Holidays are usually fun, however this is not always the case and thousands of people each year get sick as a result of the food the have ingested or water the have consumed on a package or all inclusive holiday. If you are unlucky enough to have suffered from an illness whilst you are abroad you will know it can be a terrible experience, especially if you don’t speak the same language. If you have been sick on this type of holiday then you could be entitled to claim compensation.
At Whiterose Blackmans Solicitors we fight hard to win our cases, we have the client at the centre of all that we do. We have offices in Leeds however our holiday illness specialist lawyers will deal with the claim for you making it ‘hassle free’ wherever you are in the UK.
There may be varied reasons why you are abroad, on holiday or on business, that doesn’t matter. If you have suffered an illness abroad whatever the purpose for your trip you could still claim.
Frequent ‘illness abroad claims’ we deal with are:
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach pains and cramps, vomiting, headaches, nausea and various abdominal complaints. Dehydration can often lead to a stay in hospital and can also lead to other serious complications.
Holidaymakers are subjected to food poisoning after they consume food or a drink which are infected with bacteria, parasites, viruses or toxins. By far the most common type of food poisoning experienced by travellers is from a bacterial cause such as campylobacter, E. coli, or the salmonella infection. Also Shigella and Giardia Lamblia can also be contracted; this an infection in the small intestine caused by the parasite Giardia Lambilia. Symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and other unpleasant symptoms.
There is also the ‘holiday bug’ (as it’s often referred to) ‘Cryptosporidium’. This is also one which we come across frequently. Cryptosporidium is linked to food washed in contaminated water, however it is normally contracted by accidentally consuming swimming pool water contaminated with faeces.
It is important that the illness you have suffered is diagnosed by a GP. Producing a stool sample is not always pleasant but such tests help to identify the exact bacteria, virus or parasite that is causing the illness and once that has been identified the treatment can begin. It is also important to have the illness recorded by a doctor.
If any illness is confirmed as being food poisoning and you suspect that it was contracted at your holiday hotel the Food Standards Agency will be notified by your doctor.
The amount of compensation you will receive will depend on the circumstances of your individual case. The average compensation payment is around £2500 plus reimbursement of the cost of your holiday. This said every case is different and many people get considerably more than that plus other costs they have incurred (medicines they may have bought, travel expenses etc).
If you have had suffered from an illness on holiday of this nature it is good advice to claim as soon as you are able to. We have been able to commence cases that were within the 3 year cut off period. We are normally able to work on a NO WIN NO FEE basis.
We offer a free initial consultation in all areas of law. We have specialist solicitors in all our practice areas, all of whom have many years of experience. We advise and represent our clients in a pro-active, friendly and honest manner in order to obtain the best possible outcome. From the outset, you can be confident that you have specialist solicitors on your side. We have specialist solicitors in Civil Litigation, Criminal Defence, Divorce, Family Law, Immigration & Personal Injury. We are authorised to provide Legal Aid funding for qualifying criminal law matters. Our initial consultation is always free and we can offer a "No Win-No Fee" in Personal Injury Cases. We can in certain circumstances arrange a consultation in the convenience of your home.