Lithuania Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For A Personal Injury In Lithuania

Lithuania holiday accident claims guide

Lithuania holiday accident claims guide

While Lithuania hasn’t always been a top holiday destination, the number of UK tourists who visit is on the rise. It is a popular destination for cycling holidays while hot-air ballooning is among one of the trending holiday excursions. For the majority of tourists, a holiday in Lithuania offers a fantastic experience. However, if you were involved in an accident on holiday in Lithuania, your vacation could be ruined. Not only this, you could suffer the consequences of any injuries long after you return to the UK. This guide provides advice and other useful information on what you should do if you are injured on holiday in Lithuania. This includes who you should contact in an emergency, and when you might be entitled to make a personal injury claim against a third party for your distress and suffering.

Our advisors can offer free advice on claiming for an injury in Lithuania. If you’d like to speak to them right away, please call 0800 073 8801. If you prefer, you may want to read through this guide which provides more information regarding various injuries you could sustain and illnesses you may develop on holiday in Lithuania which could result in you being entitled to seek compensation from a third party.

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A Guide On Making A Lithuania Holiday Accident Claim

Being involved in an accident abroad can be extremely upsetting and confusing. You might have to cope with a language barrier, or you might not understand the local regulations for reporting the accident. This Lithuania holiday compensation guide aims to explain what you need to do if you fall ill or are injured on holiday in Lithuania.

Due to the complexity of some holiday accident claims in Lithuania, i is always advisable to seek advice from a specialist personal injury lawyer who would act on your behalf and offer legal assistance when you file your claim. A solicitor would typically request the following information when you first contact them:

  • Was someone who owed you a duty of care negligent which resulted in an accident that left you injured or ill?
  • Did the incident occur with the statutory time limit?

If you’re able to demonstrate the above statements are true, you could be entitled to claim compensation from the third party responsible. If a personal injury solicitor decides to take on your case, they would typically offer to do so on a No Win No Fee basis. There are time limits for claiming which are covered in the next section. However, it is highly advisable to begin a claim as soon as possible because, claims take time and gathering information and evidence is also time consuming. Your chosen solicitor would need to prepare your case. They’ll need to gather supporting evidence and might need to call on medical experts to provide detailed reports on the injuries you suffered on holiday in Lithuania. If you leave the claim for too long, the solicitor might not have time to fully prepare your case.

There is a UK government link at the end of this guide that provides specific tips on going on holiday in Lithuania which includes how to travel around the country as safely as possible.

Time Limits To Make A Claim For An Accident On Holiday In Lithuania

As mentioned, when looking to claim for an accident on holiday in Lithuania, you’ll need to ensure you do so within the personal injury claims time limit. The time limit that that applies to your specific case may vary. As such, you must check with that you are within the deadline by getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer.

If liability for the accident is deemed to be with your package holiday provider, then you’ll typically have 3-years to make your claim. However, if you booked your holiday independently, or the accident was caused by somebody not linked to a package holiday provider, then your time limit would be based on the statute of limitation in Lithuania. For civil cases, this can be up to 10 years. We’d advise you check with our advisors or your solicitor because the time limit may well vary. The actual length of time would depend on the type of accident you were involved in.

How To Deal With Your Accident On Holiday In Lithuania

This guide provides information on when you may be entitled to claim personal injury compensation in Lithuania and what you should do following an accident. In general, compensation is paid to cover any form of distress and suffering. This could also include a financial loss, a physical injury or psychological injuries. You may be able to make a claim for a serious injury that causes you suffering for many years, or you may be able to claim compensation for a short-lived bout of food poisoning. Providing the illness or injury on holiday in Lithuania was caused by somebody else’s negligence, you should contact a lawyer who would assess whether you have a valid case against a third party.

A personal injury solicitor would assist you in filing a claim for general damages – pain and suffering, as well as special damages – financial losses linked to an accident. Of course, it’s impossible for victims of fatal accidents to make a claim. However, a loved one may be entitled to seek compensation from a responsible third party.

