Jamaica Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For An Personal Injury Claim In Jamaica?

By Joanne Jeffries. Last Updated 24th November 2021. Welcome to this guide to claiming after an accident on holiday in Jamaica.

Have you been injured while on holiday in Jamaica because of someone else? If this is so and it can be proven that they are liable then you may be able to make a Jamaican holiday personal injury claim. There is no denying that any sort of injury or illness is likely to have an affect on your holiday. There are different ways that you could experience an accident on holiday in Jamaica, from slips and trips to road traffic accidents causing whiplash. If you think you may have a valid claim for an accident abroad that was caused by the negligence of a third party call Accident Claims UK on 0800 073 8801. However, before you give us a call, continue reading to discover everything you may need to know regarding an accident abroad.

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A Guide To Claiming For An Accident On Holiday In Jamaica

Jamaica holiday accident accident on holiday in Jamaica

Jamaica holiday accident

Jamaica is becoming an increasingly popular spot for British tourists. In 2017, there were 217,000 British nationals who visited this country. Accidents on holiday could happen anywhere, however if you have suffered a holiday accident while holidaying in Jamaica that was the result of negligence on the part of a third party call us to see if you could claim. Here at Accident Claims UK, we have helped many people to get the compensation they deserve for holiday accident claims, and we could assist you if you have been injured while in Jamaica. In this guide, you will discover everything you need to know, from the process involved to how much you may be awarded in terms of damages. If you have any further questions about Jamaica personal injury claims, you will find our contact details at the end of the guide.

Popular Resorts And Destinations In Jamaica

There is no denying that one of the reasons why Jamaica has become so popular is because there are so many places to visit. Some of the best and most popular resorts are as follows…

  • Kingston – There is only one place to begin, and this is with the capital, which is Kingston. It is one of the largest cities in the Caribbean. Featuring an international airport and a waterfront location, it is the island’s cultural centre and it is not hard to see why it appeals.
  • Falmouth – You will find the newest cruise port of Jamaica here, as well as several big resorts and well-preserved Georgian architecture.
  • Port Antonio – What makes this part of Jamaica so special is that it remains relatively unspoiled. It is a gateway to waterfalls, mountains, and tropical jungles.
  • Montego Bay – There is no denying that this is the tourism capital of Jamaica. There are more activities and resorts when compared with any other area. There are great nightlife options here, as well as golfing options, beaches, and a major cruise ship port.
  • Negril – Lastly, we have Negril, which is named for its black cliffs. From the beautiful Mayfield Falls to the Black River Safari, there is a lot to enjoy here.

What Should I Do If I Have An Accident Or Injury On Holiday?

I’ve had an injury abroad, what to do next? If you have been involved in an incident that was not your fault and suffered injuries as a result, you may be thinking about making a compensation claim with a holiday accident personal injury solicitor. There is no denying that the lawyer you choose will largely be responsible for ensuring that you get the full amount of money you deserve. Nevertheless, there are some ways you could help to ensure your case is as strong as possible. In this section, we are going to take a look at some of the most crucial forms of evidence that you should gather when putting together a personal injury compensation case.

  • Medical report – It is only right that we start with the most vital piece of evidence, and this is the medical report that is provided by your doctor. This report will document all of the injuries you have sustained, as well as the recommended course of treatment your doctor has advised. This is then used to determine how much money you could be entitled to. This highlights why it is so important to see a doctor for your injuries if you are going to make a claim.
  • Witness statements – Witness statements can help to strengthen your case. Therefore, if there was anyone that witnessed the accident you were involved in, it is a good idea to get his or her contact information.
  • Photographs – In some cases you can take photographs that will help you on your quest to secure compensation. Not only can you take images of your injuries, but if you have been involved in a road traffic accident you could take photographs of the scene, such as the damage done to your vehicle and the street, and this will serve as great proof.

So now you know a little bit more about the three main pieces of evidence that can help to strengthen your case when attempting to secure compensation. The only thing you need to do aside from this is get in touch with Accident Claims UK. We are one of the leading companies of our type here in the UK. We have an impeccable reputation in the industry. We have successfully helped personal injury victims to secure compensation for many years, will you be next?

Jamaica Emergency Service Numbers

Before you go on holiday, it is always important to write down the emergency contact information for the destination. So, what numbers do you need for Jamaica?

  • Call 110 for the ambulance
  • Call 119 for air-sea rescue
  • Call 119 for the police
  • Call 119 for missing persons
  • Call 110 for the fire service

You can also find information for the British High Commission in Jamaica at the end of the guide.

Aside from this, the UK Government has a section on their website providing foreign travel advice for Jamaica. Click here for more information.

