Holiday nightmares and holiday claims
Families save up all year for a well earned holiday but sometimes a relaxing break can turn into a holiday nightmare. Holiday-makers find themselves in an unfamiliar environment and this can lead to accidents and injuries, despite your best efforts to stay safe. This can include food poisoning, slips and trips or vehicle accidents. If you have been injured or suffered an illness on holiday that was the result of someone else’s negligence, speak to a solicitors with experience and expertise in this area, such as Macks Solicitors. You may be entitled to compensation through a holiday claim.
The summer is a time for school holidays, good weather and of course the family holiday. After working all year, the annual holiday is well deserved break which gives people a chance to unwind and forget about the stresses of everyday life. Families can pay thousands of pounds on their holiday, hoping to unwind for a week or two. However for the unlucky few, things can quickly go wrong and a dream holiday can turn into a holiday from hell. The relaxing break which the family have worked hard for all year can become extremely stressful and can have devastating consequences.
Holiday claims can result in financial compensation for the heartache of a holiday from hell but unfortunately a holiday claim cannot replace a lost holiday.
Many holiday claims are as a result of unexpected incidents that travellers are not prepared for. In recent months, industrial action by cabin crew and other airport workers has resulted in cancelled flights and in some circumstances a back log which meant passengers missed several days of their holiday. Thankfully, the majority of flights arrive with little or no delay, but the unexpected can strike at any time. Something that is seemingly innocuous such as the transfer from airport to hotel can have disastrous consequences. In June 2011, a bus carrying passengers to an airport in Turkey was involved in a horrific crash in which 5 people were killed and many others including five British holiday makers were hospitalised with a range of injuries such as fractured limbs, serious head injuries and concussion. One of the passengers on the bus said that “It was terrifying. We were just driving along this road and suddenly there was a massive bang and the next thing I remember is being pulled through the coach window.”
The main causes of holiday claims are incidents that occur at the hotel. A Blackburn family took a holiday tour operator to court after they suffered from salmonella and other gastro intestinal diseases after eating undercooked food and using a swimming pool contaminated with faeces. The family break which cost £3,000 at an all inclusive resort in Sarigerme, south west Turkey, was ruined due to illness which was caused by undercooked barbecued food, and uncovered food which was infested with flies as well as chicken which was served still pink in the middle. The claimants also said that staff failed to clear away vomit from the hotel restaurant properly, that drinks were served in dirty plastic cups and in the pool, the lifeguards asked guests to remove faeces from the pool instead of cleaning the water properly. After falling ill, the family missed almost all their holiday and began legal proceedings against the tour operator upon their return home.
A holiday can also be ruined by a personal accident. This doesn’t just happen in hotels but could happen at any time. A frail pensioner has spent the past year in and out of hospital after a holiday accident which also left her husband injured. The accident happened whilst the couple were disembarking from the aircraft after cabin crew refused to help them down the steps of an airplane shortly after landing in Cape Verde. The elderly couple both had difficulty walking, and in everyday life, they relied on sticks to get around. Because of this, they had pre-arranged with their tour operator for someone to help them off the plane. Unfortunately, the tour operator representatives failed to turn up, and concerned about turnaround times, the cabin crew began to usher the couple out of the aircraft. Unfortunately, Mrs Constance fell from the top of the stairs to the runway below where she suffered serious head injuries and was temporarily knocked unconscious.
The couple are now seeking compensation from the tour operator who denied liability.
Anyone travelling abroad on holiday should ensure that they have adequate travel insurance to cover the entire duration of their trip. Should an accident happen, then they should be covered against medical costs incurred. This is especially true if the holiday is involves risk, such as a winter sports break or if the holiday is to a country where medical bills can run into hundreds or thousands of pounds such as the USA, making travel insurance essential.
However travel insurance does not cover all the costs of a ruined holiday and cannot compensate for the pain and suffering caused. If your holiday has been ruined because of negligence, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Gather as much evidence as you can whilst you are still on holiday. This could include photos or written notes of details that you could forget later. On your return, speak to a solicitor with expertise in this area. They will guide you through the process of claiming compensation and what information you will need. A solicitor with plenty of experience and expertise will help you to achieve maximum compensation for your claim.