There’s nothing better than traveling around the world and experiencing other countries to get to know their history and culture. There’s a lot of planning that goes into traveling from finding the best deal on tickets and accommodation to organizing activities and listing places to go sightseeing. While all of that is important to plan, you need to also remember that accidents happen even on vacations, and you need to prepare yourself for that possibility. Being in an accident or getting injured in a foreign country is different than when you’re home. You needn’t worry, however, because we have put together exactly what you need to do in this situation.
1. Be Prepared
● Research Your Destination
Most people research everything regarding their travel destination from restaurants, tourist attractions, and shopping districts. Not many consider worst-case scenarios while abroad and research things regarding getting injured in a foreign country. It’s important, however, that you look up details about your destination regarding its health and legal systems in case of accidents and serious injuries. You should locate the nearest hospital to your hotel and any activity you’ll do during your trip in case of emergencies. You should also prepare a contact list always kept in your possession in case you cannot make phone calls yourself.
● Get Travel Insurance
You must acquire some kind of insurance before you make your trip to another country. If you already have private insurance, contact the company and check if your coverage includes international travel. If not, you’ll need to get a travel medical insurance package that covers your destination and the duration of your trip. Make sure it includes the ER, transport back to the US, suitable financial coverage, and any activities you’ll be doing.
2. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your health and safety always come first, so the first step once you get any kind of injury while in another country is getting immediate medical attention. Whether severe or mild injuries, you have to get checked by a doctor since some internal injuries could be undetected. Don’t get discouraged about getting medical treatment due to the language barrier, just ask for help from your hotel staff or tour guide. Besides making sure you’re healthy, it’s also important to get an official report of your injuries as evidence for your insurance company.
3. Document It All
If you’re planning to file a legal claim for your injury, documentation is crucial to get appropriate compensation. If your injury is due to any kind of accident, the North Carolina-based personal injury lawyer reveals that attorneys will need as much evidence as you can gather. If you’re physically able to, get as many pictures of the accident and your injuries as you can. You should also get the contact information of any witnesses to support your claim. Once you get a medical check, request a copy of the report and make sure you report the accident to concerned authorities, also getting a copy of their report. This will save you a lot of time and hassle once you’re back home instead of having these documents mailed.
4. Contact Home
Now It’s time to reach out to the people who can help you from back home. To do that, you’ll need to contact the U.S embassy and tell them about your situation. They can help you contact your family and friends as well as your lawyer. They can also recommend a good medical facility with translators. Moreover, don’t forget to contact your insurance company back home to report your injury with its details to ensure getting coverage for medical costs. The embassy can also assist you in transferring funds from home to pay for your expenses until you get compensation.
5. Follow-Ups
Once you’re safely back home, there are still a few procedures to go through to move forward with your personal injury claim. You should get more medical advice or a follow-up check from a doctor in your hometown. This will not only help in double-checking that you’re physically well, but it can confirm the injury report issued from the other country. You’ll also need to follow up with your insurance company, this time with your lawyer, to negotiate your claim’s terms.
There you have it, that’s pretty much all you need to do if you ever get injured while you’re visiting another country. The key in these situations is to remain calm and collected and focus on your wellbeing. Doing enough research and knowing you’re insured will take off a lot of stress from the situation. Knowing the steps to take, where to get treated, and that you’ll be taken care of financially will help you feel more in control of the situation.
