Mexico Holiday Accident Claims Guide | How To Claim Compensation For A Personal Injury On Holiday In Mexico?

Mexico is fast becoming a popular holiday destination for UK tourists with its hot, sunny climate, ancient monuments, gorgeous coast line and busy cities. There is an abundance of cultural delights to experience, places to visit and fantastic holiday resorts to stay in. Mexico offers everything a sun-seeking holiday maker could ask for and the chance to have a holiday with unforgettable and amazing memories.

Mexico holiday accident

Mexico holiday accident

If you have suffered an injury or illness during a holiday in Mexico Accident Claims UK could advise on what your next steps could be. Injuries or illness on holiday may only pose a problem for a day or two, sometimes though they could be more severe resulting in the holiday being ruined completely. If a person suffers a severe illness or injury they could be confined to their room or even in hospital, and in some severe cases, have to extend their stay until they are well enough to travel which could then result in costly extra return flights and also an added cost and the stress of having to stay longer in a different country, which of course then has the knock on effect of causing issues with work and loss of wages.

If you have suffered an illness or injury in Mexico that wasn’t your fault, trust Accident Claims UK to give you advice on whether you have a valid claim for compensation. Although this cannot change what has happened, if successful, it can at least give you the financial assistance you need to recover and a chance to recuperate any monetary losses including some of the holiday costs and any medical expenses or lost wages for example. Accident Claims UK are experienced personal injury specialists just call us on 0800 073 8801 for an informal chat to see how we could be of help.

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A Guide To Holiday Accident Claims For Accidents In Mexico

Accidents Claims UK have produced this guide specifically for holiday makers who may have had an accident in Mexico that they feel was not their fault. If you have returned back to the UK and are wondering whether you may have the basis for a claim after a holiday accident this guide should be of help. Making a claim for injuries that were suffered in an accident in Mexico could  be a complicated process depending on the circumstances and can take several months to conclude. For this reason, Accident Claims UK has put together this guide to help those who may have been injured through a negligent accident gain some understanding of what is involved and the process of compensation claims. The guide includes information such as examples of injury abroad and what to do, how to access healthcare in Mexico, numbers for the Mexican emergency services, your rights under the package holiday guidelines, examples of types of accident or illness scenarios and how you could be affected, how to start your claim and more. We also touch on the benefits of using an experienced personal injury solicitor and how no win no fee policies work.

According to the British Post Office Travel Insurance company, around 4.4 million British tourists have been injured abroad on holiday within the last 3 years. Examples of potential accidents that could happen may include;

  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Balcony accidents
  • Food poisoning
  • Diving accidents
  • Road traffic accidents
  • Holiday travel illnesses
  • Stomach bug and holiday diarrhoea illnesses

It is vital to note that not all accidents leading to injury or illness will be as a result of another’s negligence, accidents can happen that are the fault of no one. In order to be able to pursue a claim of any type it must first be proven that a third party who owed a duty of care was responsible through error, omission, or negligence. This guide gives information on what sort of evidence could be helpful in building a strong case that will prove liability.

If you have questions or need further help and guidance, you can call Accident Claims UK.

Popular Holiday Resorts In Mexico

Mexico is renowned for its hot climate, gorgeous beaches and historic monuments and has a number of beautiful holiday resorts and places to visit that prove to be increasingly popular with British tourists. The most popular Mexican destinations, resorts and places to visit include:

  • Cancun
  • Playa Del Carman
  • Cozumel
  • Banderas Bay
  • Puerto Vallarta
  • Nuevo Vallarta
  • Sierra Madre Mountains
  • Los Cabos
  • Playa Maroma
  • Mazatlan

What You Should Do If Injured On Holiday

There are a few steps that you could take if you have been injured or made ill because of the negligence of somebody else if you are thinking of making a claim for damages when you return to the UK. These steps are:

  • First and foremost, seek medical assistance and have yourself medically checked and get any injury or illness treated. If possible, ask for a copy of any medical report made. It is also worth re-doing this once you have returned to the UK so that your injury or illness is logged on the UK healthcare system and also ensure that you have been treated correctly.
  • Take photos of the accident scene or whatever it was that caused your injury. Also take photos of your injury to show visual evidence of your pain and suffering.
  • Take the contact details of any witnesses so that a statement can be obtained later on.
  • Inform your travel health insurance company immediately. Also inform them once you have returned to the UK.
  • Inform your holiday rep and travel provider company.
  • If necessary, and depending on the circumstances contact the police.
  • Speak to an experienced personal injury claims firm such as Accident Claims UK for advice.
  • Contact your travel provider again once back in the UK to make sure your accident or illness was reported properly.

How To Call The Emergency Services In Mexico

In the event of being injured or becoming ill, you can contact the relevant emergency services on the numbers below:

  • Mexico City Police and Emergency Services – 060
  • Emergencies using mobile phones only – 911
  • Police Detectives – 061
  • Fire Department – 068

Other useful numbers include:

  • The Red Cross – 065
  • Tourist Aid Police – 5250-8221
  • Federal Highway Police – 5677-2227
  • Human Rights Commission – 5229-5600
  • Locatel (emergencies, missing persons, information) – 5658-1111

You can also contact the British embassy in Mexico at:

British Embassy
Río Lerma, No. 71,
Col. Cuauhtémoc, CP. 06500
Mexico City
Mexico

Phone number: +52 (55) 1670 3200

Remember to seek medical attention to treat any injury or illness and make sure to immediately contact your travel insurance provider. Always report your situation to the travel company you have booked your holiday to Mexico with as well.

