8 Things to Do If You Are Injured on Vacation

Whether you are heading across the country to enjoy a relaxing few days away from the office or you plan to visit an exotic foreign country, you want your vacation to be as stress-free as possible. Unfortunately, if you are injured while on that vacation, you could be facing significant expenses, transportation issues, and difficulty with medical treatment, according to a Las Vegas personal injury law firm. These eight tips can help you avoid substantial frustration should you be injured while on vacation.

 

1. Seek Medical Treatment

The first thing you want to do if you are injured while on vacation is to seek medical treatment. Even if you feel your injuries are minor, you want to be checked by a doctor to confirm that they were not serious. It is possible you may feel as if you were not injured at all as adrenaline can mask pain, according to a personal injury law firm Las Vegas residents trust. By seeking medical treatment, you are documenting any issue that may lead to problems in the future as well as documenting injuries that are present at the time of the accident.

 

2. Notify Someone of the Injury

If you are injured at the hotel pool, while shopping in a local market or a restaurant, you need to let the manager on duty know about the injury. Of course, if you are involved in an accident, especially in a foreign country, notify the local authorities and do not leave the scene. Most businesses, whether hotels, restaurants, or retail locations, have protocols in place regarding injuries. You will probably be asked to fill out a form and provide a statement.

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3. Collect Information on Others Who are Involved

One of the most common reasons people are injured on vacation is car accidents. If this is the case, a Las Vegas law firm says that you want to get as much information from the other driver as possible. Be sure to get insurance and registration information as well as the names and contact information of any passengers in their vehicle. You want to document the scene as much as you can. Use your phone to take photos of the scene, the vehicles involved, the area where the injury occurred, and your actual injuries.

 

4. Talk to Witnesses

Try to talk to as many witnesses as you can and be sure to get their contact information for later. If it is difficult for you to write because of an injury, use your phone to record the information so that you can transcribe it later. If you see a physician, you will also want to document their contact information as well, a personal injury law firm Las Vegas said.

 

5. File an Insurance Claim

If you are traveling within the United States, filing a claim against your car or health insurance may not be difficult. Even if you have a health insurance policy with higher costs for out-of-network services, most will not apply those higher charges in an emergency. However, if you are traveling outside the country, it may be more challenging to use your own health plan, a Las Vegas personal injury law firm explained. If you took out travel insurance, you would want to reach out to that company to see what is covered. If you were involved in a car accident, even if you were not at fault, you will want to contact your insurance company. If you were in a rental car, you also need to contact the rental car company to let them know you were involved in an accident. Most rental car agencies offer insurance protection while you are using the car, and if you elected to accept that coverage, they would need a claim form completed.

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6. Follow Doctor’s Orders

After you seek medical treatment, you need to do precisely what the doctor tells you to do. For example, if you injure your leg in the accident, the doctor may tell you to use ice for swelling and keep it elevated. That means you don’t go parasailing or bungee jumping instead of resting in a beach chair with ice on your injury. Failing to follow doctor’s orders may result in an insurance claim being denied, a Las Vegas firm explained. If you are told to see your family doctor when you return home, be sure to do so even if you feel much better as you want to document and confirm what the other doctor may have told you about your injury.

 

7. Limit What You Say

Even if you believe the injury was caused by something you did, do not discuss your thoughts with hotel staff, the doctor, or anyone else. Remember that anything you say can be used against you should you need to file legal action. You may have done something that led to your injury, but it is also possible someone else’s negligence contributed to your injury. A slippery pool tile, spilled water in a retail location, or furnishings placed in an unsafe location may all be contributed to the negligence. Las Vegas personal injury law firm experts say you should never admit blame after an injury and that you should limit any statement you give to a manager or police officer. Also, never sign any documents, especially if it is unclear what you are signing.

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8. Hire an Attorney

Whenever you are hurt on vacation, you want to contact an attorney. A Las Vegas law firm can help guide you through the process and help you get the medical attention you need as well as help you file claims with insurance companies. Hiring an attorney does not mean you plan to sue. However, an attorney will make sure your rights are protected and that you get any compensation you may be entitled to under the law. This is especially important if you are injured while traveling outside the United States as injury laws in other countries are significantly different.

If you have been injured while on vacation, contact the personal injury law firm Las Vegas residents trust, The Schnitzer Law Firm offers award-winning legal expertise, providing strategic, intelligent, and passionate representation. Set up your no-obligation consultation by calling 702-960-4050, email Contact@TheSchnitzerLawFirm.com or fill out the secure online form.