What Do I Do if I’m Hurt While on Vacation?

Vacations are supposed to be a fun escape from day-to-day life. Unfortunately, they can often be a time that injuries happen. You may get in a car accident on the ride out of the airport. Or, you may slip by the pool in your hotel. Because injuries on vacation happen away from home, people can be confused about what they should do if they become injured. Below are some tips about what you should do in case you are injured on vacation to protect your rights and maximize the amount you can get from an insurer or party once you file a claim or personal injury case.

Get Medical Treatment Immediately 

First thing first–take care of yourself. Seek medical attention immediately. Do not hesitate to go to the emergency room, get scans done, etc. to make sure you are okay. Sometimes people are reluctant to seek medical attention because they do not feel like they got injured too badly. Even if you feel like the injury is minor or you did not even get hurt, seek a doctor’s opinion. In many cases, the adrenaline of an accident can mask pain. Or, sometimes, pain can arise at a later date. A doctor will be able to give you medical treatment and diagnose and/or predict whether you may have any further complications. This also helps to further document the injury. Importantly, you will want to save all of this information. Ask for copies of the medical records, especially if the hospital is not in the network that you are generally seen in. It may be harder to track down those records in the future, and it is possible you may forget where you were soon. Additionally, if the hospital can take photos, this will be crucial in establishing the extent of your injuries. 

Follow the Doctor’s Orders

Following the doctor’s orders is the best for your health because the doctor is a qualified individual whose opinion about health matters. Additionally, following what the doctor says—to the letter—can ensure a claim is not denied. For instance, if the doctor tells you not to bear weight on your leg and you play a pick-up basketball game and cause further injury, that will weigh against you, as you have gone against what the doctor said. Then the question is whether your leg would be as injured had you just followed what the doctor had told you to. After all, reimbursement from medical injuries should be for what happened because of the injury, not your recklessness when you choose to disregard instructions about what is best for your health. Remember: an insurance adjuster’s job is to pay out as little money as possible. If there is any evidence that you wilfully disregarded what a medical professional told you to do, you may receive no money or a fraction of what you would have received had you heeded the advice. 

Get Information from Anyone Else Who May be Involved 

If you were involved in a car accident or another type of accident involving another party, get their information immediately. This includes their phone number, address, and any insurance information. Speaking to witnesses is also crucial. While they were not directly involved in your accident, they may be able to provide an account of what happened. Be sure to track those people down immediately and secure their contact information. Better yet, have them provide a statement of what happened. 

Let an Appropriate Person Know about the Injury Right Away

This can be difficult in terms of finding out who exactly you should notify. If you fall while in a business–such as a store or a restaurant–ask to speak to a manager. There is often a form to fill out as well as a procedure they follow. You will likely be asked to provide a statement of what you believed happened. If you are in another country, there may be other protocols. At the very least, contact the local authorities. They will be able to guide you about what to do. 

File an Insurance Claim 

As soon as the accident happens–or a reasonable person should have known there was an injury–a clock starts rolling. States (and insurers) have varying timelines–what is called a statute of limitations–for when a claim can be filed. Do not wait to file a claim. Ideally, let the insurer know that there was an incident immediately and then follow up with the documentation. This is simply further proof that you were injured and tried to clear it up right away.

Be Careful About What You Say

It is imperative that you are honest about exactly how the accident happened. The discovery of dishonesty can prevent you from recovering. That said, it is important you say just enough and not more. Do not add unnecessary detail about the accident. Do not speculate about how you think your actions could have contributed to what happened. Simply state the facts and refrain from elaborating until you seek counsel. This also includes what you may say on social media. Refrain from posting pictures or making any comments about the incident, even if it is on your personal page. Unless your page is locked down, people can see what you have written and can screenshot it. 

Hire a Qualified Attorney 

Things can be pretty tricky depending on what sort of action you take. If you file an insurance claim to recoup losses, the process is pretty identical to what it would be if the injury happened to you in your hometown. If you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against a party, this will require a qualified attorney who has handled personal injury cases. This is because parties can live in different jurisdictions, and it will be difficult to figure out where to file the suit. They can also help you gather the information you need to have the strongest possible case. Contact our office today to discuss your rights and options under the law.