Jamaica Healthcare For Tourists

We have all heard about those horror stories whereby people get injured while they are on holiday, and then they are left with a huge medical bill to pay. This is the last thing you want, and it highlights why it is so important to take out health insurance before your travels. While your GHIC card can give you access to reduce healthcare in the EU, it is may not be valid in Jamaica. This is why you need a policy that is going to cover you completely. When choosing insurance, make sure that all of Jamaica is covered. Moreover, if you are planning to engage in the likes of water sports, you may need to purchase some extra coverage for this, so do keep this in mind. By having the right health insurance in place, you can have complete peace of mind that you are going to be fully covered no matter what.

How Long Do I Have To Make A Jamaican Holiday Accident Claim?

It is understandable that you may want to focus on getting better before you make an accident claim. Nonetheless, don’t wait too long! A lot of people mistakenly believe that they have all their life to make a claim. If you do not start a personal injury claim before the expiry of your personal injury claim it will become invalid.

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Circumstances Time limit
On a flight, in a hotel, transport or excursion booked as part of a package holiday by a UK tour operator. 3 years from the accident date may very
Personal injury when holiday booked privately. Please call Accident Claims UK to see what time limit your case falls into.

Package Holiday In Jamaica Compensation Claims

A lot of people visit Jamaica as part of a package holiday. After all, it is much easier to book everything under the one deal. In order for a holiday to be classified as a package holiday, it must include at least two of the following: overnight accommodation, transport, and/or tour services, i.e. excursions booked together using a UK tour operator. The law in the UK makes it easier to claim if you have had an accident on a package holiday. The legislation that is in place means you can make a claim against the tour operator if they have been negligent, as opposed to going directly to the supplier. Below, you can find the emergency contact details for some of the most popular tour operators that provide deals to Jamaica.

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Tour operator Package Holidays
First Choice
Tui
Virgin Holidays
Thomas Cook

Hotel Accident Claims

If you want to make an accident on holiday compensation claim, this could be because you have been injured in the hotel you are staying in then it must be proven that the hotel in someway has been negligent. Again, there are different ways that such accidents could happen. For example, you could suffer an injury because of broken furniture in your hotel room or because the hotel grounds have not been maintained properly. You could also make a claim if you have experienced a Jamaican hotel illness because the swimming pool has not been cleaned properly. Other examples could range from food poisoning to injuries caused because of spa treatments gone wrong.

Holiday Illness And Food Poisoning In Jamaica

There is no denying that food poisoning is one of the most common illnesses that people experience when they are on holiday. If you have experienced this sort of holiday injury and illness in Jamaica, and it has been medically proven we could help you to get the compensation that you deserve. There are different ways that you could experience food poisoning while on holiday. Perhaps food has been left on the buffet for too long? Maybe it has not been stored or cooked correctly? The scenarios vary.

When most people experience food poisoning, they only tend to have symptoms for a couple of days, after which they make a full recovery. Nevertheless, a few days of sickness could be enough to ruin your vacation. Furthermore, while most people tend to make a quick recovery, there are individuals who could experience life-threatening symptoms because of food poisoning. If this has happened to you, call us to see if you have a valid claim for holiday illness.

Slips And Falls On Holiday

Out of all of the different holiday accident claims that we handle, there is no denying that slips and falls are some of the most common. The main reason for this is because they could happen anywhere, from boarding or disembarking the flight to your hotel or whilst participating in activities. Some of the common causes of slips and falls are as follows…

  • Falling when disembarking or boarding a flight
  • Slipping on a wet floor that has not been marked
  • Slipping on freshly laid tiles
  • Slipping because of poor pool safety
  • Falling because of a pothole in the hotel car park

These examples are a mere handful of the different way that a slip or trip could happen in Jamaica or anywhere. What it all comes down to is showing that someone else is to blame for what has happened to you.

Water Sports And Other Activity Accidents

There is no denying that a lot of people like to enjoy water sports while they are on holiday. However, you do need to be diligent when it comes to activities like this. Firstly, you need to choose a provider with care. You need to ensure that they have a good reputation and that they will be covered by your insurance if anything goes wrong. A Jamaican water sports activity could go wrong, especially if there are poor safety standards or inadequate equipment is used. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require more information on these sorts of claims.

Road Traffic Accidents In Jamaica

From car crashes to motorbike accidents, road traffic incidents happen on a daily basis. According to statistics that have been provided by the Road Safety Unit (RSU), there are 341 traffic fatalities on average per year in Jamaica. Of these deaths, 80 per cent are male. This means that around 273 men die from road traffic incidents each year.

Have you got the basis for a road traffic accident claim? In order to make this type of claim, you need to prove that someone else caused the accident that you was injured in. Aside from this, the claim needs to be made within the time limit stated by the law.