Who Could I Make A Lithuania Holiday Accident Claim Against?

When you claim for an accident on holiday in Lithuania, you’ll must be able to show what injuries you sustained, what caused the accident and, who was to blame. This is essential, otherwise a claim wouldn’t be possible. So, who could be responsible for your injuries? Here are some examples of who could be liable:

  • The package holiday company you booked a holiday in Lithuania through
  • A road user in the event of a car crash, motorcycle accident or other road traffic accident
  • A restaurant, café or bar when considering food poisoning or food allergy claims
  • Your hotel
  • A hire car company

Whatever type of accident on holiday in Lithuania you were involved in, you’ll need evidence of what happened if you decide to make a claim. The next section provides essential reading on what you should do if you’re unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident on holiday in Lithuania.

I Was Injured Or Became Ill On Holiday, What Should I Do?

This section provides valuable information on what you should do if you decide to sue somebody for injuries sustained on holiday in Lithuania. Without the necessary evidence to support a claim, it’s a simple case of your word against the party you believe to be negligent. The more evidence you provide, the stronger your case would be and the greater chance of success.

Therefore, the sort of evidence that would be required is detailed below:

  • Take photographs or a video pf the cause of the accident and do so before any items are removed or repaired
  • Report the accident. If you’re involved in an accident on a package holiday, an emergency number should have been provided. Report the accident to staff at the establishment where you were injured
  • Visit a medical centre or hospital to receive treatment and ask for copies of medical reports. They are essential evidence that support your claim and show the extent of your injuries
  • Gather contact details from any witnesses (especially independent witnesses)
  • Take photographs of any visible injuries
  • Sit down and write an account of what happened because it’s very easy to forget facts later on. Write down dates, times, locations and people involved

Help In An Emergency In Lithuania

In the event of an accident on holiday in Lithuania, getting emergency help may prove challenging. A such, before travelling, we advise that you get details of the following:

  • Your holiday company – they’ should provide a local emergency number
  • Where to find local hospitals or doctor’s surgeries
  • Details of your travel insurance provider
  • Contact details for the British Embassy – details are provided below

You should also store numbers for emergency services in your phone. In Lithuania, you can dial 112 to contact the police, ambulance or fire services.

British Embassy Services In Riga, Lithuania

Even though Lithuania is a safe country to visit at the time of writing, serious accidents and crimes could happen. If you’re hospitalised following an accident or because you were the victim of a crime, the British Embassy should be able to provide assistance by contacting your travel insurer and your family. However, they would not help with the cost of treatment you may require if you are injured on holiday in Lithuania.

The contact details for the British Embassy in Vilnius Lithuania are provided below:

British Embassy Vilnius.
Antakalnio str. 2,
Vilnius,
LT-10308,
Lithuania.
Telephone: +370 5 246 2900.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-vilnius

Do UK Visitors To Lithuania Need Travel Insurance?

While Britain is still part of the EU (pre-Brexit), you could apply for an EHIC card. This is the European Health Insurance Card which could entitled you to receive the same medical care as Lithuanian people. The treatment may either be free or discounted if you show your card. What happens after Brexit is still to be decided. Therefore, we’d recommend you check before travelling.

Whether EHIC is available or not, you should also take out travel insurance which should include medical care in the cover. While EHIC provides access to state-run medical facilities, it won’t cover you if you need to attend a private hospital. Also, it won’t cover the cost of repatriation to the UK if needed whereas comprehensive travel insurance could.

You should keep both your EHIC card and insurance documents with you at all times and remember to produce them prior to receiving any treatment. You must also contact your insurer as soon as possible to check they’ll cover any treatment costs you would incur.

