Getting injured while you’re on vacation can be incredibly stressful, especially if you are in a foreign country. Not only is your vacation ruined, but you now also have to get medical help, legal representation, and acquire evidence in a country whose language you might not speak. In order to protect your right to compensation, you need to be careful in your approach when dealing with an injury abroad.
This article will explain how to properly handle getting injured while you’re away in a foreign country on vacation:
The Injuries Cause
The first thing that you need to know is that just because you have been injured, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get compensation. The only time that you can make a personal injury claim is when a person injures you intentionally or through their negligence, you are hurt. You can also make a claim if a building is not safe and you injure yourself. If you are walking down the street and not looking where you are going, then you happen to trip over your own shoelaces, you won’t be compensated. You also need to research the specific country’s personal injury law as well.
Phone for Help
If you have been injured through somebody else’s negligence in a foreign country, then you need to phone for help. If you do not know what the local ambulance service number is, then call for help. If you do then ring them yourself. It’s always best to learn a little of a country’s language before you go there, just in case you do injure yourself. This is because if you cannot speak the language, you will have great difficulty communicating with the emergency services if an accident does happen. This can hinder your recovery.
Medical Evidence
Once you have arrived at the hospital, you need to acquire evidence of your injuries. You can do this by asking the doctor who triages you for a written statement or medical certificate. Because you will not be registered with a physician where you are vacationing, it’s crucial that you acquire evidence in the hospital. If you were at home, then you could acquire medical evidence a day or so later from your physician. When abroad this is not the case. Make sure to ask for a translator if nobody understands you, or use your phone to translate and ask for a medical certificate.
Contact An Attorney
You need an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases in the country that you are in. They will be able to help you receive compensation. According to the legal specialists from https://www.recoverylawcenterhawaii.com/, it can be scary looking for an attorney when you have never needed one before. It can be even scarier looking for an attorney in a foreign country. You may need to hire a translator to find an attorney for you. If you speak the language, then you can go ahead and find an attorney yourself. Make sure to find one that’s experienced, hardworking, and respectable.
Video Evidence
If you are not seriously injured at the time of the accident, make sure to take as much video evidence as you can. If you tripped over a dislodged and dangerous tile inside or outside a building, take photographs and videos of it. It’s not uncommon for people to come along after an accident and clean up, unintentionally removing crucial evidence. If a person caused your injury, take videos and photographs of them. This is crucial when you are abroad, because without direct video evidence you may have difficulty finding them again.
Witness Testimonies
If you can speak the same language as the locals, then you should try to get as many witness testimonies as you possibly can. Witness testimonies are particularly effective when you are abroad and are making an accident claim. With that said, locals may be reluctant to talk to you if you are making a claim against somebody they know, so don’t be upset if you struggle to find people willing to talk. When you are speaking to people, it can’t hurt to secretly record the conversation on your phone, just in case they try to take back anything that they have said later on.
Be Truthful
It is very important that you are truthful when you are making any sort of personal injury claim. If you exaggerate or lie about details pertaining to your case, you could get yourself into a lot of trouble and could ruin your chances of a sizable compensation payment.
When you are injured on vacation, you need to treat your injury the same way that you would if you were injured at home. You need legal support, to acquire as much evidence as you can, and to take it easy. Make sure that you also rest after your accident, so that you can recover quickly and return home.
Seeking Legal Help and Compensation
After being injured on vacation it is important to contact a personal injury attorney in the country where the incident occurred. They will have the expertise to navigate the local laws and help you seek compensation for your injuries. Hiring a translator if needed can assist you in finding a suitable attorney. Look for an attorney who is experienced hardworking and reputable in handling personal injury cases. Be truthful and provide accurate information to your attorney to ensure the best possible outcome for your claim. Remember to rest and take care of yourself to aid in your recovery process.
