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.
Having time off work can be essential to reduce built up stress. It’s believed that working for long periods without taking a break can lead to work-related stress which makes work accidents more likely. In 2005/06 there were a surprising 28,605 work accident injuries reported of which 160 were fatal accidents as stated by the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR.
Wherever you intend to go this year you will need to use some form of transport to get there. Jetting off to New Zealand requires travel on an airplane. Going on a Caribbean cruise will clearly involve a long stay on a cruise liner. Hopping over the channel to France you will need to take a ferry or go on the Eurostar train. It’s a worrying thought that an estimated 480,664 holiday accident claims occur during travelling and transit before UK holiday makers even reach their destinations.
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 might not appear in the news very often but in the region of 5,172 people were train accidents victims (including accidents on railway premises) during 2005/06. Regardless of this, public transport is still one of the safest methods to travel around.
Once you have arrived at your holiday destination, the tour operator, or organisation you have booked elements of your holiday with, have a duty to ensure accommodation, travel, excursions or activities are safe and don’t pose any risk of injury to their clients. Remember that even for package holiday accident claims abroad, you may be able to pursue your 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.
For more information about holiday accident claims or to pursue a holiday compensation claim contact Alkers holiday accident solicitors on freephone 0800 005 544 or fill out an enquiry form.
