If you’ve been injured on a package holiday booked with a UK travel company, our team of solicitors can support you in making a compensation claim against those responsible.
Check if you're eligibleOr call free on 0151 909 8212
An accident abroad claim is a legal claim for compensation made when you’ve been injured overseas due to someone else’s negligence. This could be a tour operator who failed to keep you safe, a hotel with dangerous facilities, a transport provider, or another individual whose actions caused your injury.
The key principle is the same as any personal injury claim: someone owed you a duty of care, they failed in that duty, and you were hurt as a result. You shouldn’t have to bear the cost of someone else’s negligence, financially or physically.
If you booked a package holiday with a UK travel company, your claim is usually made against that company, even if the accident happened at a hotel or on an excursion. You usually have three years to claim. If you were injured on a flight, a different limit of two years applies.
If you didn’t book a package holiday, you may need to claim in the country where the accident happened, and time limits there can be much shorter, sometimes just one year. Please get in touch as soon as you can so we can check where you stand.
There are some exceptions to the usual time limits. If the injured person is a child, the time limit generally begins on their 18th birthday. If someone lacks the mental capacity to bring a claim themselves, the time limit may not start until they regain capacity.
Who you can claim against for an accident abroad depends on how the injury happened and who was responsible. Common parties include:
It’s important to establish who owed you a duty of care and who failed in that duty. If you booked a package holiday with a UK company, they’re usually responsible for the whole holiday. If not, the claim may need to be made abroad, and we’ll tell you honestly if it’s something we can’t help with.
Accident abroad claims can cover a range of injuries, from minor to life-changing, provided they were caused by someone else’s negligence. Common types of injuries include:
Whiplash, sprains, and strains are among the most common injuries suffered in accidents abroad, and can have a lasting impact on your day-to-day life.
Accidents can result in fractures to the arms, legs, wrists, and ankles — injuries that may require surgery, rehabilitation, and extended time off work.
These range from concussions to more serious trauma, and can affect memory, concentration, and long-term wellbeing.
Damage to the back or spine can lead to long-term mobility issues and may require ongoing medical care and support.
Whether caused by faulty equipment, unsafe conditions, or negligence, burn injuries can be both painful and long-lasting.
Poorly maintained surfaces, wet floors, or unsafe walkways can cause cuts, bruises, and ligament damage that leave you out of action for weeks.
If you were involved in a road accident abroad — as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist — you may be entitled to claim for your injuries.
Gastric illnesses caused by poor food hygiene or unsafe food preparation can ruin a holiday and, in serious cases, have lasting health consequences.
In addition to physical injuries, you may also be able to claim for medical expenses, loss of earnings, care costs, and travel disruption linked to the accident.
Making a claim isn't just about compensation, it's about getting the support you need to recover and move forward. Here's what a successful claim could cover:
If your injuries left you unable to work, either during your holiday or after returning home, you may be able to recover lost earnings, including future income if your ability to work has been affected long-term.
Compensation can cover the cost of medical care, both abroad and back in the UK, including physiotherapy, specialist appointments, and any ongoing treatment you need as a result of your injuries.
If your injuries meant you needed help with everyday tasks, from personal care to household duties, you may be able to claim for the cost of that care, whether it was provided professionally or by a family member.
In more serious cases, compensation can contribute towards changes needed to make your home or vehicle accessible and safe, helping you maintain as much independence as possible.
A serious injury can have lasting consequences. Compensation can take into account future expenses, ongoing care needs, and the long-term impact on your quality of life and finances.
Whether you're still overseas or back in the UK, taking the right steps as early as possible can make a real difference to your claim. Here's what to do:
Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Make sure your injuries are properly recorded and keep copies of any medical reports or receipts.
Inform the relevant party, your hotel, tour operator, transport provider, or local authority. Ask for a written accident report where possible and keep a copy for your records.
Take photos or videos of the accident scene, your injuries, and anything that contributed to the incident. Collect contact details of any witnesses.
Save medical bills, prescriptions, travel documents, insurance details, and any correspondence relating to the accident. The more you can keep hold of, the better.
Don't accept blame or sign documents you don't fully understand, especially if they're in another language.
Contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible and follow their guidance. This is separate to making a personal injury claim, but it's important to keep them informed.
Get in touch with our team by phone or online. We'll have an initial conversation about what happened and give you an honest view of whether you may have a valid claim, at no cost and with no obligation.
If we believe you have a claim, we'll carry out a full assessment, looking at the circumstances of the accident, where it happened, who was responsible, and what losses you've suffered.
We'll help you pull together all the evidence needed to support your claim, medical records, accident reports, photographs, witness statements, and any other relevant documentation.
If we take on your case, we'll do so on a no-win, no-fee basis. There’s nothing to pay upfront, and if you win, our fees come out of your compensation. We’ll explain exactly how much before you commit to anything.
Speak to our friendly team today. You are not alone, and you may have a case.
You could still have a claim. If you were partly to blame, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share. For example, if you were found 25% to blame, you’d receive 75% of the full amount. Speak to our team, and we’ll explain where you stand.
No. While having travel insurance can be helpful, it isn’t a requirement for making a personal injury claim. The two processes are separate, though we’d always recommend notifying your insurer about any accident.
You can still explore a claim, but medical evidence is important in supporting your case. If you didn’t receive treatment at the time, we’d recommend seeing a doctor as soon as possible after returning to the UK and explaining that your injury happened overseas.
A no-win, no-fee agreement, also called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), means you don’t pay anything upfront. If your claim isn’t successful, you won’t pay our legal fees. If we win, our fees are taken from your compensation, and we’ll explain exactly how much before you sign anything. We’ll also arrange After the Event (ATE) insurance, which covers certain costs if your claim doesn’t succeed. This protection depends on you being honest throughout your claim.
That depends on how serious your injury is and the impact it’s had on your life. We can’t give you a figure straight away, and that’s not us being cagey. We need to arrange a medical examination first, and the report tells us the full extent of your injuries. Once we have it, we can give you a proper picture. In the meantime, our compensation calculator can give you a rough guide.
Most personal injury claims take between 12 and 18 months. Accident abroad claims can take longer, especially where overseas parties or foreign law are involved. We’ll work through your claim as quickly as we can, with care, and keep you updated along the way.
We handle a wide range of personal injury and medical negligence claims, including accidents abroad, cruise ship illness and accidents, cosmetic surgery, surgical error, misdiagnosis, medication error, and birth injury. If you’re not sure whether your situation qualifies, get in touch and we’ll let you know.
Your claim will be handled by our personal injury team. The team is made up mainly of solicitors and trainee solicitors, supported by paralegals and legal secretaries.
Your hospital records show the treatment you had. An independent medical report looks at how your injury affects you now and in the future. That’s what your compensation is based on, so it’s a key part of your claim.
We’ll send you a secure link to sign your documents online. If you have any trouble, just call us and we’ll talk you through it.
We have extensive experience handling personal injury claims, including accident abroad claims.
Nothing to pay upfront. If you win, our fees come out of your compensation.
Every claim is different, so we provide clear, practical advice based on your individual circumstances.
Our personal injury team will work hard to get you the best outcome.
