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

Cyprus Holiday Personal Injury Accidents And Illnesses

Holiday Accident Claims

 

 

Cyprus sits in a key point in the Mediterranean and through this island’s history, it has been part of many empires which includes Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Ottoman and Roman. Each of these empires as well as other civilisations, have left their mark on the sun kissed island of Cyprus in the form of stunning ruins.

Today with its mix of year round sunshine, rich history and culture, and beautiful beaches, the island attracts visitors from all over the world. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts, as well as many different destinations to visit. Cyprus is famous for offering visitors fantastic hospitality, sumptuous food and picturesque scenery. With all this in mind, it is easy to see why Cyprus boasts a thriving tourist industry.

Cyprus Holiday Accident Claims Guide
Cyprus Holiday Accident Claims Guide

While most people have an idyllic holiday, other visitors to the island may also suffer from food poisoning, develop an illness, or be involved in an accident on holiday in Cyprus. Being injured when on vacation, which includes having an accident on a package holiday, developing a holiday illness or infection, or suffering from any other type of harm when you are in Cyprus, can be much more stressful than if the same thing happened to you at home. Dealing with things like seeking medical care, or settling medical bills, or even navigating the healthcare system and language barriers, can make things very challenging.

If you or anyone you are travelling with is injured in an accident, or becomes sick, and someone else is to blame, you could be able to make a Cyprus holiday compensation claim. To find out more please read the valuable information provided in this guide.

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A Guide To Cyprus Holiday Compensation Claims

Holidays to resorts and towns like Limassol and Ayia Napa, have been popular with holidaymakers from the UK for decades. People travel to the island to explore towns and historical sites, to enjoy the beaches, and they frequently book holidays with some of the UK’s largest travel companies like TUI and Jet2holidays because they offer package holidays to the island. But, what happens when something goes wrong?

This guide provides essential reading on what steps you can take if you are involved in an accident, suffer an illness or food poisoning on holiday in Cyprus. The guide covers how these things could happen, and if you may be able to claim compensation if things go wrong when you are on a package holiday in Cyprus.

What Happens If You Suffer Injuries Or Illness On Holiday In Cyprus?

What happens if you have an, accident, Illness, or food poisoning on holiday in Cyprus? Becoming sick or injured when abroad. can be much more unpleasant than when you are at home. If you are injured, develop a holiday illness or infection whilst abroad, you would be trying to get help in a place where you are unfamiliar with medical services and even the language. If you have received treatment or been admitted to hospital, you may not have seen any visitors if family members are not in the country with you. Whilst the local health and medical care might be better or worse than at home, just by virtue of being different, using them and navigating them can prove challenging.

Who Is At Fault For You Accident Or Illness?

If you suffered an accident or a holiday illness/infection whilst abroad in Cyprus, and the accident or circumstances which caused you to be hurt or become sick. was the fault of someone else, you may be able to claim compensation. Examples being if you suffered food poisoning or you were involved in a car accident caused by another party.

Any provider, be it a hotel, airline, restaurant, package holiday provider, or other such company, owes you a duty of care as their guest. Some service providers, like an airline or package holiday company, might owe you additional duties of care under legislation covered by the UK’s Package Holiday Regulations of 1992, or the Montreal Convention.

You could make a holiday compensation claim if any of the circumstances below apply to your case, as another party may be responsible for the harm you suffered:

  • Problems with your flight, like delays, or accidents and injuries on the flight could be the responsibility of an airline
  • Problems with airport transfers, like vehicle accidents and injuries such as whiplash, could be the fault of a transfer company, or a package holiday provider
  • Issues with the hotel may either be their fault, or that of a package holiday company
  • Problems with a restaurant, like food poisoning or food allergies, may be the fault of the restaurant, or if part of a hotel booked as a package, the responsibility of a package holiday operator

What To Do If You Get Sick Or Have A Personal Injury

If you suffer any form of accident or injury in Cyprus, it is important that you notify any relevant parties as soon as you can. This might mean that you need to notify your hotel, their staff, an airline, or a package holiday operator. It is also prudent to inform you travel insurance company as early as you can after the accident or becoming ill. If you do need to claim against your insurance policy for the harm caused or wish to make a serious injury claim with the assistance of a personal injury solicitor when back in the UK, having sufficient evidence that you reported what happened to you would help strengthen your case. This means that the circumstances of your illness or injury has been recorded at official points, creating evidence that a solicitor would need when acting on your behalf.

Holiday Accident Claims

Where British Tourists Can Get Help In Cyprus

If you have an injury in Cyprus, or become sick due to someone else’s actions, there are several places where you can get the help and assistance you need.

The first place you should go when you are involved in an accident on a package holiday, or any other type of trip, is to visit a local doctor, medic, or hospital, depending on the severity of your illness or injury. If you do not know where or how to access the Cypriot healthcare system, your hotel or travel operator would typically  point you in the right direction. Of course, in an emergency you should dial 112 straight away for help.

You should also notify your hotel or travel operator of what has happened to you, and find out what help they can provide . They may be able to organise medical care for you, or get a doctor to examine you at the hotel.

