One of the contingencies people never really plan for while travelling is the likelihood of getting really sick, hurt, or dealing with a severe injury while travelling.

For most people, it may not feel like an urgent issue that needs to be addressed every time they go abroad, and that’s because, in their most travels, they’ve never experienced something like that.... until they do.

But why learning the hard way when you can make sure you’re financially covered in case of an emergency? Things do happen, and you know it well.

Frequent travellers often care more about losing their belongings or a canceled flight than they do about an injury. It may sound annoyingly true, but that’s how most people actually think of it.

Let’s just say the unthinkable does happen. How will you manage to pay for medical care? Or get home in case of a real emergency?

Having to deal with an accident overseas can be devastating. Not only can it cause pain, discomfort, and income loss, but it will most certainly bring frustration through disrupting vacation plans, creating the inconvenience of having to find medical treatment abroad, or need to be repatriated.

If you have travel insurance, here are some of the most commonly asked questions on traveling injury claims you’re probably thinking about right now.

1.      I’ve been involved in an accident abroad; what do I need to do?

If you’ve been involved in an accident overseas, the first thing to do is seek medical treatment and not let stress overwhelm you. According to UKLaw.co.uk, if the motorcycle, car, cycling, or pedestrian accident abroad wasn’t your fault, then you may be eligible for a compensation claim.

You are entitled to make a compensation claim if your foreign auto accident occurred in Europe. Or if you were injured in an automobile while on a journey arranged as a part of a holiday package outside of Europe.

Regardless of how serious your injury may seem, if you’ve been involved in an accident in a foreign country, make sure you:

• Report the accident to the appropriate authorities
• Gather as much information about the crash as possible, including video and pictures
• Require name and contact details of all witnesses
• Obtain copies of the police report
• Bring home copies of your foreign medical records

You can also get in touch with your insurance agency while you’re abroad, either by phone or mail, to be provided with a guideline of what you should do before returning home.

2.      How can an injury attorney help me with my travel compensation claim?

Personal injury attorneys can assist you if you’ve suffered an injury or illness in a foreign country, where someone else was at least partly at fault.

Having a personal injury lawyer around can help you better understand your rights to compensation resulting from your accident, and they can do to help. More precisely, a personal injury lawyer should provide you with information regarding:

• The process of filing a claim
• Which state’s law applies to your claim
• Any deadlines which you should be aware of
• Who pays the legal fees
• What your claim should include

Some laws of the foreign country where the accident takes place often abide by some claim aspects, such as the time limit that you have to lodge a claim. A reason enough to seek legal assistance early, because this time limit can be short as six months.

3.      Can I make a personal injury claim if I am at fault?

To bring a successful holiday claim, you should be able to demonstrate that your injuries were caused by the negligent behavior or action of someone else involved, such as the hotel staff or the tour operator.

Obviously, you will not be eligible for a compensation claim if your injuries or the accident were your fault. But if you’re partly at fault, you may still be eligible for recompense.

If you’re left in shock by accident, and you’re actually unsure who is to blame, then you should get in touch with your insurer. Regardless of who is at fault, you have to bring records and provide your insurer and attorney with information, so they have all the necessary means to help.

4.      I’ve been injured on a cruise ship-what should I do?

Cruise ship accidents are some of the most challenging as rules that apply on the ship both in port and on the high seas vary from those that apply if you were injured at home. What’s more, international maritime conventions may affect, depending on the port where the cruise ship is registered and who the ship operator is.

If you’ve been involved in an accident on a cruise ship, you will also be eligible for an injury claim under the terms of your holiday contract as well as in negligence. The thing is, such claims are often complicated, as different state’ laws can interfere.

Most common accident injuries that take place on a cruise ship include:

• Slipping on drink and food spillages
• Tripping or slipping on wet decks and in communal spaces
• Accident while on shore excursions
• Accidents during boarding and disembarking the cruise
• Injuries caused by furnishings and fixtures on the ship

Because vessels are constantly moving between ports, evidence gathering, and on-site inspections, it’s often difficult. For that, it’s important that you gather as much evidence as possible before you disembark the vessel. In case of injury caused on a cruise ship, make sure you report the accident and gather the necessary documentation and details of witnesses, including vessel employees.

5.      I’ve been injured on an airplane - what should I do?

Fortunately, many airline travellers are eligible for a compensation claim without having to prove negligence. But as expected, some claims are not clear-cut, as most international conventions often apply. Most common injuries occur either onboard the airplane or while boarding or disembarking:

• Slipping or falling in airport concourse areas
• Tripping in passenger jetways, bridges, and tunnels while boarding or disembarking
• Faulty seats
• Falling objects from overhead lockers resulted in head injuries
• Minor injuries caused by refreshment trolley

Aircraft accidents often have a deadline for injury claims than another type of personal injury. So, it’s best to seek legal advice as soon as possible.