Singapore Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For A Holiday Personal Injury Claim In Singapore?

Singapore holiday accident

Singapore holiday accident

Many British tourists make the trip to Singapore every year to experience its diverse culture, the food and for the excellent shopping that is available.  Singapore is popular for many reasons including its temples, museums and parks. Being an Island city state just south of Malaysia it has a tropical climate and a multicultural population. It is considered a global financial centre and is part of the country of Asia.

Accident Claims UK are specialists in making personal injury claims for UK residents that have experienced injuries or illnesses due to negligence while being abroad.  We can provide free holiday accident claims advice for British tourists.  If you’d like to begin a claim with us today, please call 0800 073 8801 and speak with our fully trained advisors.

If you need a bit more information first, please carry on reading this helpful article.

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A Guide To Claiming Compensation For An Accident On Holiday In Singapore

Over 450,000 British tourists visit Singapore every year.  It is a multi-cultural haven offering great food, arts and shopping all year round.

This guide will explain what you should do in the event of an accident, especially if you’re considering making a claim.  It will also offer advice about the amount of compensation you could potentially receive if your case is successful and Accident Claims UK No Win No Fee service works.

For a claim to be made, you must be able to prove that the accident which resulted in an injury or illness was caused by somebody else’s mistake and that they owed you a duty of care.

Accident Claims UK are personal injury specialists who can help you with holiday accident claims when you return to the UK.

What To Do When You Have An Accident On Holiday

If you are injured during an accident in Singapore, there are some steps you could take after its happened. These will ensure you receive the correct treatment, remedy the situation and also help if you decide to make a compensation claim at a later date.  The steps are:

  • First and foremost, you should seek medical attention. This may be a local GP type care or via the emergency services (details to follow).
  • Speak to your travel insurance provider and let them know about your accident. They may have specific health care providers they will want you to use.
  • Ask any witnesses to write a statement of what they saw in your accident. Remember to get their contact details too.
  • If needed, report the accident to the police.
  • Ensure you report the accident to your holiday company. If they provided you with an emergency number, use it while on holiday.  If not, report it as soon as you get back.
  • Photograph or video the scene of the accident prior to anything being removed from the scene. Try to capture as much detail as possible, including the root cause of the accident.
  • If you’re involved in a road traffic accident, let the hire company know about the accident and get as much detail you can from the scene including contact details of other drivers and also registrations.

All of these steps may make claiming compensation easier as your solicitor will have a lot more evidence to support your claim.

Singapore Emergency Telephone Numbers

If you’re involved in an emergency situation, whether it be an accident or a crime against you, there are a few numbers you can call:

  • Call 999 for the police emergency department.
  • Dial 995 for ambulance or fire services.

In the event of a serious accident or crime against you, you may be able to receive support from the British Embassy.  We’ve included their contact details at the end of this guide.  You can contact them yourself or the police may refer you to them in urgent situations such as a fatality or physical crime against you.

Health And Travel Insurance Advice

There is very good healthcare available within Singapore, but it is very expensive.  You should ensure you take out enough travel insurance which covers any medical care you may require and also repatriation to the UK if required.

In the event you do need to attend a hospital or doctor’s surgery, you should contact your insurer as soon as you can.  You’ll need to confirm they’ll cover the cost of treatment at the medical facility you’re attending.  They may have their own preference about where you receive treatment.

Carry your insurance documents with you at all times and be prepared to show them at the hospital.

Holiday Accident Personal Injury Claim Time Limits

It’s important to bear in mind that personal injury claims or holiday accidents claims pursued under the legal system of Singapore law may have very strict time limits associated with them.  If you fail to claim on time, your claim will be rejected, even if you have strong legitimate reasons to make a claim.

We have illustrated examples of time limits that may apply in your case;

Edit
Type of Claim Time limit
Illness or injury on a package holiday booked in the UK by a UK tour operator. 3 years may vary.
Accident or injury on an international flight using the Montreal Convention. 2 years may vary.

We’d recommend that you contact Accident Claims UK as soon as possible following your return to the UK.  This will allow us plenty of time to gather any supporting evidence required to prove your claims.

Examples Of Potential Holiday Accidents And Illnesses

In order to be able to pursue a claim for an accident that has happened while abroad the claimant must have suffered an injury or illness as a direct consequence, the cause of such harm will be the result in a breach in the duty of care that was owed to the claimant by a third party. Below we have put together scenarios in which a holidaymaker could potentially come to harm due to a negligent accident or incident.

Package Holiday Claims

When you book your package holiday from a UK based operator, you will have the added protection if you should someway come to harm. These are holidays which include at least 2 of 3 main parts ordered through the same company.  For example, if you book:

  • The hotel and flight;
  • A hotel with excursions;
  • Excursions and a flight;
  • Or all 3 (Flight, hotel and excursions).

In any of these cases, your holiday will be deemed as a package holiday which means it has some extra protection with UK legislation.  The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tour Regulations 1992 protects British tourists who’ve booked in this way.

Some of the larger package holiday providers include:

  • Tui
  • British Airways
  • Expedia
  • Virgin Holidays
  • Thomas Cook

Accident Claims UK can help with package holiday claims from any of these providers and any others not listed.

If you have an accident while on a package holiday, you should let your holiday rep know while you’re still in Singapore.  This will give them the opportunity to help if needed and also mean your accident is logged.

If you suffer a negligent accident causing an injury due to the responsibility of one of the providers of the package holiday your claim will be made under UK law as you will be claiming against the package holiday tour provider, providing liability can be proven.

What Accidents Could Happen In A Hotel?

Here are examples of potential accidents causing injury or illnesses that could occur in a hotel;

  • Food poisoning: If you suffer with food poisoning through eating contaminated food or because of an outbreak, have your condition diagnosed medically if you are thinking of pursuing a claim. This includes cases of noro-virus, e-coli and salmonella.
  • Slips, trips and falls: Not all falls would lead to a claim but if there has been some form of error, mistake or neglect causing your injury which could have been prevented you may have the right to pursue a claim. For instance, a slippery wet floor with no warning signs, a damaged stair handrail causing a fall or broken lighting which caused you not to see a trip hazard.
  • Swimming pool illnesses and accidents: Swimming pools should be cleaned and maintained regularly. If not, water borne bacteria can cause similar symptoms to food poisoning. You should seek medical advice for any such illness.
  • Scalds and burns: If food or drink is spilled on you by a hotel waiter, and you are injured, for example scalds or burns then call Accident Claims UK and they could tell you if you are eligible to claim.

Food Related Illnesses Abroad On Holiday

Those who suffer from food related illnesses while on holiday may have their holiday ruined if they are unable to do any of the activities they had planned due to suffering symptoms of food poisoning.

In some cases food poisoning can be avoided if health and safety procures where food is concerned are followed. Storing food, preparing food and cooking food correctly are all simple ways to ensure that food does not become contaminated with bacteria. If there are out breaks of food related illnesses then it is vital that hotels step up their cleaning processes and health and safety procedures to prevent the out break from spreading even further.

If you are affected by food related illnesses such as food poisoning or even an allergic reaction always seek medical attention, firstly to have your illness treated correctly but also to have it documented incase when you return to the UK you want to pursue for compensation.

I Suffered Injuries Due To A Fall On Holiday Can I claim?

Not all falls that occur will qualify for compensation for any injuries suffered. If your fall was contributed to by negligence from a third party which will have owed you a duty of care you may have a case to pursue for compensation for any injuries suffered. However if your fall happened but there is no sign of negligence and no way it could have been prevented then there are no grounds in which to base a claim on.

Possible causes of falls that could happen may include;

  • When a handrail is damaged or breaks while ascending a set of stairs, causing you to fall.
  • If a floor is wet due to a spillage, leak or rainwater but the business owner hasn’t cleaned it up quickly enough, causing you to slip over.
  • Where cleaners have left trailing wires from their cleaning machines and you trip over them.
  • If a floor is uneven or damaged, such as raised paving or broken kerbs, which you then trip over.

If you’re considering making a Singapore holiday accident claim, you should try to photograph the defect which caused the accident and ask for any witnesses to write a statement of what they saw.

Road Traffic Accidents In Singapore

When driving in abroad, if you’re involved in an accident caused by another driver, you could claim compensation against their insurance for any damage and injuries caused. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists also have the right to claim if they are injured in a road traffic accident due to the error of another driver.

If you are involved in an accident, try to stay calm and take the following steps:

  • Seek medical support for any injuries suffered.
  • Photograph the scene of the accident before any vehicles are moved from the scene.
  • Ask any witnesses to provide their details for witness statements.
  • If there are any dashcams in either vehicle, try to obtain a copy for evidence.
  • Call the emergency services if required.
  • Report the accident to your holiday rep and car hire company.
  • Contact your travel insurance provider before attending any medical facility to ensure they’ll cover any costs.
  • If you’re able to communicate with the other driver (English is quite popular in Singapore), get their details including name, contact number, insurance provider and the number plate of their vehicle.
  • Write down the location, date and time that the accident took place. This can be quite easy to forget when you’ve returned to the UK

There is an online system for registering car accidents in Singapore, but it is unclear if tourists have to use this system.  You should seek advice from the police if you have to call them to the scene.

If your accident involves a serious injury or fatality, the police may refer you to the British Embassy for extra support.

Taking the steps above, at the time of the accident, should make claiming compensation a lot easier if you decide to do so, as you’ll be able to provide a lot of supporting evidence.  Contact us at Accident Claims UK as soon as you return to the UK while the events are still fresh in your mind.

Do I Need To Use A Singapore Based Solicitor?

We believe that dealing with a UK-based solicitor is much easier for our clients.  Especially when you consider the time difference and the language barrier that could exist when dealing with local solicitors.

Accident Claims UK have represented many clients and made successful claims for holiday accidents around the world.

Holiday Accident Personal Injury Claim Calculator

You may have heard of compensation calculators that work out how much compensation you could be entitled to.  These are based on part of your claim known as ‘General Damages’ which compensates you for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

The table below shows compensation amounts that have been taken from the UK Judicial College Guidelines which are used when calculating general damages in the UK.

Edit
What injury did you suffer? How may your claim be worth? Additional information
A minor neck injury £2,150 to £3,810 Recovery should be between 3 months and a year. Usually associated with a soft tissue injury.
A (more) minor neck injury Up to £2,150 Recovery should be expected within 3 months. Also concerned with soft tissue injuries.
A serious shoulder injury £11,200 to £16,830 Shoulder injuries which will restrict the joints movement and its usefulness. Possible weakness of grip or a fractured humerus leading to restricted shoulder movement.
A moderate shoulder injury £6,920 to £11,200 Injuries which are similar to frozen shoulder or discomfort with restricted movement possibly recovery in 2 years.
A minor brain/ head injury £1,940 to £11,200 Minor head injuries or minor brain injuries. Brackets concerned with recovery time.
A less severe injury to the wrist £11,040 to £21,480 Some level of permanent disability is expected.
A Severe pelvic injury £68,740 to £114,810 Severe pelvic injuries which could leave you with substantial residual level or degree of disability, extensive fractures of the pelvis involving, for example, dislocation of a low back joint.
An amputation of the little finger £7,580 to £10,730 Where you are aware of the loss of the finger.
A wrist fracture Rarely exceed £8,970 When recovery from fracture or soft tissue injury takes longer but is complete.
A jaw fracture(s) – severe Up to £39,940 Three levels of severity (i), (ii) and (iii). The top end damages could be awarded to multiple fractures of the jaw followed by prolonged treatment and disability.
Food Poisoning £3,460 to £8,360 Food poisoning causing significant discomfort, stomach pain and alteration to the bowel function, complete recovery 1-2 years.

As you can see, each injury has a range of compensation associated with it.  A personal injury lawyer will provide evidence to demonstrate how severe your injuries were so that you receive the correct level of compensation.

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

For a lot of clients, a no win no fee agreement is the only way for them to pursue holiday accident claims.  This is because they don’t have to find the funds to pay for legal services up front.

When you begin a claim with a no win no fee solicitor, you will be provided with a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).  This is the agreement which states that, if the solicitor loses the case, you don’t have to pay them for any of their service.

It also contains an agreement that if they succeed, they can keep part of your compensation as a success fee.  This is limited to 25% of your compensation.  If they win the case, the solicitor retains their success fee and sends the rest straight to you.

Your other option is to pay a solicitor for their time, keep 100% of any compensation if they win but, if they lose, you still have to pay them.

Accident Claims UK offer no win no fee agreements on all cases we take on.

Places To Stay In Singapore

For your information, here are some of the top hotels and tourist attractions in Singapore.

Hotels:

  • Raffles
  • The Fullerton Hotel
  • Shangri-La Hotel
  • The Warehouse Hotel
  • Six Senses Maxwell
  • The Fullerton Bay Hotel
  • The Ritz-Carlton Hotel

Tourist Attractions 

  • Gardens by the Bay
  • Singapore Zoo
  • Orchard Road Shopping
  • Singapore Flyer
  • Sentosa Island 

Contact Us Today

We hope that now you’ve read this guide, you’re ready to begin a claim with Accident Claims UK.  If so, you can contact us by:

If you decide to contact us, we’ll offer a free initial consultation.  During the consultation we’ll take details from you including how the accident happened, the injuries you sustained and any supporting evidence you may have.

After we’ve assessed your claim, we’ll let you know if we think you have a good chance of winning compensation or not.  If you do, we’ll prepare a no win no fee agreement for you.  When you’re happy, we’ll move forward with your claim.

Resources For Holiday Accident Claimants

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide about potential Singapore holiday accident claims. Hopefully you have all of the information you require.  We’ve included some more further resources below which you may find useful including the details for the British Embassy in Singapore:

British High Commission Singapore

100 Tanglin Road

Singapore 247919

Singapore

Email: enquiries.singapore@fco.gov.uk

Web: www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-singapore

Tel: (65) 6424 4200

Opening Times: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm

Health Advice – Singapore – an NHS guide about health risks and recommended immunisations required for travelling to Singapore.

Travel Advice – Singapore – a guide from the British government with useful information about travelling to and within Singapore.

Holiday Accident Claims – another of our guides.  This one offers advice about any type of holiday accident claim.

Food Allergy Claims – a more detailed look at allergic reactions that could happen and the amount of compensation that may be awarded.

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide. If you require any further information, please call and speak with one our personal injury advisors.

Edited by Mel.