Destinations For Tourism In Lithuania And Statistics

Here are some of the most popular destinations for tourists in Lithuania:

  • Vilnius – the capital city and home of many Gothic and Baroque architecture
  • Kaunas – Lithuania’s ‘second city’ and home of many craft bars and nightclubs
  • Kernave – home to medieval relics and ruins
  • Klaipeda – a town with a mix of nightlife, sculptures and castles
  • Neringa – sandy beaches, pine forests and dunes along the Baltic coast

Common Illnesses People Could Catch When On A Holiday

It’s possible to catch a number of different illnesses while abroad. Some are airborne while others are contracted by contact. If you are made ill because of poor hygiene, it could mean that you’re eligible to make a claim for compensation. You should read about specific Lithuanian travel advice in this NHS guide. However, here are some more general illnesses that could be contracted while on holiday in Lithuania:

  • E-coli and variants. Symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Campylobacter. This is a bacterial disease which generally won’t cause too many problems. However, if you have a weakened immune system in can prove to be problematic
  • Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever. An infectious condition which is usually transmitted through contaminated food. Symptoms are very similar to E-coli
  • Salmonella.

Cases Of Holiday Food Poisoning / Allergic Reactions

There are many reasons why food poisoning could occur when you are on holiday in Lithuania. It might be due to a broken refrigerator or ovens not functioning correctly. It could also be caused by poor hygiene or not cooking food at the correct temperature.

All restaurants  and this includes fast food outlets, cafes and bars, have a duty of care to ensure their customers are as safe as possible. Therefore, if food is stored, prepared, cooked or reheated incorrectly, and it leads to food poisoning, they could be liable and as such, you could be entitled to seek compensation from them as explained in our guide here.

Illnesses Related To Poor Hotel Hygiene

Restaurants aren’t the only cause of holiday illnesses. It’s also possible to fall ill while staying in a hotel with poor hygiene standards. That’s generally the case when many people are in close proximity which means that infections can be spread very quickly.

Hotels should have procedures to keep hygiene standards high. These should include the following:

  • Providing hand sanitisers at the entrance to restaurants
  • to deep clean handrails and/or door handles when an outbreak is suspected
  • Ensuring an adequate swimming pool cleaning policy is in place and adhered to

If you fall ill due to poor hygiene in a hotel or other establishments, you may be entitled to claim holiday compensation from the party responsible.

Lithuania Car Crashes And Road Traffic Accidents

If you’re involved in a car accident, a bus accident or a bicycle accident while on holiday in Lithuania, you could make a claim for your injuries if the incident was caused by another road user. You may want to claim for a whiplash injury, broken bones, ligament damage, cuts and bruises and back or head injuries which means establishing who could be held responsible.

You might be asked to fill in an accident report form at the scene of the accident. While these aren’t legally required, your insurer might expect you to complete one. However, you should never sign anything that may negate your right to claim compensation. If you are unsure, do not sign anything that you think may be an admission of liability.

If the other driver offers to fill in the form for you, don’t sign it unless you’re clear on what’s been written down on your behalf. You could download an English language version of the form of car accident claims in Lithuania before you travel as a precaution.

When claiming for injuries like whiplash in Lithuania, as mentioned earlier, the medical report a doctor provides would substantiate how serious your injuries were. As such, you must visit a doctor or hospital to be examined and you must ask for a copy of the medical report.

Accidents In A Hotel Due To Negligence Or Damaged Facilities

All guests who stay in a hotel, are owed a duty of care by the owners who are supposed to do everything in their power to ensure you’re safe while visiting their establishment. This means that the maintenance of fixtures, fittings and furniture should be performed regularly. If this is not the case, you may be able to file a claim if the following applies:

  • You suffer an injury caused by damaged furniture
  • You are scalded by bath or shower water due to a faulty thermostat
  • You fall down the stairs because of a damaged handrail
  • You are stuck in a lift for any amount of time
  • You fall from a balcony due to a broken safety rail
  • You are electrocuted by faulty kettles, irons or hairdryers in your room

As stated earlier, you should report the accident to hotel staff. Also, if you’re on a package holiday, report the accident to your rep as soon as you can.

Are There Other Forms Of Holiday Accidents?

