Things to do if you are Injured on Vacation

The biggest vacation of the year is just around the corner and many of you may have already completed your plans. When we plan a vacation, we think about relaxing on the beaches, having exotic food and drinks, staying in an amazing resort, and spending quality time with our loved ones. However, in life, things do not always go as planned.

Vacation related injuries are more common than many of you may think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of five Americans gets injured while on vacation. Slip and fall accidents can occur in a hotel, regardless of how good it is. Similarly, overboard incidents can cause injuries in cruise ships. While traveling, one may be involved in traffic accidents. Many people are also injured while trying out new things such as scuba diving, bungee jumping, etc during a vacation.

Some Common Examples:

• Some common examples of vacation injuries include
• Car, truck and bus accidents
• Boat or cruise ship accidents
• Slip and falls resulting from unsafe conditions at a restaurant or hotel
• Swimming pool slip and falls
• Injuries resulting from amusement park rides
• Food poisoning
• Elevator or escalator related injuries
• Injuries sustained in a hotel gym
• Accidents caused while parasailing, scuba diving, etc
• Injuries resulting from overcrowding
• Allergic reactions
• Assaults or robberies because of lack of security and improper lighting

The Complexity of Vacation Injuries:

Injuries sustained during a vacation are particularly complex in nature because of factors such as venue and jurisdiction. Both these factors relate to where you should file a personal injury case. In order to hear a case and award compensation to the victim, the court must have jurisdiction over both the parties involved in the accident or injury.

When it comes to jurisdiction, it may be heard by more than one court. If you are injured while vacationing out of your state, your case may be filed in

The defendant’s state of residence or where the defendant carries out business (if the defendant is a business establishment)

In the state where the accident took place

Things to do:

Mentioned are below are some elementary steps that you must not forget after suffering an injury while vacationing.

If possible, take videos and pictures of the accident scene including the injuries you have sustained. If any of your possessions were damaged, preserve them to be furnished later on as evidence.

If the incident was witnessed by other people, try to get their names as well as contact details. In case of a car accident, it is important to get the name of the driver, insurance provider, and the license plate number.

Regardless of how serious the injury may appear, get immediate medical treatment. Without timely treatment, an apparently innocuous injury may get worse over time. Moreover, your medical examination will provide documentation establishing the fact you were actually injured in an accident.

The final step is the filing of an accident report. In case of a motor vehicle accident, file the report by calling the police. If the accident occurred in places such as a restaurant, hotel, or amusement park, file the injury report with the manager of the establishment.

If it is established that your vacation injury was caused by another person’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation in the form of past and future medical bills, other expenses because of the injury, permanent disability, lost income, and pain and suffering.

We sincerely hope and pray that your vacation goes well and you come back only with memories to cherish for a lifetime. However, if anything goes wrong, contact The Law Firm for immediately support throughout the state of Georgia.