When travelling abroad you should always make sure that you have comprehensive travel insurance. Whether you have a serious injury, suffered whiplash, or had a food allergy reaction, your insurance company should be notified of any medical treatment you need. They may even be able to organise care for you in Cyprus.

Finally, in the most serious of cases, which includes when someone you were travelling with has sustained fatal injuries, or if you require emergency repatriation to the UK, you can contact the local British Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission.

British High Commission Help And Services In Cyprus

In the event of you having to go to hospital whilst abroad, a representative of the local British Embassy (or equivalent) would contact you within the first twenty four hours. They would be in a position to help you by getting in contact with anyone in the UK who needs to be notified of what has happened which typically includes family and friends. They may also contact your travel insurance provider. If necessary, they may visit you in person, or talk to you over the phone.

They would, however, not pay for your medical care received in Cyprus. As such, when travelling abroad you need to make sure that you have both an EHIC (if applicable) and comprehensive travel insurance. The local British representation in Nicosia can be found as follows:

British High Commission Nicosia
Alexander Pallis Street
PO Box 21978
Nicosia
1587
Cyprus

Telephone: +357 22 861100
Website: www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-nicosia

Do You Need Travel Insurance When Visiting Cyprus?

Whenever you are travelling abroad, whether for a holiday, to visit family, or for a business trip, it is always recommend that you take out the most comprehensive level of travel insurance that you can. If you keep in mind that on average, an annual single trip travel insurance policy will cost about £31 it is a small price to pay more especially when a visit to a GP in Cyprus could cost about €40, with a visit to hospital costing anything between €20 and €30.

When you take out travel insurance, make sure that your policy covers things like emergency treatment and that the policy covers repatriation should you need to get back to the UK in the event of a serious injury, or if you miss a flight. We reiterate that you should always make sure that you get the best and most comprehensive travel insurance policy that you can. Also, make sure that you have the highest possible limit on the total payout under the policy.

Alongside this, you can also apply for an EHIC card to access healthcare through the Cypriot system at the same price as and in the same way as locals.

Popular Places To Go In Cyprus

Cyprus is a very popular destination for couples, families, and groups all looking for some quiet time at a resort, an exciting party holiday, or a cultural get-away. Below are some of the most common places people visit or stay at, and places where they may suffer a holiday injury which could include food poisoning and other holiday-related illness:

  • Limassol
  • Paphos
  • Protaras
  • Nicosia
  • Ayia Napa
  • Larnaca
  • Kyrenia
  • Peyia
  • Pernera
  • Paralimni

The table below provides recent statistics on the number of visitors to Cyprus.

CountryRank20162017
United Kingdom11,157,9781,253,839
Russia2781,634824,494
Israel3148,739261,966
Germany4124,030188,826
Greece5160,254169,712
Sweden6115,019136,725
Lebanon750,36158,273
Switzerland[15]846,60257,540
Poland942,68356,665
Norway1047,03754,342

Common Holiday Illnesses

There are several, preventable, diseases and illness which people can develop while on holiday in Cyprus. Some of the most common illnesses include the following:

  • E. coli
  • Salmonella
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Campylobacter

There are many different ways you can become sick as a result of someone else’s actions whether they work in a hotel, or a restaurant. Below, there are guidelines which could help you reduce the risk of suffering a holiday illness in Cyprus, whether this is food poisoning, or a food and drink-related holiday illness:

  • Avoid eating or touching foods which look like they have not been hygienically prepared
  • Avoid eating or drinking things which were not stored or cooked properly
  • Wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitising gels
  • Avoid eating any raw foods which includes salads, fruits or any foods that are unprepared

Remember, it is the responsibility of your hotel and your travel operator to make sure foods and drinks served at a hotel are hygienically prepared and safe to eat and drink.

Food Poisoning And Food Allergies On Holiday

One of the biggest reasons why people need to claim compensation for accidents on holiday in Cyprus involves food poisoning. Whilst you can never completely avoid the circumstances which could lead to food poisoning when on holiday because food storage and preparation are often out of your hands, you can mitigate your chances of getting suffering from it by doing the following:

  • Make sure you don’t eat food from a buffet which is either too hot or too cold compared to how it should be served
  • If eating outdoors, keep insects away from your food and drinks
  • Report any instances of eating utensils being dirty

Remember, if you suffer food poisoning, report it to your hotel and when you get back to the UK, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer to find out if you could make a holiday illness claim.

Poor Cypriot Hotel Hygiene

If staff are not meeting hygiene requirements in hotel and restaurant kitchens, your hotel bathroom, or the swimming pool, you could fall sick. There have been cases in some popular holiday destinations where numerous guests were affected by a sickness at the same time. Some of the most common instances of poor hygiene on the part of hotel cleaning staff include the following:

  • Not using the right type of cleaning products or disinfectant. Using sub-standard products which can lead to surfaces still carrying bacteria and causing you to be sick. If swimming pools are not properly cleaned, every guest using them could potentially fall ill
  • Cutting corners with cleaning times or frequency. Hotel and resort staff can often be under pressure to complete their work as fast as possible. In some cases this might even lead to them being encouraged to cut corners. If your room does not look like it has been properly cleaned, contact the hotel to let them know

Road Traffic Accidents And Car Crashes

Accidents on the road can happen at any time and are more likely to happen than being involved in an accident during your flight. There are many different types of road traffic accident you could be involved in, and these are just some of them:

  • Car accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Moped or scooter accidents
  • Airport transfer vehicle accidents

Remember, if you are driving in Cyprus, familiarise yourself with the rules of the road before doing so. If someone else is driving in Cyprus for you, make sure they are fully insured to do so.