When it comes to these types of accident claims in Jamaica, there are ways you could help to strengthen your case, such as:

  • Make a note of everything that occurred – This is a good way to make sure you don’t let anything slip your mind when it comes to claiming.
  • Get the relevant details of the perpetrator – This includes their name, address telephone number and the details of their insurer, as well as the make, model and registration number of their vehicle.
  • Get the relevant details of witnesses – Statements from witnesses can really help to make your case stronger.
  • Take photographs – If it counts towards your case, take photographs of the injuries sustained, as well as any damage to your vehicle and/or the street.
  • Contact the police – In some cases, you need to inform the police of what has occurred, this is especially the case if the perpetrator has fled the scene or the incident is causing danger to oncoming traffic.

Does My Solicitor Need To Be Based In Jamaica?

A lot of people assume that their only option is to use the services of a solicitor based in Jamaica if they have been injured there. However, this may not always be the case. You could possibly make a personal injury claim with the help of a solicitor based in the UK, and that is where Accident Claims UK comes in. We have handled many accident abroad cases, and we could ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation available for your case if it is a valid claim.

No Win No Fee Claims For An Accident On Holiday In Jamaica

All of the solicitors that we can provide work on a No Win, No Fee basis, which means you will only need to pay legal fees if your case is a success. This presents you with many benefits. Not only do you get a significant degree of financial protection, but also there are no huge upfront payments, and you can be confident of an exceptional service, as no win no fee personal injury solicitors are impacted by the outcome of your case. You can also be confident that we will not waste your time. If we do not think your case is strong enough, we will tell you.

How We Can Help You

There is a lot to bear in mind when choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your case. After all, this is not something you can afford to take a risk with, as you don’t very often get a second chance to claim again on the same incident. Some top pieces of advice on hiring a solicitor include reading reviews that have been left by previous clients, going for a No Win, No Fee solicitor and, of course, making sure the solicitor boasts the necessary experience to put your mind at ease.

Here at Accident Claims UK, our provided solicitors tick all of the boxes and more. We were set up many years ago, and we have been successfully securing compensation for thousands of personal injury victims. We have handled many different types of cases too, including car crashes, construction accidents, food poisoning, product liability cases, motorbike accidents, repetitive strain injury, industrial deafness, holiday accidents, vibration white finger and much, much more. As you will see from the three-step process below, we make claiming compensation as easy as possible.

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Contact our team by email, phone, or post. Our team will assess your claim. Once you are ready, we can then start your claim.

Contact Our Holiday Accident Experts

If you are ready to make a holiday accident claim, we are ready and waiting to assist you. All you need to do is give us a call on 0800 073 8801 today. This line is open seven days per week, 24 hours a day. There are plenty of other ways to get in touch too. Why not leave your contact details and we will call you back as soon as possible?

Advice And Resources

We have put together some useful links and contact information for you.

Holiday claims for accidents – A more general guide on claims for accidents on holidays.

Package holidays – Information about claiming on package holidays.

Food poisoning – What the NHS says about food poisoning.

British High Commission Kingston

British High Commission

P O Box 575

28 Trafalgar Road

Kingston 10

Kingston

Jamaica

Tel: +1 (876) 936 0700

Opening hours: 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 1 pm Friday. Public access is by appointment only.

British consular services in Jamaica

www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-jamaica

Hopefully now you have all the information you need about claiming after an accident on holiday in Jamaica.

What types of evidence would I need to claim for an accident on holiday in Jamaica?

While you might initially not think about gathering evidence when you have an accident on holiday in Jamaica, doing so at the scene of the accident could be vital in securing compensation. It would be wise to try and take photographs of the scene of the accident or your injuries. You could also ask someone else to do this for you if you are unable to. It would also be a good idea for you to gather details of the witnesses that were at the scene of the accident. This could involve collecting their phone numbers, addresses and email addresses, for example. That way, your lawyer could approach them to collect a witness statement. This could help to back up your claim.

In addition to this, the medical evidence you submit could also be vital in securing the amount of compensation you deserve. During your claim, an appointment could be made for you to see an independent medical expert. They would assess your injuries and write a report that details the nature and severity of your injuries, and could give some details of your prognosis.

On top of all this, it could be a wise idea to keep any documentation relating to costs and losses you’ve experienced due to your accident and injuries. This could be pay slips, bank statements, bills or receipts, for example. You would need these to be able to claim for special damages.

Could I claim for a child’s injury in an accident on a holiday in Jamaica?

If your child is injured in an accident abroad, you could still make a claim for compensation on their behalf. If you decided not to do so for any reason, your child could claim once they turned 18. If you intend on making a claim on behalf of your child, you’d have to apply to be their litigation friend. Doing so could allow you to make decisions on their claim. If you would like our help with getting started with the child accident claim, we would be happy to help you.