and we achieved an award of £13,000.00 for her. Advice: What Should You Do My advice when you have an illness or accident is to be careful. Do not be rushed or pressured into making a decision if you are made any offers. It might well be that the offer of compensation is right and appropriate, but generally it is not and you won't get a second chance to get the right amount of compensation for your holiday claim. Just think; what if your illness or injury caused you to be absent from work and affected your ability to pay your bills? If you have any stories of a tour operator offering you compensation in resort or shortly after your return home, please let us know on our Facebook page or email us. Furthermore, if you have suffered an illness or accident abroad and would like FREE advice and representation on taking matters forward please do contact us.  For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Watchdog: More Illness Claims at Holiday Village Sharm

Thursday, 13 September 2012 10:24

Watchdog Reports Illness at the Holiday Village, Red Sea in Sharm El Sheikh BBC Watchdog last night slammed the Holiday Village Red Sea in Sharm El Sheikh after investigating why so many holiday makers who stay at the resort have fallen ill from food poisoning and other hygiene related illnesses. Hundreds of families who stayed in the resort in Egypt have claimed compensation from tour operator First Choice after serious illness has ruined their holiday. For years the solicitors at Accidents Abroad have been helping holiday makers claim compensation after they have fallen ill while on holiday at the Holiday Village Red Sea in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt – sometimes known as the Coral Sea Holiday Village. It seems the resort and holiday provider First Choice has been in the news again - last night the BBC’s Watchdog programme reported how guests have been falling ill at the resort for YEARS and covered a wide range of complaints that have been made against the Holiday Village and First Choice. If you have been a victim of illness at the Holiday Village in Sharm El Sheikh contact us today to get  free, no obligation, expert advice on making a no win no fee claim or visit our section on claiming for illness or food poisoning at a holiday resort to learn more. This isn’t the only Holiday Village run by First Choice that we have received complaints about. We previously blogged about the state of Holiday Village in Sarigerme; another resort Watchdog investigated after holiday makers fell ill. Complaints from the Resort The worrying thing is we hear complaints of food poisoning and guests suffering serious illness each summer from people who have stayed at the Holiday Village at Sharm El Sheikh.  As the programme highlighted, problems with the preparation, cooking and storage of food at the resort is still not to the standard to keep people safe from food poisoning and illness: food is kept warm rather than hot and chicken and other meats undercooked. The general cleanliness and hygiene issues around the resort are also cause for concern: a lack of hot water in toilet facilities and swimming pools being closed due to faecal matter found in the water not only help spread illnesses to other guests, but are often linked to holiday makers suffering food poisoning or illness. Chemicals in the Pool In one of the most memorable moments, footage showed hotel workers pouring unidentified chemicals into the swimming pool that had been closed after someone had defecated in it. Within a matter of minutes, holidaymakers were allowed back in to the pool before the water had been tested to make sure it was safe to swim in, or the chemicals had a chance to disperse in the water. This not only meant that the pool may not have been safe for guests but also left holidaymakers in danger of chemical burns from pockets of the chemical in the pool. The fact that the hotel clinic on site tries to explain it away as tourists suffering illness from the change in climate is difficult to believe when each year we hear of hundreds of people who stay at the Holiday Village come back with horror stories of how they have been seriously ill. Many have needed to be put on a drip or had to seek further medical attention because they have been so poorly and their dream holiday ruined. Compensation for Illness If you have been to the Holiday Village and suffered illness or food poisoning on holiday you should contact us immediately. You don’t have to suffer and just a refund isn’t enough – we can help you claim compensation for your ruined holiday and any out of pocket expenses.  For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Will Thomas Cook & easyjet tie up be a good package?

