In recent years there has been an increase of holidaymakers making sickness compensation claims, with some claiming British holidaymakers are particularly at fault. In order to clamp down on potential bogus claims, new rules have been brought in, so it is important to know what to expect if you become sick on holiday and are looking to seek compensation.
Capping
One of the reasons that some legal companies have encouraged sickness claims is the fact that until recently the fees involved in these cases has not been capped, meaning that the amount of money it would take could be a lot more than the possible compensation fee that could be given to the client.
What this meant is that a lot of travel firms involved did not challenge this in court, meaning that more cases were paid out. While it needs to be emphasised that there are a lot of genuine claims, there was also a number that were either bogus or exaggerated that resulted in pay-outs. In recent times, some people have been exposed, resulting in jail terms for what is essentially fraud.
Travel firms have welcomed the new rules for a number of reasons. Aside from reducing the amount of possible claims, it could also mean a better experience for British tourists, who may be unfairly tarnished by a reputation for false claims. Travel firms are also calling for more controls on companies that cold call tourists, encouraging them to claim for sickness when they may not have previously considered it.
Making a claim
Making a claim is still possible. However, it is important to do so promptly and in the right way. You should complain to the hotel or resort in writing and request a copy. It is also important to prove that you have seen a doctor, as well as any possible medical expenses that could be incurred as a result of the sickness.
Another way to back up any claims is to seek out other travellers who may have also suffered from sickness and get their contact details so that you can have your claim backed up and further verified.
We can help
As a family firm, Larcomes stands by certain values. One major aspect of this is making sure that people know what they are doing, and what they are claiming. We believe in giving our clients the information they need and to decide whether or not to proceed. Our motto has always been “Big enough to specialise, small enough to care” and a big part of that is being honest with our clients to give them a realistic idea of a positive verdict and whether or not they should proceed with making a claim.
If you would like to know more or are still not sure about whether or not you wish to make a sickness claim, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss your situation in more detail to help you decide what you want to do.