Vacations are a time to relax, enjoy time with loved ones and take a break from the pressures of everyday life, but accidents and injuries can happen anywhere. Although many people injure themselves while trying new things like white water rafting, skiing and other outdoor activities, injuries and illnesses often happen due to someone else’s negligence.
Hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and other entertainment venues are required by law to provide a safe environment and post warnings of any known hazards. Cutting corners and inadequate employee training and other forms of negligence can lead to travelers becoming injured or ill. Examples of vacation injuries can include:
- Slip and falls in hotels, restaurants and other places of business
- Swimming pool injuries or death
- Hotel gym accidents
- Escalator or elevator injuries
- Assaults and robberies due to lack of security
- Assaults perpetrated by staff of hotels and amusement parks
- Amusement park ride injuries
- Injuries from overcrowding
- Boat or cruise ship breakdown, accidents or illness
- Scuba diving, snorkeling or parasailing accidents
- Car, truck and bus accidents
- Food poisoning
- Allergic reactions
What To Do After a Vacation Injury
Seek Medical Care
Your health and well-being should be your top priority. If you are injured or have fallen ill, seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is often difficult to know the extent of your injuries at first, so don’t wait to see your own doctor when you return home. If you decide to file a vacation injury claim, immediate medical treatment provides documentation of your illness or injuries.
Collect Evidence and Obtain Contact Information
If possible, take photos of the accident scene and your injuries. If you have any clothes or other possessions that were damaged, seal them in a plastic bag. Your attorney may use them as evidence for your vacation injury claim.
Write down the names, contact information and statements of anyone who witnessed the accident. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, be sure to get the other driver’s name, license plate number and insurance information.
File An Accident Report
Whether it is a restaurant hotel or amusement park, if you slip and fall at any type of business, ask to speak with an owner or manager and file an injury report. If you have been attacked or injured by another person or involved in a motor vehicle accident, call police immediately to file a report.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
If your vacation injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and additional expenses. Laws regarding vacation injury claims vary from state to state, so make sure to contact an attorney in the jurisdiction where your injury or illness occurred. Our skilled personal injury attorneys in Pennsylvania can assess your case and will fight for your rights to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Thomas, Conrad & Conrad at