What can I do If I’ve had an accident during one of my excursions on holiday?
Many package holidays now come with activities and excursions as either part of the holiday package or as optional extras. These activities can range from trips and days out, boat rides, scuba diving, paragliding or water sports. While most of these activities will be properly managed and monitored, accidents can still happen.
If you have suffered an injury while taking part in an organised excursion or activity that formed a part of your package holiday, you may be entitled to claim compensation from your tour operator here in the UK.
It is often the case that these excursions are booked by the tour operator representative at the resort but the excursions themselves are managed by an outside company or agency. In these cases, there may be a clause in any small print which states that the tour operators are not responsible for local excursion providers.
We can advise you on how best to argue against this defence and where best to direct your claim. It is often the case that you will be able to choose where you direct your claim, whether it be in England or in the country that your accident occurred in. There will be many factors which may affect our advice in this regard, but we can go through this with you. Claims of this nature can become incredibly complex, so it is vital that you seek specialist advice from the outset to avoid any unnecessary delays, costs and stress.
What should I do if I have injured myself on an excursion and want to bring a claim forward?
If you are able, it is advisable to take the following steps to assist your claim:
- Report the accident as soon as possible to a member of staff and to your tour operator at the resort
- Obtain a copy of the report made, if one is made. If no report is mentioned, request that one be made
- Take photographs of the location of the accident and any defect that you may consider having led to your accident
- Take photographs of any work done to remedy the defect following your accident
- Take down the names and addresses of any witnesses and ask them to confirm that they can be contacted to act as a witness if necessary
- Make a note of what you recall about booking the excursion, e.g. what you were told by the tour operator and who you were booking with. Take a note of their name.
- If possible, ask any other guests that were on the excursion to provide you with their contact details so that you may ask them to provide an account of what they were told by the tour operator to back up your report
What do I do if I am a victim of an accident while on board on an aircraft?
At JMR Solicitors, we appreciate that any accident or injury sustained while on an aircraft can be a terrifying experience. Fortunately, aviation disasters remain a rare event, however, we understand that the aftermath of such an event can be incredibly stressful. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident while on board any type of aircraft including helicopters, light aircraft, military aircraft or other forms of carrier, either domestically or internationally, you may be entitled to claim compensation without having to prove fault on the part of the operator.
Aviation disasters, fortunately, remain rare but can have a devastating impact. We have the skills and expertise to guide families through the aftermath of such a tragedy. We also appreciate that suffering any accident whilst flying above the earth is frightening and stressful. If you have been a victim of an accident while travelling onboard aircraft, domestically or internationally, or on a helicopter, light aircraft, military aircraft or any other form of air carrier, we are here to assist.
As with most injury claims, there are strict time limits for bringing a claim. Time limits may vary depending on the circumstances of your accident, however, many claims will need to be issued within two years of the date of disembarkation. For this reason, it is essential that you acquire expert legal advice as soon as is possible to avoid any delay in the processing of your claim.