Below is a list of all different types of accident on holiday in Lithuania you may be involved in which could entitle you to seek compensation from a responsible third party:

  • An airport transfer accident
  • Accidents while participating in an excursion or sporting event
  • Water park or swimming pool accidents
  • Accidents in shopping centres, train stations or other public place

Linked Travel And Package Holiday Regulations

Package holiday regulations mean that if you’re injury is caused while using a service provided by a package holiday company, then the claim might be made against them rather than the local company responsible. For a holiday to be deemed a package, you need to have purchased two or more main parts of the holiday, and paid for them at the same time, from the same provider.

The parts which could count towards a package holiday include:

  • The hotel
  • Your flights
  • Any excursions
  • Car hire

When purchasing a holiday in this way, the package holiday provider has a duty of care to ensure they provide services which are suitable and safe. If an accident occurs, you should inform them as soon as possible. This would allow them the opportunity to offer an alternative service, provide a refund or resolve the issue.

How To Claim For An Accident Abroad In Lithuania

If you decide that would like a personal injury solicitor to represent you when making a claim, but you’re unsure of how things work, the process is detailed below:

  • In the first instance, the solicitor would assess your claim to see if it could lead to compensation
  • The solicitor would then typically provide you with some options
  • If they agree to proceed, they’ll begin by reviewing and collecting evidence to support your claim against a third party
  • They would then arrange for a medical to assess your injuries which would typically be by arranging an appointment with an independent specialist
  • Once all evidence and reports are obtained, a personal injury lawyer would collate all the evidence before starting proceedings against the party responsible
  • Any enquiries or disputes from the defendant’s side would be handled by the personal injury lawyer who acts on your behalf who would explain your options should you be offered an initial settlement
  • Finally, if needs be, they would represent you in court, although this is very rare when it comes to personal injury claims. In most cases, they’re settled before going before a judge

Lithuania Holiday Accident Claims Calculator

The personal injury claims calculator table below provides amounts of compensation paid for specific injuries. The figures are sourced from a legal document known as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). It’s important to note that these figures could be used if you are making package holiday claims in the UK. However, compensation amounts would differ if you are claiming through the Lithuanian legal system. It is also worth noting that the amounts are provided as a guideline only.

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Injury Type Compensation Range Details
A minor neck injury. Up to £2,300 Minor injuries such as soft tissue damage, resolved within 3 months.
Severe back injuries. £36,390 to £65,440 Injuries which result in disabilities like permanent pain, depression or impaired agility.
Minor back injuries. £2,300 to £7,410 Injuries where no surgery is required and are healed within 3 months to 2 years.
Minor shoulder injuries. Up to £2,300 Soft tissue damage resolved within 3 months.
Simple arm fractures. £6,190 to £18,020 A simple fracture of the forearm.
Simple leg fractures. £8,550 to £13,210 Simple fractures of the long bones in the leg.
Moderate knee injuries. Up to £12,900 Includes dislocation, lacerations and twisting injuries.
A modest ankle injury £12,900 to £24,950 Minor or undisplaced fractures.

It’s also worth noting that the amounts provided above cover general damages and that you would also be awarded special damages in an successful accident in Lithuania claim.

No Win No Fee Lithuania Holiday Accident Claims

If you decide to make a claim, No Win No Fee terms could help to reduce the stress involved in filing for compensation from a third party if you are injured on holiday in Lithuania. Once a solicitor agrees to work on this basis, they’ll provide you with a conditional fee agreement (or CFA).

The CFA is your contract and protects you because it lays out the terms and conditions of the agreement which covers the fact that there are no solicitor’s fees payable unless you receive compensation having won your claim against a third party. This is known as a success fee which is deducted from the compensation you are awarded.

Begin Your Holiday Accident Claim Today

If you would like assistance from one of our advisors when you make a compensation claim for an accident on holiday in Lithuania, please call them on 0800 073 8801 today.

Resources If Injured Abroad

Finally, to assist you further, we’ve provided links to a couple of useful resources which you might find useful:

Lithuania Travel Advice – Information from the British government regarding travelling to and within Lithuania.

Help in Lithuania – Emergency help advice for British nationals holidaying in Lithuania.

Edited HW