Healthcare In Mexico For Tourists

As with any holiday abroad, it is absolutely vital that you have fully comprehensive travel insurance so that you are covered if you were to fall ill or have an accident whilst on holiday in Mexico. If you don’t have the correct insurance, you could find yourself with enormous medical costs if you need any medical care whilst on holiday that could potentially go into the thousands depending on the severity of your injury or illness and the treatment you require. Travel insurance should also cover you in the event you need medical assistance whilst travelling back to the UK.

It is advisable in the weeks before travelling to Mexico to speak with your GP and arrange to have any required vaccinations.

Statute Of Limitations For Mexico Personal Injury Claims

‘Statute of limitations’ is basically the personal injury claims time limit. All personal injury claims legally have a time limit in which you can initiate a claim. For the majority of claims in the UK, it is 3 years from the date the injury happened, or the date it was diagnosed if not immediately apparent. The time limit can vary slightly depending on the nature of the claim.

In other countries, the time limit could be different and so it is advisable that holidaymakers who want to claim compensation for an accident that wasn’t their fault but the fault of a third party do so quickly to avoid running out of time.

Generally, the following personal injury claim time limits are:

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Circumstance of injury Time limit
Illness or injury on a part of the package holiday booked through a UK tour operator in the UK. 3 years may vary. May very.
Privately booked flight using the Montreal Convention. 2 years may vary. May very

Call Accident Claims UK if you are unsure of the personal injury claim time limits for your individual circumstances.

Mexican Package Holiday Accident Or Illness Claims

Under the legislation of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3288/contents/made), tourists are protected if they suffer an injury or illness whilst abroad due to the error or negligence of one of the operators booked as part of the package. In fact package holidays provide the highest level of protection compared to holidays that aren’t classed as a package holiday. A package holiday is classed as such if two or more of the following were booked and paid for together at the same time under a single payment:

  • Accommodation
  • Flights and transfers
  • Food and drinks
  • Excursions and activities

Some of the most popular package holiday providers are:

  • Virgin Holidays
  • First Choice
  • Thomas Cook
  • EasyJet
  • Thomson
  • Monarch
  • Hays Travel

Have You Had An Accident In A Hotel?

Have you had an accident in a Mexican hotel that you feel was due to the negligence of the hotel provider or its staff, do you think that you accident which consequently lead to your injury could have been prevented?

Hotels and holiday providers have a duty of care to their customers to provide a safe environment in the hotel and around the hotel grounds and so health and safety policies should be in place and practiced every day to reduce the likelihood of an accident occurring. Of course, accidents could happen even when protocols are being followed correctly, but if they happen due to a slip in health and safety procedures then it may be possible to pursue a claim for any injuries suffered. Examples of potential accidents could include;

  • Balcony accidents
  • Stairs and lift accidents
  • Swimming pool accidents – Slip accidents, cuts and lacerations due to broken or damaged floor coverings, faulty diving boards, insufficient qualified supervision, damaged or broken poolside furniture etc.
  • Food poisoning
  • Illness that causes sickness and diarrhoea often resultant from lack of hygiene
  • Gymnasium accidents – Lack of qualified supervision, incorrect use of equipment, broken or damaged equipment, poor hygiene levels etc.
  • Slip, trip and fall accidents due to lack of use of warning signs.

Food Poisoning And Travel Bugs Or Illnesses

Staff in holiday resorts should be adequately trained in hygienic practices and good housekeeping standards to ensure the occurrence of an illness or even spreading is kept to a minimum. When the hotels are busy and there is a quick turn around of guests, cleanliness is paramount to stop the spread of any illnesses resultant from salmonella, e-coli or campylobacter for example.

Food poisoning could be potentially be caused by;

  • Lack of hygiene practices
  • Incorrectly stored food – Food stored at the incorrect temperature can result in an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Also foods need to be stored to prevent cross contamination between uncooked and cooked foods
  • Unclean kitchen utensils and cutlery
  • Unhygienic work surfaces and food prep areas
  • Food left open to flies and other insects
  • Undercooked or incorrectly cooked meats, poultry and sea food
  • Incorrectly prepared food
  • Food washed in tap water – Tap water must not be consumed, only boiled or bottled water should be used.
  • Ice cubes made from tap water
  • Buffet food set to the wrong temperatures
  • Buffet food left open to flies and insects

If you have suffered food poisoning we always advise that you have your condition checked out, receiving the correct treatment is vital. If you are thinking of making a claim for your condition when you return to the UK ask for a copy of the medical report as this could be used as evidence.

I Slipped On Holiday, What Should I Do?

