Whether you are an expat or traveling for a vacation abroad, you can get injured outside the familiar boundaries of your hometown, so it is a good idea to be prepared for such unexpected situations. Everyone moving abroad has high hopes that everything will go as planned, but accidents may be unavoidable in some instances. As such, we have prepared a guide that can help you take appropriate action in the event of being injured abroad.
Top 5 Tips on What You Should Do if You Get Injured Abroad
Consult a Professional Personal Injury Lawyer
Insurance companies are first-and-foremost, a business looking to make profit, and they always want to keep their compensation for injury victims low to protect their interests. However, all injuries resulting from negligence on behalf of another party should be fully compensated. This might not be easy if you do not have legal representation. Therefore, it is essential to hire a personal injury lawyer with experience in handling serious cases so that you can get the compensation rates that you deserve. Attorneys specialized in personal injuries have the expertise to fight on behalf of their clients to ensure they get adequate compensation.
Some insurance companies will try to ensure that you get a lower payout even in case of serious injuries emanating from negligence by other people. The situation can be worsened by being an expat. Some insurers can even decline the claims of compensation in hopes that the claimants will just give up. This is where a personal injury attorney comes in handy.
Report the Injury to the Responsible Authorities
If you are injured in the workplace, you must immediately report the injury to the responsible authorities within the company. You need to ensure that the injury is reported within a reasonable time after its occurrence, and you should also be able to prove it. If possible, you can try to obtain all the details that can support your claim for injury as a result of negligence caused by the other party.
In case of an accident, you should also make sure that you report the case to the police and receive a copy of that report. If you are a foreigner visiting a specific country where you get injured, make sure you have your valid travel documents. You should also contact your nearest embassy so that you can get advice if you are seriously injured abroad.
Get Medical Treatment
Getting emergency medical treatment abroad can be tricky if you are a foreigner. If you do not have insurance, healthcare service providers can be costly since most of them demand cash upfront. If you are an expat, make sure you have the right insurance policy that gives you sufficient coverage to get emergency services. You should immediately contact your insurance company after an injury to get advice about how you can get treatment.
You can also consider a global health insurance company before relocating to your new home. This will help you get coverage in case of eventualities like injuries happening. It is essential to do your homework and identify the services offered by insurance companies. Some healthcare institutions require special insurance so you must have this information.
The other thing that you can do is to contact your travel insurance company if you get injured during your international trip. Emergency medical services abroad could be costly without insurance. Therefore, you need to get a valuable insurance policy prior to your visit that you can use in case of serious injury.
Keep All Receipts for Medical Expenses
You must keep all the receipts showing the costs incurred while seeking medication for your injuries. You need to present all payments for your treatment so that you can be able to claim compensation for personal injuries. When you do not have supporting evidence, it may be difficult to successfully file a claim for personal injury.
Make a Personal Injury Claim
If you believe that your injury has been caused by negligence during your international trip, you can make a personal injury claim. However, if you are an independent traveler, you should know that this process can be expensive and tricky at the same time. Therefore, before you pursue your claim, it is wise to seek legal advice from qualified professionals in the field.
Whilst there is nothing that can stop injuries from happening while you are in a foreign land, knowing what to do in these cases can be helpful. The most important aspect to consider is to seek legal advice from a personal injury lawyer who has experience in that particular field. It is also important to seek medication after an injury. However, you should know beforehand the medical facilities that you can visit abroad depending on the type of your insurance.
