Now that cities across the nation have started to relax stay-at-home orders, many Americans are starting to travel, even if it is by car, to distract themselves from the months of shut down. Whether you are traveling domestically for a few days or visiting a foreign country for a couple of weeks, your vacation should be as stress-free as possible. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, even on vacation. When this happens, you could be stuck with transportation problems, significant expenses, and medical treatment issues.
What to Do if You are Injured on Vacation
Below are seven tips that should help you reduce stress and frustration if you are hurt while on vacation.
- Get medical treatment: After getting injured, you should see a doctor right away. This should happen even if you feel like your injuries are minor. This is because adrenaline from an accident can mask your initial pain. Oftentimes symptoms can be delayed. By seeking treatment right away, you can document any issue that would later lead to problems in your medical condition;
- Let someone know: If you are hurt on another’s property, especially a commercial one, you need to let the manager on duty know about your accident and injury. Most businesses have specific protocols in place when it comes to accidents on the property. You will likely be asked to complete a form and provide a personal statement;
- Get Others’ Information: The most common cause of injuries during a vacation is a car accident. If this is your situation, be sure to get as much information from the other driver as possible. This should include car insurance and registration, and names and contact information for any passengers. You should also take photos — or ask a trusted person to do so for you — of the scene, the cars involved, and your injuries.
- Get Witness Statements: Do your best to speak with as many witnesses to the accident to get their statements. You should also get their contact information in case you need to reach out to them later. If you cannot write because of your injuries, use your smartphone to record the information and have it transcribed later.
- File a Claim: If you are injured while traveling within the U.S., filing an insurance claim with your car or health carrier may be simple. If you are hurt while traveling in a foreign country, however, using your own insurance carrier may be more complicated. If you took out travel insurance, however, you may be able to file a claim depending on the policy coverage. Depending on your situation, you may have numerous carriers with which to possibly file a claim.
- Be Sure to Follow Physician’s Orders: Once you have sought medical care, be sure to follow your doctor’s orders precisely. Failing to do so can result in an insurance claim being denied or reduced. This is because the insurance carrier will dismiss your condition and symptoms as being non-serious if you are not following exactly what your doctor says.
- Limit Your Communications: Even if you think that the accident and resulting injuries were partly your fault, do not discuss this with anyone at the scene, your doctors, or others. Keep in mind that anything you say — verbally or online — can be used against you. Even if you may have done something that caused your injury, you may still be entitled to benefits if someone else’s negligence contributed.
Hire an Attorney
If you are hurt while on vacation, contact the skilled personal injury lawyers at H&P Law today. Our skilled attorneys will fight for the best outcome for your case.
