Holiday Illness Claims
If you were away on a package holiday that you booked through a tour operator and you suffered an illness, you are eligible to make a claim against the tour operator with whom you booked the package holiday.
Am I Entitled To Make A Claim?
Under The Package Travel, Package Holidays, and Package Tours Regulations 1992 UK Tour Operators have a legal duty to ensure the hotels they provide as part of their package holidays meet the following:
- Health & Safety
- Food Safety
- General Hygiene standard
If you have suffered an illness due to the poor hygiene in the kitchen, swimming pool areas or, bedrooms of the hotel then this is classed as negligence.
Holiday Illness & Accident Claims Experts
Professional
We work with England’s leading Personal Injury Solicitors to assist you during the process of a compensation claim. Our client’s needs are important to us and helping our clients to recover both physically and financially is our main priority.
Experienced
Though holiday illness claims are typically associated with disease-type claims, they can also consist of both physical and psychological injuries such as trauma. We’ll run a thorough assessment to ensure you get the right amount of compensation.
Determined
We have helped countless people make successful claims with settlements of up to £5000 for minor whiplash injuries, as well as settling claims worth several million pounds for more serious and catastrophic accident injuries.
Holiday Illness Claims
Food Poisoning Claims
Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. In most cases we receive food poisoning claims from our clients who have suffered from foods contaminated by bacteria including Salmonella or E. coli and Norovirus.
Pool Bugs Claims
Pool bugs are also referred to as recreational water illnesses (RWI) and contrary to popular belief, chlorine does not kill all germs instantly. There are germs today that are very tolerant to chlorine and were not known to cause human disease until recently. Once these germs get in the pool, it can take anywhere from minutes to days for chlorine to kill them. Swallowing just a little water that contains these germs can make you sick.
Parasitic Infections Claims
Whilst on a package holiday abroad, parasitic infections can be spread in several ways. For example, protozoa and helminths can be spread through contaminated water, food, waste, soil, and blood.
Bed Bugs Claims
Bed Bugs scientifically known as Cimex lectularius are small insects that reside in cracks around your bed mainly under fitted sheets and in the corners of a mattress.
Bed bugs or cimicosis can be infected with at least 28 human pathogens and their bites can lead to a range of skin symptoms from no visible effects to prominent blisters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to make a claim?
You typically have around 3 years to start your personal injury claim and the time is counted from the date of your accident. If the date of your accident is approaching limitation, we can apply for an extension in most cases to ensure you do not lose the right to claim.
There are exceptions to the three-year rule in some cases, so if you think you might have a claim we advise you to contact us as soon as possible so we can determine your chances for successful compensation.
If you are making a claim for an accident at work then there are 3 main exceptions to the three-year rule:
- Mental Capacity – if your loved one no longer has the mental capacity to make a claim themselves
- Working Abroad – if your accident happened while you were working abroad.
- Defective Work Equipment – if your injury was caused by equipment that had a manufacturing defect.
How much compensation could I receive?
The amount of compensation varies depending on the type of accident, the severity of the illness or injury, and the individual situation as each person can be affected differently.
As the amount varies case to case, our personal injury solicitors can assess your situation and provide you with a more accurate quote. For a quick estimate on how much you could be entitled to, why not visit our claims calculator?
What can I claim for?
Depending on your case you can claim for both general and special damages.
General damages are made up of the pain, suffering and loss of amenities due to the injury caused. This will be detailed in the medical report written by the medical expert following an independent examination.
Special damages:
- Travel Expenses
- Medical Care & Prescription Costs
- Rehabilitation
- Loss of Earnings
- Household Assistance & Adaptations
- Vehicle Damage
- Vehicle Hire, Storage & Recovery Charges
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses
Can I make a claim for someone else?
Yes. You can make a claim on behalf of a child under the age of 18 and/or if the claimant lacks the mental capacity. For all other claims, you are welcome to make an enquiry via our website or our contact centre for information which may assist your friend/relative who has been involved in an accident.
What will it cost me to make a claim?
Claims 24 work on a no-win – no-fee basis.
No win, No fee is a risk-free way of getting compensation for an injury or illness that wasn’t your fault.
It means there are no upfront costs, and there are no legal fees to be paid in the unlikely event that your claim is unsuccessful.
If you win your claim, we will make the following deductions:
• A success fee for winning
• Your solicitor’s fee
• The 3rd party normally cover all legal costs and expenses but if there is a shortfall, then this may also be deducted from your compensation.
We believe there should be no surprises when making a claim with us, so anything you need to know when making a decision will be made clear from the get-go. Come and talk to us for free for impartial advice.
How long will it take to settle my claim?
The average time from the moment you contact Claims 24 till the moment you receive a check from us is 6-8 months.
However, every situation is different and the timeframe depends on many factors – one of them is your collaboration with us.
