What to do if you’re injured abroad
Being injured is always distressing, but this is made more difficult if you are away from home. Sickness from food and drink, accidents near the pool, road accidents or sporting accidents are all common injuries that occur from traveling. This is often due to someone being negligent. If this is the case then you may need a personal injury lawyer. You may want to contact one which is local to where you are, you can find this with a quick Google search such as “personal injury lawyer Long Island”.
The first thing to do is to check in with yourself and make a judgment on how serious your injury is. The initial shock might cover the extent of your injuries, so take a moment to consider what has happened. If you are seriously hurt then don’t move as you could make your injuries worse. You may need to ask someone to phone an ambulance or you may be able to go to a hospital in a taxi.
Before you leave the scene, if you can, then take plenty of pictures. Even if initially you think it was your fault, upon reflection you may realize something that you missed before. You may also want to gather contact details of any witnesses. Depending on what happened, you may need to report it to the local police.
If you do need to go to the hospital, then you should try to get someone to accompany you. This may be especially important if you don’t speak the language. Before you go anywhere where they speak a different language to your own you should try and be prepared. This could mean having a translation app on your phone or a phrasebook. It is a good idea to buy a local sim card wherever you go in case of emergencies. This will allow you to phone people and use Google translate. This is usually cheaper than using your phone abroad.
If you do not need immediate medical care but need to see a doctor before you return home, then you may want to do a Google search to find what’s available. Some medical facilities might be better than others or might be better equipped to look after people from another country. You could consider contacting the US embassy in that country. They will be able to offer you good advice on where to get the best possible care.
Contact your travel insurance – the sooner the better. This may work in your favor if you need to claim anything from them. Keep hold of any expenses which occur due to your injury and evidence of your hospital admission. Be aware that you may have to pay for your costs upfront, which you should discuss with your insurance provider first.
Despite the extra stress of being away, try to stay calm. You will be able to handle everything much better. Stress can distort your memory, so staying calm will help you to keep a clear head. When you return home to go and see your doctor, especially if you have any pain or discomfort.
