With Fall Break just around the corner, many of us are already looking forward to getting away for a vacation to recharge after the start of the school year. Whether you are hitting the road for a road trip with the family or hopping on a plane to a relaxing getaway, I’m sure the last thing on your mind is that you or one of your family members could end up injured. If you do find yourself in that unfortunate situation, below are several things you should know to help protect yourself and prevent an unexpected injury from ruining your trip.
When our local schools let out for Fall Break, a flood of traffic heads out of town straight towards the many beaches and other popular destinations we all love to enjoy. Unfortunately, with the increased traffic and time on the road, the most common type of injury you are likely to suffer while on vacation is one that results from a car crash. If you are involved in a wreck on the interstate or after you have arrived at your destination, it is important to take the steps outlined below to ensure you are protected and can get back to enjoying your trip as quickly as possible.
Whether you are vacationing at the beach, an amusement or waterpark, or any other destination, most hotels have pools or other water attractions that can lead to all sorts of hazards. Another common vacation injury is falling on a wet floor from water tracked inside from the pool or beach or slippery pool decks. These types of falls can be especially dangerous because they usually occur with some force and you are likely to land on a hard, unforgiving surface.
While car crashes and falls are the most common vacation injuries we see, there are many ways you can get hurt that could derail your vacation if you don’t take the right steps immediately. Regardless of how or what type of injury you suffer, the steps below are important to follow to ensure you get treatment for your injury and preserve any necessary information for a future claim if someone else was at fault for your injury.
• Notify the appropriate parties – If you are in a wreck, call the local law enforcement agency and wait for them to arrive at the scene. Even if your car is still operational and you are anxious to get on with your trip, it is important to report the accident, get a police report and the other driver’s insurance information. If you are injured in a fall or other accident, notify someone in charge of the facility at which you are injured, fill out an accident report and make sure to get a copy before you leave.
• Document any damage or injuries – Not only is it important to take pictures of your own car, but make sure you take photos of the other driver’s vehicle and the scene of the accident. If you are hurt at your hotel, a restaurant or some other facility, take lots of pictures of whatever caused your injury. No matter how you are hurt, if you have any visible injuries, take pictures of those immediately and take pictures as they heal to document their progression.
• Get treatment – While making a detour to the hospital or doctor’s office is probably the last thing you want to do on vacation, it is important to seek treatment right away if you are hurt. Waiting until you get back home could not only cause your injury to worsen, but could give the impression that your injury is not that serious or was caused by something else that happened between the time of the injury and the time you get treatment.
• Contact an experienced attorney – No matter how or where you are injured, it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to help you navigate the steps above. It is not necessary to hire an attorney in the town or state where you are injured. Hiring an attorney where you live has many advantages beyond the convenience of working with someone you know, trust and can meet with in person. A local attorney can help ensure you have access to medical providers back at home that are the most appropriate for the injuries you suffered, and if necessary can associate with a lawyer in the state in which you were injured at no additional cost to you.
If you are injured in a car accident, slip and fall or any other accident while traveling or while home in Kentucky, contact me, Jessica Shoulders, as soon as you are injured for a free consultation to advise you on how to proceed and to walk you through the process of filing a claim against any responsible parties. I can be reached at 270-781-6500 or jshoulders@elpolaw.com.
-by Jessica Shoulders