Slip, trip and fall accident claims are common types of personal injury claims we deal with. This is because they could happen anywhere for a variety of different reasons. Examples of causes of these types of accidents on holiday could include:

  • Wet floors
  • Obstacles and clutter in walkways
  • Poor lighting
  • Damaged, broken or too low balcony railing
  • Spillages causing the floor to be slippery
  • Damaged floor coverings
  • Uneven floors
  • Damaged or broken furniture
  • Damaged or broken steps or stairs
  • Lift stopping at uneven level to floor

Examples of slip, trip and fall potential injuries include:

  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Bruising
  • Grazes
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Sprains and strains
  • Whiplash
  • Concussion

Scuba Diving Or Free Diving Potential Accidents

Before partaking in any activity involving scuba or free diving, you should first make sure that you are covered under your travel insurance for activities like these. Also it is really important to make sure that the company in charge of the activity is fully insured and qualified to instruct you to dive. It is also their responsibility to ensure that all equipment provided is regularly checked and maintained to ensure it is safe and fit for purpose. If you sustain an injury due to their negligence, maybe you received incorrect instructions or the equipment you used was faulty call Accident Claims UK to see if you have a valid reason to make a claim.

Excursions Or Coach Trips

If negligent accidents that occur when on an excursion, liability will lie with either your travel company if the excursion was arranged by them trough a package holiday, or if privately booked, will lie with the excursion company themselves. If you are going on an excursion you have privately booked yourself, you should first make sure that the company is fully insured and regulated to provide trips.

If you are unsure as to who is to responsible for your holiday injuries you’ve sustained whilst on an excursion caused due to error call us at Accident Claims UK and we will be able to help you clarify this.

Tourist Car Accidents In Mexico, What To Do?

Mexico under took a pilot programme called the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Programme in where stricter rules and regulations are were applied in a bid to make it a safer place to drive.

If you are injured in a car accident in Mexico you will need to inform the police and ask for a copy of the report. Also inform your insurance provider or if hiring a vehicle, your hire company. You should follow the usual advice as in the UK such as to get the other drivers name, address, insurance details and make a note of the make, model and registration of their vehicle.

Contact Accident Claims UK for further help and advice.

Do You Have To Use A Solicitor In Mexico?

Fortunately, you’ll be pleased to know the answer is no, you do not have to use a solicitor in Mexico.  Accident Claims UK have conducted many personal injury claims for people who have been injured abroad. By using a firm such as ours you will not need to worry about any confusion because of the language barrier or difference in legalities, we sort it all out on your behalf. We have dealt with many accidents abroad over the years and so have plenitude of experience in the best way to go about successfully making your holiday compensation claim.

No Win No Fee Mexican Holiday Accident Claims

Accident Claims UK work on a no win no fee basis. This means that when we pursue your claim on your behalf, we will not charge you any fees until the case has come to its end, but we will only charge if the case is successful. If it isn’t successful, we do not charge you for our services at all. The no win no fee agreement therefore gives you the opportunity to have your case conducted by an expert legal team without any impact on your finances. If the case is successful, we collect our fee by taking a small percentage which legally can be no more than 25%, from the awarded amount of compensation. With no win no fee, you really have nothing to lose.

How To Make A Holiday Accident Claim

The easiest way to start your claim is to contact us at Accident Claims UK. We are experienced specialists that deals with personal injury claims all the time including many claims for accidents abroad. When we receive your call after a brief chat about requirements, we will arrange a free consultation with one of our provided personal injury lawyers. The consultation does not hold you under any obligation at all but is merely a fact finding session where we can obtain from you all of the known facts surrounding your case so that we can accurately establish whether you have a legitimate claim and the best course of action to take. During this consultation, you can freely ask any questions regarding your claim or our firm so that you feel more familiar with the claiming process. In most cases, we will offer to conduct your claims case for you under a no win no fee agreement. When you are happy for us to do so, we will immediately start to work on your case.

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Contact our team by phone, email or post Our expert team will assess your case We can start on your claim as soon we have your say so

Contact Us

For legal advice or to enquire about our personal injury claims service, please call us on 0800 073 8801 and a team member will endeavor to help you as best they can.

Where to get more advice

British Embassy,
Río Lerma, No. 71,
Col. Cuauhtémoc, CP. 06500,
Mexico City,
Mexico.

Phone number: +52 (55) 1670 3200

Web address : www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-mexico-city

Opening hours :

Embassy Hours (CST):

Monday to Thursday 8:00-16:30 hrs. Friday 8:00-14:00 hrs.
Embassy Hours (GMT): Monday to Thursday 14:00-22:30 hrs. Friday 14:00-20:00 hrs.

Consulate Hours (CST): Monday to Thursday 9:00-12:00 hrs.Friday: Closed
Consulate Hours (GMT): Monday to Thursday 15:00-17:30 hrs. Friday: Closed

NHS Fit for travel, Mexico

Here you will find useful and helpful advice about travelling to Mexico and how to avoid becoming ill.

Holiday accident claims information

This is another of our claims guide with some helpful information regarding claiming for accidents abroad.

Package holiday claims information

This link is to our guide to making a compensation claim for package holidays accidents and injuries.

Edited by Mel.