Can I make a claim for an accident abroad?

Straw hat kept on empty beach chair

If you have suffered an injury because of an accident abroad, you may be able to bring a claim for compensation. Many people are left out of pocket following an accident abroad because they believe it will be too expensive or too complicated to bring a successful claim. However, bringing a claim can be straightforward, particularly with the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. In this article, I will look at some of the practicalities of bringing a claim for an accident suffered abroad.

What type of accident abroad can I bring a claim for?

It is possible to bring a claim for the same types of accidents or injuries you could bring a claim for if they happened here in the UK. However, most commonly, people bring claims for:

  • Road traffic accidents abroad
  • Accidents at ski resorts
  • Cycling accidents abroad
  • Slips, trips and falls at hotels and resorts
  • Food poisoning at all-inclusive resorts

This list is not exhaustive, and you can discuss with a specialist personal injury solicitor whether your accident is suitable for making a personal injury claim.

Where do I need to bring my claim?

Even if you have suffered an accident in another country, you may be able to bring your claim in a UK court. There are certain circumstances where this will not be possible, but your personal injury solicitor can check this for you.

Who do I bring a claim against?

Who you should bring a claim against will depend on the exact circumstances of the accident. Many people are able to bring a claim against their package holiday provider if their accident took place while travelling, at the hotel, or while on an excursion booked through the operator. Making a claim against a package holiday provider is normally straightforward and you will normally not even attend court.

Accident while travelling for work or study

If you suffer an accident while travelling for work or study, you may be able to bring a claim against an employer or the party who organised for you to be in another country. If this party is a business registered in the UK, this can be straightforward. If you are employed in the UK and you are injured whilst working abroad, your claim would progress in the same way as if you were injured in an accident at work in your workplace in the UK.

The best way to understand whether you can bring a personal injury claim is to discuss your case with a solicitor. They will explain all your options to you as well as the next steps to begin making your claim. There is no obligation to continue. Many people worry that making a claim will leave them out of pocket, but your solicitor should be able to work with you to come to a fee arrangement that works for you.

To discuss this, or any other related matter with Gerard directly, please call us, email info@hartbrown.co.uk or start a live chat today.

*This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.

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Gerard Sanders

Partner, Head of Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence

Gerard qualified with a large regional firm in 1991. Since 1995 he has specialised exclusively on claimant personal injury work. More recently he has focused...

Gerard Sanders - Head of Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence

Partner, Head of Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence

Gerard Sanders

Gerard qualified with a large regional firm in 1991. Since 1995 he has specialised exclusively on claimant personal injury work. More recently he has focused on complex higher value clinical negligence and personal injury claims, achieving seven figure settlements in personal injury cases involving amputation, multiple orthopaedic injuries and head injuries.

His greatest success has been winning the high profile case of Delaney-v-The Secretary of State for Transport where after almost 9 years of litigation involving two Court of Appeal hearings and an application to the Supreme Court he was finally able to establish that the Motor Insurers’ Bureau Agreement was incompatible with EEC law. As a direct result of the decision in this case the agreement has had to be amended to the benefit of many future victims of uninsured drivers.

Gerard is a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel and he appears in the latest Legal 500 rankings in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence.

Gerard’s other professional qualifications include a Diplome D’Etudes Juridiques Francaises from Strasbourg University.

What do people say about Gerard?

“I have the highest regard for you and your company.” – Dr Philip Steadman , Consultant Psychiatrist.

“He is a pleasure to work with and always gains the absolute best outcome for those who instruct him. He is highly responsive and he has an eye for detail with a sensible overview of the global issues.” – Colin McDevitt, Barrister, 3 Paper Buildings.

“I think that is an excellent outcome!. You have phenomenal negotiation skills. I work with insurers every day and to say the very least they are a challenge!” – client.

“It has been an unbelievably difficult time over the past few years. The decision to have my leg amputated was not particularly easy, nor was the rehabilitation. To do all of that whilst worrying about my case would have quite simply been overwhelming. Having you there meant that I had none of that worry. I have always known as I was in incredibly good hands and that I had nothing to be concerned about… You have made a unfathomably difficult situation immeasurably easier, and I will be forever grateful to you.” – client.