Holiday Sickness Claims & Illness Compensation

Services in: Holiday Sickness Claims & Illness Compensation

An illness abroad can cause serious health problems, as well as ruin a holiday. Many of the most common holiday illnesses are entirely avoidable if health and safety rules are followed, so if you've become sick on holiday our solicitors may be able to help you claim compensation.

Tour operators, hotels, restaurants and other service providers have a duty of care to you as a customer. Holiday sickness claims can be made for a number of different conditions caused by a failure by these parties to make sure that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure your safety. Our lawyers have helped thousands of people claim holiday illness compensation for conditions such as:

Food poisoning, including gastroenteritis, e-coli and salmonella
Norovirus
Legionnaires' disease
Bacterial infections
Typhoid

However, if you've become ill with any other condition as a result of the negligence of another party while abroad, you may be able to claim holiday sickness compensation, so it's best to seek legal advice.

Most of the international personal injury claims we handle are made in England & Wales. But in some cases it may be beneficial to make your claim abroad. We can advise you on this in a free initial consultation about making a claim.

Compensation claims in England & Wales are normally funded through a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there's nothing to pay upfront, and that you won’t have to pay any legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful*.

We have a proven track record in holiday illness claims, including high-profile cruise illness cases such as the MS Sundream norovirus outbreak, as well as illness outbreaks at hotels such as the Alcudia Pins Hotel in Majorca and Holiday Village Turkey.

Claiming compensation for something that happened overseas can seem daunting, but with experts on your side it’s nothing to worry about. Our solicitors aim to make the whole process as straightforward as possible for our clients, with plain English advice free of legal jargon.

Call us today on 0800 121 6558 for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case, or contact us online and we’ll get back to you.

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Holiday Sickness Claims - More Information

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I am relieved that our legal battle is finally over. Our holiday was a nightmare and we were so disappointed. We’re glad Irwin Mitchell has managed to achieve a successful outcome for us”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Common Causes Of Illness On Holiday?

People can suffer a range of illnesses on holiday, but if you have been taken ill because of negligence on the part of someone who was responsible for your health and safety, you may be able to claim compensation.

Food poisoning is a collective name for some of the most common illnesses that affect people while on holiday, caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or drink, or by contact with an infected person.

You can find out more about claiming for these illnesses, which include Salmonella, E-coli and Norovirus, in our food poisoning claims guide.

While food poisoning is the most common holiday illness, we have helped clients to claim following other illnesses on holiday. The respiratory illness Legionnaires' disease for example can be caused by poorly maintained water systems and if you or a family member has suffered, you may be able to claim – find out more about claiming for Legionnaires'.

If you're unsure whether or not you can make a compensation claim for an illness you developed while on holiday, it's best to get legal advice from a specialist lawyer. Call us today on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online for a free consultation, where we'll discuss your circumstances and advise you on whether we think you can make a claim.

What's The Process For Claiming Holiday Illness Compensation?

To make a compensation claim for a holiday illness, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with us for a free initial consultation. We'll discuss the circumstances surrounding your illness, advise you on whether or not we think you can claim, and whether you could benefit from a No Win No Fee arrangement.

When claiming for an illness that was caused abroad, it's important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. We'll need to work out whether you can claim through the UK courts or if the claim will have to be made abroad, and the time limits you have can vary from country to country.

However, it's worth noting that if your illness was caused while on a cruise, you have two years from the date of disembarkation (getting off the boat) to bring your claim.

If you choose to go ahead, your claim will usually go through the following four stages:

Investigation. We'll establish who's responsible for your illness, and who's liable for your compensation. It could be the owner of a hotel or restaurant, or the tour or cruise operator if you were travelling on a package tour or cruise ship.
We'll also arrange for a medical examination to find out the full extent of your condition. Some illnesses can cause further complications – for example, severe cases of food poisoning can cause conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Rehabilitation. If you have any medical care or support needs, we'll help you to access the necessary treatment and advice.
Compensation. We'll work out how much compensation you should get based on the severity of your injuries and your pain and suffering, any medical expenses you've had, and your ability to get back to work. We'll put this amount to those responsible, and they can either accept blame or contest the claim.
Conclusion. If your opponent accepts blame, you'll be awarded compensation. If not, the case will be settled in court – although this is rare. If you do have to go to court, we'll be there support you every step of the way. If we agreed to handle your claim under a No Win No Fee arrangement, then you won't have to pay anything if you were unsuccessful.

If you have any questions about the claims process, contact us today on 0800 056 4110 for your free initial consultation.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell For A Holiday Illness Claim?

Claiming compensation for an illness that happened while you were abroad can be off-putting, with concerns about local laws and language barriers. But we believe no one should be put off claiming compensation for holiday illnesses, particularly as they are often easily avoidable if correct health and safety guidelines have been followed.

We have the largest team of international personal injury lawyers in the UK, working solely on claims relating to accidents and illnesses abroad. We've been successful in securing settlements in a number of high-profile cases, including:

The Alcudia Pins Hotel, Majorca. We helped more than 1,900 holidaymakers claim over £3 million after an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, which for some resulted in long-term symptoms including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) between June and September 2003.
The Beach Club Hotel, Torremolinos. In one of the largest cases of its kind, we secured over £2.5 million in compensation for almost 1,000 holidaymakers whose holidays were ruined by illness, despite tour operators being aware of poor standards at the hotel.
Thomson Dream. We successfully represented a number of passengers who suffered gastric illnesses on board the Thomson Dream cruise ship in 2010 and 2011. We also currently represent a number of passengers following cruises on the Thomson Dream in both 2013 and 2014.
Holiday Village Turkey. Over the last decade we have helped hundreds of holidaymakers to claim compensation after falling ill at the Holiday Village Turkey, including 595 clients who were taken ill in 2009 and between them claimed £1.7 million.
MS Sundream. An outbreak of Norovirus on board this ship left several clients with long term illnesses, including chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome. Our lawyers secured over £250,000 for 58 passengers.

Our industry-leading lawyers have secured over £100 million in settlements for accidents and illnesses abroad on cases both large and small.

We aim to support you through the entire claims process with sensitivity and understanding, putting the interests of you and your family first at every turn. To find out more about how to make a claim, and how we can help, call us today on 0800 056 4110 for a free initial consultation about your case.

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Holiday Sickness Claims & Illness Compensation

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