Many of us like to travel, and it is often a wonderful experience. Going abroad and seeing other countries and cultures is one of the most eye-opening experiences you can have. On the other hand, going abroad is not always peaches and roses as there is much that can go wrong even on a simple vacation.
The worst part is that you are in a foreign country where you barely know anybody or how to get through the situation. However, if you have insurance, you should be well protected. You need to understand how to file an injury claim with your insurer when you are abroad. Here is how you do it:
Find Medical Care
The first step after being involved in an injury when abroad should be to get medical care. You cannot file an injury claim if you are incapacitated. It does not matter whether you are injured or not; get a full medical checkup.
Getting medical care abroad is a significant challenge since you probably have health insurance with a local provider. That is why it is so important to get travel health insurance before going abroad. You should use any available resources and the authorities’ help to find an excellent hospital in the area. Unfortunately, you may have to pay your bill in cash, which can be very expensive.
Take Photos or Video
If you are injured abroad but you are still conscious and active, you should get evidence of the situation as it will significantly help your claim. If you cannot, you should get someone to help you get the evidence.
The best evidence will include photos and videos of the accident that caused your injury. Take as many as possible from as many angles as possible. Documentation is vital if you are going to receive compensation from your insurance provider for the injury. Without it, your case can be easily dismissed.
Get a Lawyer
Once you are confident that you are in good health and have all the information you need from the accident, the next step is to contact a lawyer. To be more specific, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer. An experienced personal injury lawyer should be indispensable in such a case, especially if they have experience handling injury claims in foreign countries.
For example, suppose you were in Canada at the time the injury happened. In that case, you should call a lawyer familiar with local law. So, if you suffered a personal injury in Vancouver, get in touch with lawyers dedicated to helping people with personal injury claims in British Columbia. The lawyer will be priceless in handling the legal aspects of personal injury and filing the claim.
Collect Other Information
Although footage and images of the scene are the most important evidence for an injury claim, you will still need to collect more evidence. You should collect as much information about the scene as you can. It may be challenging to track down witnesses abroad when you return home. However, with modern technology, it has never been easier to communicate.
Examples of the type of information you should further collect at the accident scene are names of the people involved in the accident, their insurance information, personal information, and license plate numbers, among others. You should also record the names and information of any witnesses present.
File an Accident Report
Next, you will have to file an accident report with the authorities. If they happen to be there when you have your injury, you can file the accident report right on the spot or be taken to their offices. If the accident happens on private property, for example, on a ship, in a restaurant, or a nightclub, you will have to fill their accident report. You should always ensure that you get a copy of the accident report file. It will ensure that the information inside is not fabricated.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Now that you have all you need, the final step will be to contact your insurance provider to file the personal injury claim. You should be certain that the insurance policy can cover the claim before contacting them. On the other hand, if you purchased travel insurance before going abroad, you should definitely call them as soon as possible to cover your injury.
The key is to contact them as soon as possible to find out your coverage and treatment options. Suffering an accident while abroad is a harrowing experience. However, with the right attitude and knowledge, you can receive apt compensation for your trouble. You should follow the steps above, and you will be in good hands. Feel free to adapt them to suit your particular situation.