Written by Nolan Mortimer

Thursday, 13 September 2012 09:20

Thomas Cook and easyJet Join Forces - Good News For Customers? Once you've fought your way past the hype relating to iPhone 5, you may have seen in the news in the last few days that Thomas Cook are set to enter a partnership with easyJet. The deal, which is not yet confirmed, will apparently mean that upto 80,000 Thomas Cook customers could be flying with easyJet next summer. It would be the first time that easyJet have sold seats on this scale and is a significant shift from its usual direct to consumer business model. However, it seems like it will suit both businesses quite well. Thomas Cook Have Hit Hard Times in Recent Years Thomas Cook are infamously debt ridden and the second largest tour operator in the UK is trying to reduce it's £1bn debt. They have made some progress so far by selling off some of its airline, at least 5 hotels and its Indian operation. The position at easyJet is less clear, with the long running arguments between the board and founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou overshadowing the performance of the business. But most importantly, what will it mean for the consumer? Will there be benefits, or will it just be the big businesses who benefit? The full details of any deal aren't yet clear. However, there could be benefits because easyJet offers 500+ routes. This could mean more choice and if easyJet deliver on their promise to introduce allocated seating for their flights, the experience could be less stressful too. I can see a definite advantage. But - there's always a downside. Again, I don't know the detail, but my guess is that Thomas Cook will try to sell these holidays outside of the Package Travel Regulations, which means there will be less consumer protection. Will Customers be Protected Without going into the detail, the typical package holiday has to be sold at an all-inclusive price and include accommodation and flights. It has been common in recent years for holiday companies to try and avoid being caught by these regulations by invoicing for each part separately and claiming that they are purely an agent. If they are correct, that means that the holidaymaker only has recourse to the provider of the specific service. So for example, it may mean that a holidaymaker is left having to sue a hotel in Spain rather than being able to sue Thomas Cook in the English Courts. I won't go into the practical or financial implications here, but the holidaymaker is nearly always worse off! If you've looked at other pages within this site you may have seen details of previous cases. Some of these holiday compensation claims will be brought via these regulations. Obviously, only the unlucky few have an accident abroad or illness abroad, but many people have other contractual issues and need to rely on the Package Travel Regulations. Where a holiday company has avoided them, it makes things more difficult and you have less rights. Whilst I can see that there is an advantage to the consumer because they will get more choice, until we know about the way that Thomas Cook will package the holidays, I would recommend caution. For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

Skiing Top Tips for staying safe

Written by Phillip Johnson

Wednesday, 02 January 2013 12:05

Winter is finally here and it’s that time of year when thousands of Brits head over to France and other parts of Europe in search of fresh snow. However, there are inevitably dangers involved with extreme sports and often holidaymakers find themselves involved in a snowboarding or skiing accident. Therefore, we have created a list of tips to help prevent you being involved in a skiing or snowboarding accident. 1. Stick to the FIS ski rules. The FIS rules are designed to improve the safety of skiers on the slope. Sticking to the FIS rules will ensure that you are as safe as you can possibly be when skiing and snowboarding. Sticking to these rules will minimise your risk of being involved in a skiing accident. See Rules of the slope for further information. 2. Don’t ski too fast. You are at the top of the piste, the adrenaline is pumping and you are tempted to ski down the slope as fast as possible. We all experience this, but it is important to remember that the majority of skiing accident injuries are as a result of excessive speeds on the slope. Remember, skiing too fast can put yourself and others in danger and increase the likelihood of a skiing accident or skiing injury. 3. Avoid alcohol. It is common sense that drinking whilst skiing will significantly increase your chance of being involved in a skiing or snowboarding accident abroad.  Altitude makes you more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and you could seriously endanger yourself and others if skiing under the influence of alcohol. 4. Know your limits. Don’t run before you can walk.  Skiing down routes which are too advanced for your ability is likely to lead to a skiing accident. As a result of this you may become liable for a skiing accident compensation claim if you are found to be at fault. Therefore, to avoid a skiing or snowboarding accident stick to what your good at and enjoy your skiing trip injury free. 5. Have respect for others. Having the whole slope to yourself would be a dream come true for all of us! Unfortunately this is not a reality and we will always find ourselves surrounded by other skiers. It can be very frustrating if another skier or snowboarder gets in your way. However, you should avoid overtaking dangerously or trying any manoeuvres that may endanger yourselves and others. If every skier respects each other on the slope then the likelihood of a skiing accident will reduce. The last thing any skier wants for Christmas are cuts, bruises and broken bones as a result of a skiing accident injury. 6. Get insured Hopefully it's not too late, but make sure you have travel insurance with generous coverage for winter sports. You never know what is going to happen. Sadly, accidents happen and you may need medical cover or possibly to be flown back home. If something does go wronmg on the slopes and you have a ski accidnet, you could also be liable to pay compensation, so liability insurance is really important. The costs can easily run into their £1,000s so insurance is a must. Following these top tips should help us all avoid skiing injuries. However, it is inevitable that not all skiers will stick to these rules and you may be unfortunate enough to be involved in a skiing accident in France or anywhere else in Europe. If you are injured in a skiing accident that was not your fault then there are a number of things you can do to improve the strength of your skiing accident compensation claim. No matter how minor your injury is please do not hesitate to contact one of our expert skiing accident compensation solicitors who can run your skiing compensation claim on a no win no fee basis. For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com