By providing all the correct information and attending all of the medical appointments which we arrange for you, our solicitors will be able to build a strong case on your behalf resulting in a quick, efficient payout.
Therefore, we kindly ask you to help us, and we will help you – because together we can achieve more.
What is the process for making a claim?
1. Call us or fill out our form
The first step is simple. All you have to do is get in contact and a member of our team will discuss your accident/ injury with you. We will gather information regarding your claim and advise you on how best to proceed.
2. Complete Claim Requirements
Once we have all the details of your case, we will put together your claim and manage your case from the first day to the last. You can be assured that we will do everything in our power to get you the compensation you deserve.
3. Receive Compensation
Once your claim has been successful, we will send your compensation to you! If we don’t win, we won’t charge you a penny. You can be sure you’ll get every penny of your compensation as our fees are paid for by the party at fault!
For more information on how to claim and an in-depth process, visit our ‘How To Claim’ page.
When can I claim for holiday illness?
To make a Holiday Illness Claim under The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992, the tour operator must be based in the UK and have provided you with a ‘Package Holiday’. This is will be stipulated on the ATOL Certificate that you will receive from the tour operator. If you booked a flight-plus or hotel-only holiday then you are not entitled to claim under these regulations.
If the illness you have suffered is believed to be due to the negligence of the hotel abroad, we can help you claim against the tour operator you booked your holiday with by establishing that they have failed to provide a high English standard of reasonable care and that they lacked care and fell below a reasonable standard in the service they provided.
How to recognise bed bugs?
Common indicators that bed bugs are around include the following:
• Bloodstains on your sheets or pillowcases.
• Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bedclothes, and walls.
• Bedbug fecal spots, eggshells, or skin sheds in corners of the mattress.
•A bad, musty smell in the room.
If you were a victim of bed bug bites call Claims 24 now so we can help you claim the compensation you deserve.
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
The symptoms of food poisoning will vary on an individual basis. Factors such as age, weight and the type of bacteria causing the poisoning will result in different symptoms manifesting. Below you can find common symptoms associated with food poisoning:
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucus
• Stomach cramps and abdominal (stomach) pain
• A lack of energy and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• A high temperature (fever)
• Aching muscles
• Chills
• Fatigue (loss of energy)
What causes food poisoning?
Food poisoning is typically caused by one of two things:
The first is bacteria. Bacteria is by far the most widespread cause of food poisoning. E. coli, listeria, and salmonella are very common culprits when it comes to food poisoning.
The second is parasites. Parasites are a type of germ which survive in animals and water such as ponds and lakes. Local tap water used abroad to wash salads and fruits can carry parasites and is a common cause of holiday illness. Parasites found in swimming pools are not killed by the use of chlorine.
Who is at risk of a parasitic infection?
Anyone can get a parasitic infection. But some people are at greater risk than others. You’re more likely to contract a parasitic infection if:
• You have a compromised immune system or are already sick with another illness.
• You have travelled to a tropical or subtropical region of the world.
• There is a lack of a clean supply of drinking water.
• You swim in lakes, rivers, or ponds where Giardia or other parasites are common.
What causes parasitic infections?
Parasitic infections are usually caused by three types of organisms:
The first is Protozoa – Protozoa are single-celled organisms that can live and multiply inside your body. Some infections caused by protozoa include giardiasis. This is a serious infection that you can contract from drinking water infected with Giardia.
The second is Helminths – These are multi-celled organisms that can live in or outside of your body. They’re more commonly known as worms. They include flatworms, tapeworms, thorny-headed worms, and roundworms.
The final organism is Ectoparasites – These are multicelled organisms that live on or feed off your skin. They include some insects and arachnids, such as mosquitos, fleas, ticks, and mites.
What are the symptoms of a parasitic infection?
The common symptoms of parasitic infections incepted whilst on holiday abroad vary depending on the organism.
For example:
• Giardia may cause diarrhoea, gas, upset stomach, greasy stools, and dehydration.
• Cryptosporidiosis may cause stomach cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, and fever.
• Toxoplasmosis may cause flu-like symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches or pains that can last for over a month.
If you have suffered from such symptoms and parasites illness whilst on a package holiday abroad you may be entitled to claim.
What causes pool bugs?
Pool bugs are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas and interactive fountains. Pool bugs can also be caused by chemicals in the water or chemicals that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems. If this sounds like something that has happened to you, give us a call and our team will be happy to help.
What are the symptoms of swimming pool infections?
The symptoms of pool bugs will vary on an individual basis. Factors such as age, weight and the type of bug causing the infection will result in different symptoms manifesting. Below you can find common symptoms associated with food poisoning:
• Eye Infections
• Skin Infections
• Gastrointestinal Infections
• Respiratory Infections
• Neurologic Infections
• Wound Infections
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting