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

The Maldives holiday accident

The Maldives holiday accident

On this web page, you will find a guide to making a claim for an accident on holiday in the Maldives. This guide is intended to both educate you so that you can understand how to proceed with your own claim, and to introduce our No Win No Fee claims service. You will find legal information on why you may be eligible to make a claim, and also examples of the kinds of claims that UK holidaymakers may be entitled to make when injured or harmed in the Maldives.

If you have questions that this guide does not answer, all that you need to do is call us on 0800 073 8801 and speak to one of our claim advisers. They will go over your claim with you, answer any questions that you have, and explain how we can assist you in getting the compensation that you could be eligible for.

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A Guide To Maldives Holiday Accident Claims

In the sections below, you will find a detailed guide to making holiday accident claims in the Maldives. The purpose of this guide, is to educate the reader on the reasons why claims come about, who might be liable to pay compensation, and what the legal and financial considerations of making such a claim are.

The Maldives are a collection of 26 atolls, located in the Indian Ocean. Renowned for its excellent climate for sun worshippers, and its pristine beaches, it is a holiday destination popular with UK holidaymakers seeking the best in beach holidays. It is also popular with water sports aficionados, and offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities in the world. This is generally a very safe place to visit, with petty crime being the main issues on the islands. The UK Government has published travel advice for the Maldives at this link:

UK Government travel advice for the Maldives

The first part of this guide provides practical information that will help you to deal with your accident, injury or illness, while you are still on holiday abroad. We give a list of steps that you should take to ensure that your injuries are treated, that you followed the correct protocol for reporting the incident, and that you have laid the groundwork for making a claim when you return home to the UK. We also provide you with contact numbers for the local emergency services, as well as contact information for the local representative of the British Government. Additionally, we cover the situation related to healthcare in the Maldives for UK citizens.

The next part of the guide goes over many of the types of claims that UK holidaymakers might need to make, due to accidents, injuries or illnesses they encounter while overseas. Each of these is covered in its own section, with the risks or hazards that could lead to such a claim being discussed.

The final part of this guide, relates to specific legal considerations of making a claim. We explain why it is generally a better idea for you to use a local UK-based solicitor to make your overseas claim. Towards this end, we will introduce our national claims service which is a simple, yet effective way for you to have your claim processed, in a way that comes with no financial risk attached. We have not included an online personal injury claims calculator on this page. If you would like to know how much you may be able to claim in your own case, or have any other questions related to your claim, please speak to one of our claims team on the telephone number at the end of the guide.

Top Places To Go In The Maldives

The Maldives is a popular luxury beach holiday destination. Particularly popular with fans of water sports, due to the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean and the unspoiled beaches. Popular destinations and attractions include:

  • COMO Cocoa Island
  • Baros Island
  • Emboodhu Finolhu Island
  • Mihiri Island
  • Male Island
  • Huvahendhoo Island
  • Rangali Island
  • Kanuhura Island
  • Halaveli Island
  • Dhigu Island

What Should I Do If I Have A Maldives Holiday Accident?

Before UK holidaymakers return home and wish to make compensation claims for injury in the Maldives, there are things that must be done while still overseas. Things that will both ensure that you get the treatment needed on site, and also to pave the way for making your claim when you return home to the UK. Steps such as the following:

  1. If you are on a package holiday, contact your travel firm’s local representative and inform them of the situation
  2. Visit a hospital or clinic to have your medical condition treated, and to ensure that an official record is made
  3. Take photographs of the cause of the accident, and its location
  4. Gather contact details for any witnesses to the event
  5. Begin to make a list of all losses, financial and otherwise, that you incur because of the accident, injury or illness

Once you return to the UK, contact our claims team to learn how we can assist you in making your Maldives holiday accident claim.

Maldives Emergency Numbers

The answer to the question is it safe to travel to the Maldives? Generally, yes, it is. However, that is not to say that tourists visiting the islands never come to harm, they do from time to time. If you are unfortunate, and come to harm while on holiday, you will need to know how to contact the emergency services. There is no single, unified emergency number in the islands, as such, you would have to contact each emergency services individually, on these numbers:

  • Police – 119
  • Ambulance service – 102
  • Fire brigade – 118

In the case of serious incidents, such as a fatal accident in the Maldives, you may be able to get some assistance from the local British Government representative; you can contact them at:

Tel: +94 11 5390639

Web: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-maldives

Healthcare For Visitors To The Maldives

There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and the Maldives. This means that if you need any medical treatment, and this includes emergency treatment, you will need to pay for it. You only have two options here:

  1. You have a valid medical or travel insurance policy that covers the cost of medical care
  2. You pay for any treatment that you received out of your own funds

In the latter case, you could be able to claim the cost of medical care back as part of your compensation claim. Speak to one of our claims team to learn how.

Limitation Periods For Personal Injury Claims In The Maldives

There is a personal injury claims time limit in place, that you will need to begin your claim within. This time limit can differ, based on the circumstances of the claim. We have included the most common time limits in the table below. However, they can, in special circumstances, be different. We recommend that you talk to a claim adviser to check which time limit would apply in your own case to avoid running out of time.

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Claim Circumstances Applicable Time Limit
If you travelled to the Maldives on an international flight, that you booked independently. Two years.
If you visited the Maldives on a package holiday, that you booked through a UK based travel firm. Three years.

Maldives Package Holiday Accident Claims

If you are injured in the Maldives, while you are visiting on a package holiday booked via a travel company that operates in the UK, then the process of making Maldives accident claims is a little different. A package holiday would be any holiday that included two or more of the following features, as a single price package:

  • Transportation such as a plane, train or coach
  • Accommodation such as a hotel or guesthouse
  • Food, including half board, full board and all inclusive
  • Excursions and activities

All UK package tour operators are legislated under British law. This legislation is intended to ensure that customers are provided with a safe holiday, that meets very specific minimum safety and quality standards. If these standards are not met, and this either directly or indirectly leads to a customer coming to harm while on holiday, it could be possible to make a claim.

In these cases, it would be the UK-based travel firm that a solicitor pursues for damages, and not the overseas service provider. This is the subtle difference when it comes to making a package holiday claim. Even though the accident happened overseas, due to the actions of an overseas organisation, the holiday itself is regulated under UK law.

Maldives Hotel Accidents Or Injury Claims

If you are harmed in a hotel accident or a resort accident, then if the operator of the premises is to blame for the accident, you could be able to make a claim. Typical hazards that the property owner could be responsible for, are:

  • Faulty electrical fittings such as a light switch or a plug socket in a hotel room
  • Poorly maintained equipment in a hotel gym
  • Cracked or broken tiles in the hotel swimming pool
  • Broken or defective safety railings on a hotel balcony

Any hazard that can be squarely attributed as being caused by the hotel operator, could become the basis of a claim. Speak to one of our claims team to find out if your own claim is valid.

Waterborne Illness And Allergic Reactions

A personal injury solicitor doesn’t only process claims for physical accidents. They also handle claims for holiday illnesses, for example:

  • Food-related illnesses, such as food poisoning
  • Allergic reactions caused by incorrect allergen information given about foodstuffs
  • Illnesses caused by swimming or bathing in contaminated water
  • Illnesses and allergic reactions caused by insect bites and infestations

We can help with all of these kinds of illness claims and more. Speak to a member of our claims team to learn how we can help with your own claim.

Injuries Caused By Slipping Or Tripping

Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common types of claims that a personal injury lawyer will help claimants with. These accidents can happen at any stage of your holiday, from stepping into a taxi to take you to the airport, to stepping off the plane that brings you home. They are caused by hazards such as:

  • Carpets that are torn or frayed
  • Paving slabs and curbstones that are broken or badly laid
  • Water or food that has been spilt on the floor
  • Uneven pavements and cobblestones
  • Cleaning or maintenance materials that have been left, causing an obstruction

No matter how your slip, trip or fall happened, as long as a third party was at least partly responsible for causing it, we could be able to help you to claim.

Diving, Snorkelling, Or Watersport Accident Claims

Although the answer to the question, is it safe to swim in the Maldives? Is that yes, it generally is, this does not mean that a Maldives drowning accident cannot happen. If you decide to go snorkelling or scuba diving while on holiday, make sure that any company you choose provides well maintained equipment, training and supervision and that the following applies:

  • Fully licensed to provide supervision
  • Provides staff that are professionally trained
  • Provides safety equipment that meets proper safety standards
  • Has a clearly defined emergency procedure to deal with accidents

However, even the best, well-run company can make mistakes. If you come to harm through negligence while involved in water sports on holiday, we could help you to claim if the service provider was to blame.

Claims For Road Traffic Accidents In The Maldives

If you are involved in a road traffic accident in the Maldives, if it can be proven that another driver, or some other third party, was to blame for your car crash in the Maldives, you could be able to make a claim.

Few of the islands that make up this region have roads suitable for cars. However, motorcycles and scooters are the most common form of transport. There are many rental firms offering scooters for rent to holidaymakers. If you do decide to rent a scooter while on holiday, make sure that the firm renting it to you has maintained the vehicle to safe standards, and that good quality safety equipment, including helmets, is provided.

If you were to be injured riding a rental scooter, due to the scooter itself being poorly maintained, you could have a valid reason to make a claim against the rental company.

Could I Use A Specialist Solicitor In The UK?

While you could use a local solicitor to process your personal injury claim for you, there is little advantage in doing so. Additionally, keeping in touch with an overseas solicitor would be problematic at best, due to the time zone difference. A generally better option, is to use a UK-based legal firm to process your claim for you. They will have just as much chance of being successful and securing you compensation, and will be much simpler to deal with.

We have experience in processing overseas claims on behalf of our clients. Please talk to a member of our claims team, to learn more about how we can help you.

No Win No Fee Claims For Holiday Accidents In The Maldives

We have come up with a financially risk-free way for you to have your Maldives holiday accident claim processed. Our national No Win No Fee claims service is available to all residents of the UK. This is a simple to use service for which you don’t pay until we have actually secured you a settlement.

We charge no fee to take your claim on, and no fee as we are processing your claim, even if it takes months to do so. If we don’t manage to get you any compensation at all, we still won’t charge you.

The only time we levy a fee, is when we have received a compensation payment on your behalf. We will then deduct our fee (success fee) from the money received, and then give you the rest. Speak to a member of our claims team to learn more about this service.

How We Could Help You Claim For A Holiday Accident In The Maldives

When we assist our clients with personal injury claims, we will always do all that we can to ensure that their claim has a positive outcome. Furthermore, we aim to get every claimant the maximum level of compensation possible. We are always available to answer any questions you have about your claim, and keep you updated on its status. We use plain and simple English, without any legal jargon, so that we can be sure you understand everything. Getting your claim started is easy; just follow these three simple steps:

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Get in touch with our claims team via email, web chat or telephone. Let our claims team evaluate your case, and advise you on your best course of action. If applicable, we will then begin processing your claim for you.

Contact Our Experts

Have you been the victim of an injury, accident or illness while you were on holiday in the Maldives? Do you think that somebody else was to blame for the harm that you suffered, and that you could have a valid claim? If so, please speak to a member of our claims team on 0800 073 8801 today. They will go over the circumstances of your claim with you, tell you about your options, and give you some free legal advice on the best way to move your claim forward.

Related Articles And Embassy Support

You might find these related guides, published elsewhere on this site, to be of some additional use:

A guide to making holiday accident claims

How to make cruise ship accident claims

Additionally, these external links may provide you with some relevant background information:

NHS information related to health in the Maldives

UK Government travel advice for the Maldives

If you need to get in touch with the local representative of the British Government while you are in the Maldives, you can use the contact details below to do so:

British Embassy Maldives

389, Bauddhaloka Mw

Colombo 7

Sri Lanka

Telephone: +94 11 5390639

Web: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-maldives

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 08:00 to 16:30. Friday: 08:00 to 13:00

Article by MW (Mac)

Editor Honey