Vacation Injury Prevention and Processes - What You Need to Know

After managing a hectic work schedule, a long period of school, or the busyness of parenting, a vacation can seem like a dream come true. The rest, recuperation, fun and enjoyment of a good vacation can recharge people’s mental and physical health and prepare them to return to the challenges of life.

Vacation Injuries can be Stressful

An injury while on vacation can turn a relaxing getaway into a very stressful situation. Unfamiliar areas, different doctors, and hours waiting to receive help or care can be worrisome and frustrating. The additional, unexpected expenses can make the entire experience overwhelming.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list common injuries that occur when traveling. They found the number one cause of injuries on vacation is motor vehicle accidents.

Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and ATV or jet ski accidents can all cause injuries that at the least inconvenience you or, at the worst, can cause traumatic life-altering injuries or death.

Another common vacation injury is a slip and fall injury. Whether the injury is caused by wet or highly polished floors or by tripping on a poorly maintained sidewalk, path or carpeting, falls can cause injuries that range from annoying to severe or even deadly.

Other vacation injuries may include: near-drowning or drowning injuries, amusement park ride injuries, boating injuries, and other negligence-caused accidents.

Being careful is key, but sometimes an accident isn’t your fault and is due to negligence of the vendor, hotel, park or other venue.

Prevent Vacation Injuries

Below are some ways to prevent injuries while on vacation.

Be prepared.

• Regardless of what kind of vacation you take, you are likely to be in contact with some sort of motor vehicle. Make a point to know and follow local traffic laws to prevent accidents. Always wear a seat belt and ensure children use an appropriate booster seat, even if you have to pack one. Do not drive under the influence or allow yourself to be distracted while driving.
• Consider travel insurance. The CDC advises that good trip insurance can provide protections for you and your traveling companions should you need to cancel the trip, if you fall ill or are injured or if you need to be evacuated due to poor medical care where you are vacationing.
• Pack wisely. Include your medications, first aid items, sunscreen, bug spray on your packing list. Check to be sure your medications are permitted, if visiting a different country, and always pack a little extra in case you are unexpectedly delayed.
• Read and review trip information, insurance and liability waivers.

Be aware of your physical safety.

• Avoid situations that may put you at risk – overcrowded areas or vehicles, lowered inhibitions due to drinking, unfamiliar or unsupervised waters, children near bodies of water, driving a vehicle you are uncomfortable with, distracted driving, or long stretches of driving.
• Many people try new things on vacation. This is not a bad thing, but it is important to know your limits, to state those limits and remind others of those limitations.
• Do not drink and drive and be cautious about taking medications then getting behind the wheel.
• Always wear your seatbelt and ensure children are in an appropriate car seat.
• Avoid riding on top-heavy vans or buses, as they may tip over and cause an injury.
• Remember, criminals may act differently where you are vacationing than where you live. Lock cars and your accommodation’s doors. Hold on to purses and do not set them in carts where they can be grabbed. Leave expensive valuables at home. Be cautious about what you drink and how much.

Seven Steps to Take if You are Injured on Vacation

Despite best efforts, accidents and injuries do happen. If injured on vacation, taking the next steps will help to protect you and your personal injury case.

• Report the injury. Alert staff at the facility, theme park, water park, hotel, or cruise ship to the injury and file an incident report. For a car accident or other motor vehicle accident, call the police and file a report. Alert the rental car company as well, if you were driving a rental car. Normally contact information for the rental agency can be found in the car’s glovebox. Be sure to obtain copies of your incident or accident report as well. These reports can protect your rights and prevent unsubstantiated claims from being filed against you.
• Get medical care for the injury. Receiving prompt medical attention for yourself and your loved ones involved in the accident will prevent further complications. An injury can cause unexpected changes to your travel itinerary, but not receiving medical care may disrupt it even more if there are delayed injury symptoms after the adrenaline wears off. A lack of medical documentation of the accident and injury may also harm your claim after the fact. Get medical care regardless of how small the injury may be and follow the physician’s orders to prevent a denial or reduction of your personal injury case.
• Collect evidence at the scene of the injury. If possible, take photos of your injury and the site of your injury as soon as possible. Document what happened and how the injury occurred. If clothing or possessions were damaged, preserve the items in a plastic bag and show them to your personal injury attorney. This evidence can help to support your case and protect your rights.
• Obtain medical records for your treatment. Medical records will help to document the injuries and symptoms from an objective perspective, which is beneficial for your normal healthcare provider, as well as for your legal personal injury case. Be sure to also obtain contact information for the healthcare provider who provides the care.
• Gather contact information for witnesses. If you are in a car accident, collect the normal information – driver name, insurance information, and license plate number and police report. If you sustained a different type of injury, gather the names and contact phone numbers for anyone who witnessed the injury.
• Contact your insurance providers. Depending on where your travels have taken you, contact your travel insurance, health insurance and, if needed, auto insurance providers. Determine if you need to file a claim with any of the providers above.
  Be careful about communicating with the other party’s insurance company though. Remember, the agents hired by the place you were injured are tasked with settling low and anything you say to them could be used against you.
• Get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney. Discussing your case with an expert personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania, like Lepley, Engelman, Yaw and Wilk, LLC, will help to alleviate some of the stress of the situation right away.
  Our skilled personal injury lawyers, Douglas Engelman, David Wilk, and Gary Black, have decades of experience and have won substantial claims for our clients.
  The free personal injury consultation with Attorney Engelman, Wilk or Black can help to provide clarity for your situation. It will also help you to determine whether your injuries and circumstances provide the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.

Lepley, Engelman, Yaw and Wilk Personal Injury Attorneys Work for You

The expertise of the personal injury legal team at Lepley, Engelman, Yaw and Wilk assures that your case will be handled with skill and professionalism. Our personal injury attorneys have inside insight into how insurance companies approach and defend against personal injury lawsuits, giving your case a stronger base on which to operate.

Our personal injury legal team will guide you through the complexities of personal injury law and will fight for you and your best interest to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Trust Lepley, Engelman, Yaw and Wilk with your personal injury accident.

Lepley, Engelman, Yaw and Wilk, LLC provides a complimentary personal injury consultation and promise that if we do not win, you do not have to pay. Call us today.