My Accident Was Caused By Inadequate Maintenance, Am I Able To Claim Damages?

Over the summer months, hotels and resorts which are under-prepared for the volume of guests arriving, can often result in maintenance issues. Hotels may have facilities which are not fully finished and as such people can be injured in these areas. At times, if building works are going on, people can be exposed to potentially dangerous situations, or hazardous materials. If there are parts of a hotel or resort which are still under construction or renovation, we recommend that you avoid such areas. If your room is affected by works that are going on, complain to your hotel and tour operator. It is very possible that they may be able to move you to another more suitable room.

Common Holiday Accidents

There are lots of different ways in which people can have an accident on holiday in Cyprus. Some of the accidents which result in many people typically making personal injury claims when they are back in the UK, include the following;

  • Accidents and injuries during a flight
  • Hot drink burns and hot food burns, as well as radiator or shower burns
  • Accidents in or illnesses from swimming pools
  • Vehicle and road traffic accidents
  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Food poisoning and food allergies
  • Accidents in the bath or shower

If you suffered any of the above, talk to a personal injury lawyer to find out whether you could file a compensation claim.

Package And Holiday Resort

If you were injured or became sick whilst on a package holiday, and can show that the package holiday company was responsible, you could be entitled to make a claim against them for compensation. If travelling on a package holiday, you would also have additional protection under the package travel regulations. You can find out more about the latest regulations for package holidays in this guide from the Association of British Travel Agents.

However, to be protected under these regulations, you need to check that you were travelling on a package holiday. It may not be obvious that you are on a package holiday and therefore that you could qualify to make a claim under such regulations. To be a package holiday your trip needs to meet two criteria as follows:

  • That you booked with a provider with an ATOL certificate
  • That your holiday included accommodation, flights, and or food and drink in a single package

How Do You Claim Compensation For Accidents And Injuries On Holiday?

When you return to the UK, you should find a solicitor who would help you make your claim. You would need to make your claim within the personal injury claim’s time limit, bearing in mind that this limit may vary and could depend on the country you are visiting and the type of accident you were involved in. By following the advice below, you would stand a better chance of filing a successful personal injury claim having been involved in an accident in Cyprus or because you developed an illness whilst you were there:

Look for no win no fee solicitors: when making a personal injury claim, you should make sure that you find a lawyer who can offer you a no win, no fee agreement. This would commonly mean that you would not have to make any payments till your claim is settled and you are awarded compensation

Who do we recommend? Holiday Claims recommend making your personal injury claim with Legal Expert. They boast years of experience in helping people make holiday accident claims. You can find a link to their services in the recommended links below.

Cyprus Holiday Accident Personal Injury Claim Amounts

You may be wondering how much compensation you could claim for your holiday accident in Cyprus. How much you may be entitled to would vary depending on what injury you suffered and how serious that injury happens to be. Compensation amounts are set by the Judicial College. According to their most recent guidelines, you could expect to receive compensation amounts similar to these indicated below:

Part of body injured and severityPotential SettlementNotes
Head injury - minor£1,760 – £10,180A head injury you will recover from quickly.
Head injury - moderate£12,210 – £174,620Loss of sensation through the body as a whole, and reduced ability to use your body.
Head injury severe£174,620 – £322,060Injury up to your being left with no awareness or reactions.
Arm injury - minor£5,800 – £34,300Simple levels of injury.
Arm injury - moderate£34,300 – £114,800Could include a fracture, a break or injury which could lead to amputations.
Elbow injury - less severe£12,480 – £25,510There may be some loss of function in the elbow joint or arm as a whole.
Elbow injury - severe£31,220 - £42,710Serious injuries which need surgery. You might suffer a disability.
Foot injury - moderate/ severe£12,000 – £61,400Foot injurie which require longer term treatments.
Foot injury - severe£73,600 – £176,500Might include injuries such as foot amputation.

Additional Resources

In these additional guides and resources you can find up-to-date advice in the Cyprus travel guide from the government, how to make a claim with a personal injury solicitor, and healthcare information,

Legal Expert – Personal Injury Solicitors
If you need to make a personal injury claim for your holiday accident, seeking compensation, we recommend that you use the specialists at Legal Expert.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Find further advice on travelling to Cyprus, as well as help and services in the country which the embassy can provide in this Cyprus travel guide from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

NHS Fit For Travel
The NHS Fit For Travel website has information about what healthcare precautions you should take before visiting and when in destinations around the world.

Edited Honey 20/1/20

Holiday Accident Claims