While we count down to the summer holiday season from July to August you may be thinking about holiday deals, booking time off work, where you’re going to go or what you’re going to pack. One of the last things on your mind will be whether or not you will make a holiday accident claim this year. Newly released accident figures show what the British holiday maker potentially faces when going on a break.
Getting time off work can be crucial for relieving stress built up from drawn out periods without taking a holiday. This can create work-related stress which makes you more likely to be involved in a work accident. There were an astonishing 28,605 work injuries reported in 2005/06, of which 160 were fatal accidents according to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR.
Flying off to New York on a plane. Heading to the Mediterranean on a cruise liner. Popping over the channel to France on the Eurostar train or a ferry. Whatever your destination for a holiday you will be using some form of transport to get you there. It’s therefore a discouraging thought that more than 480,500 holiday accident claims happen during transit and travelling before arrival at your holiday destination.
Yet if you choose to holiday locally in the UK you should be aware that an estimated 271,017 people were involved in road accident personal injury claims when travelling around the UK.
Minor train accidents may not get reported that often in the news but in the region of 5,100 people became train accidents victims (including accidents on railway premises) during 2005/06. Regardless of this, public transport is still one of the safest methods of travel.
From the time you arrive at your destination your tour operator, or company you have booked parts of your holiday with, have a responsibility to make sure accommodation, activities, travel or days out have no risk of injury to any of their customers. Bear in mind that even for package holiday accident claims you may be able to take up a holiday claim through the English legal system.
Take extra care when choosing which leisure activities to take part in when on holiday. In the UK and overseas there are a number of different activities to choose from hiking and climbing to surfing and skiing. Before choosing you may wish to consider that 1,208,414 leisure accidents were reported in the UK alone (according to the Home Accident Surveillance System and the Leisure Activities report). Make sure the activity organisers follow the stringent safety measures set by professional bodies and the government regulators.
Nevertheless don’t let these stats stop you taking a well-needed holiday or break as the odds of having a holiday accident, for which you have to consult a holiday accident solicitor to make a claim, are a thousand to one. You are much more likely to return with a collection of shoddy souvenirs, a load of duty free booze and a tan.
If you would like more information on holiday accident claims or would like to pursue an injury claim then contact Alkers holiday accident solicitors on freephone 0800 005 544 or fill out an enquiry form.