What to do if you get ill abroad?

Things to do if Your Holiday is Ruined by Illness According to the National Office for Statistics up to 70 million Brits travel abroad each year. In a report prepared by the Health Protection Agency it is suggested that the risk of acquiring what they term as travellers' diarrhoea can be more than 60% in some parts of the world. The extent of any illnesses and their cause is difficult to determine with statistics, but what is clear is that a lot of people fall ill and it is commonly something that can be avoided. It is important that you consider both the medical and the practical perspective of any holiday illness that you suffer from. How to Get Better Getting advice at an early stage is vital to your recovery. You may not be able to visit your doctor about your illness claim, but you will hopefully be able to access the internet and get advice from many of the websites that are out there. You may want to try the NHS Choices site to see what the latest advice is in dealing with illness. What Practical Things should I do? When you have recovered sufficiently to focus on what you were ill, you may want to consider the following steps. Alternatively, you may ask a friend or family member to help, because the sooner you can get this information, the more helpful it will be. What should I do if I contract an illness abroad in a hotel? 1. Report your illness and retain a copy of the report. It is important to let your tour operator or holiday company know that you have been ill. It is often the last thing that you want to do when you are ill in bed. However, they will be able to help you get treatment if you need it, whether it is from the local hospital or doctor. Also, if you need to make a complaint or illness compensation claim at a later date then it is essential to have the report. 2. Make a note of the foods you ate and how they were cooked. Different strains of food poisoning and illness have very different symptoms and incubation periods. They are also caused by different things. Therefore, it is important to try and recount what you ate and when because it could be important in establishing what has caused your illness and may assist if you decide to make an illness compensation claim. 3. Make notes and record any information that may have caused your illness. Many people will think they know what caused their illness. For example, they may become ill shortly after eating a meal and they may suspect there was something wrong with their food, for example some undercooked chicken. If possible, get photgraphs of the food and also the cooking and serving arrangements. This information can often be helpful in painting a picture of the level of hygeine at the hotel. 4. Create a timeline of your symptoms from start to finish. The onset of symptoms will be a good indicator of what has caused them and the type and extent of symptoms can be useful in detrmining the cause of any illness. The more accurate you can be, the better chance you have of proving that it was the failure in hygeine standards that has caused your illness. 5. Speak to other guests who have also suffered illness at the hotel. It is common for there to be an outbreak of illness and if you have been affected, you may find that many others have suffered too. Often people will share their details and even reprt their difficulties on socail media sites such as facebook. The more detail you can get from others, the more helpful it is to your claim. If you can get details of other people who have suffered, the weight of numbers is very compelling and often helps to prove an illness claim. 6. Attend your doctor Even if you think you have made a full recovery, we would recommend taking a stool sample to your GP. It is not uncommon for symptoms to flare up again, or continue at a low, but irritating level for a long time. If you attend your GP they will arrange for the sample to be tested and can determine if you have a recognised illness. Even if you don't, it may be that is now out of your system, but doesn't stop you from investigating the claim. 7. Contact a competent solicitor with experience in hotel illness claims. It may sound obvious, but make sure you speak with a solicitor who has experience in dealing with claims of this type. It is a specialised area and there are only a few firms who are properly equipped to deal with the illness compensation claims quickly and effectively. Call us today because we have a significant level of experience and can offer you a no win, no fee arrangement.  For more information you can contact us via our website at: www.accidents-abroad.com