Gran Canaria Accident Claims Guide | How To Claim Compensation For An Personal Injury On Holiday

Gran Canaria holiday accident

Gran Canaria holiday accident

Most of us spend all year saving for our vacation! Once it is booked, we count down the days until we can spend a week or two in the sunshine, relaxing and enjoying all that the hotel and location has to offer. However, for some of us, our dream holiday can quickly become a nightmare because we fall ill or end up being injured. If this has happened to you, and you have suffered an accident on holiday in Gran Canaria, it is important to get the compensation you deserve. After all, why should you have to accept that your holiday has been ruined because of someone else’s error or negligence? You shouldn’t. Here at Accident Claims UK, we can make sure you get the compensation you deserve if you have experienced a Canary Islands holiday horror. We have many years of experience, and we have handled plenty of cases like this before. You can reach us on 0800 073 8801. But don’t give us a call just yet, as we have put together this guide, which reveals all of the details you are going to need about making a Gran Canaria accident claim.

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Dealing With An Accident On Holiday In Gran Canaria

A Guide To Claiming For Accident On Holiday In Gran Canaria

Have you had an accident on holiday in Gran Canaria? If so, there is a very high chance that you are going to be entitled to compensation. There is no denying that Gran Canaria is a destination that is popular amongst British tourists. In fact, it is popular with tourists all over the world. In 2017, the country set a new historical record, with 4,587,000 visitors enjoying the island over the course of the year. This represented an 8.6 per cent increase on the year before, which is rather significant. These statistics are according to the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC).

In terms of the British market for holidays in Gran Canaria, the number of tourists increased by a huge 13 per cent, meaning an extra 102,000 tourists visited Gran Canaria, bringing the total amount to 890,000. It is certainly a place that is highly popular with us Brits. Not only this, but Brits are responsible for 30 per cent of the total tourist turnover in Gran Canaria, spending a total of 4.5 billion euros last year. You can find foreign travel advice for visits to Spain on the UK Government website. While most people visit Gran Canaria and have a trouble free experience, there are those who suffer injuries and illnesses, and we are here to help those people.

In this guide, you will find out everything you need to know regarding travel claims in Spain and the Canary Islands. Not only will we reveal some useful tips in terms of making a claim, but we will also take a look at specific claims types, for example, making a claim for a Canary Islands ferry crash. In addition to this, we will also give you an insight into the time limits on these cases, as well as talking you through the service we provide and how we can help you. If you still have queries or you are ready to get started, you will find all of our contact details at the end of the guide.

The Most Popular Resorts And Beaches In Gran Canaria

If you have been injured while on holiday in Gran Canaria, we can help you to make a claim, no matter where the accident happened – whether it was in a popular tourist resort or off-the-beaten track. Here are some of the most popular resorts and beaches in Gran Canaria…

  • Anfi del Mar
  • Guigui
  • Las Canteras
  • Maspalomas
  • Mogan
  • Playa del Ingles
  • Puerto Rico
  • Sardina del Norte
  • Tauro
  • Amadores

What Should You Do If You Have An Accident, Injury, Or Illness In Gran Canaria?

If you have had an accident on holiday in the Canary Islands, it is important to take the necessary steps so that you can build a strong case. While the success of your claim is largely going to come down to your solicitor’s efforts, it is still important for you to do certain things so you can make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. So, with that being said, let’s take a look at some of the steps you need to take if you have had an accident, injury or illness in Gran Canaria.

  1. See a doctor – The first thing you need to do is make sure you see a medical professional. Of course, if your injuries are serious, it is only natural that you are going to need to see a doctor. However, there are some people who only suffer minor injuries, for example, they could have a very mild case of whiplash, and so they would rather deal with it themselves. However, if you do this, there is not going to be any proof of your injuries, and this can be very problematic. The report put together by the doctor you have seen is the most critical piece of evidence. It states your injuries, the extent of them, the impact they are going to have on your life, and your treatment, and so this is used to decipher what amount of compensation would be right for you.
  2. Report the accident to all of the right people – Aside from this; you may need to report the accident to a number of different people/organisations. For example, if you have been involved in a car crash or you have been injured because of a criminal activity, calling the police is a must. Furthermore, you will need to get in touch with your insurance company to ensure they are aware of what has happened. If you were using a rental car when injured, make sure you dial the car hire firm. Furthermore, you will need to get in touch with your tour operator and/or hotel management if you have suffered an injury on the hotel premises or while doing any sort of activity that has been planned by your tour provider.
  3. Gather evidence – The third piece of the puzzle is to make sure you gather any evidence that is available to you. Of course, this will all depend on the nature of the accident and what has happened to you. Nowadays, most people have smartphones and so it is really easy to gather a few snaps if there is any photographic evidence of what has happened. For example, if you have been involved in a car crash, you can quickly take a photo of the scene. If you have been injured because of broken furniture in the hotel room, you can also do this. Aside from this, gathering witness contact information is advised, as well as keeping receipts for any costs you have had to fund because of the accident. This could be anything from treatment expenses to hospital parking tickets. You will be able to claim for all of these expenses when you make a claim.

Gran Canaria Emergency Telephone Numbers

Before you go on holiday, it is important to make sure you make a note of the emergency contact details for the country you are visiting. After all, you never know when you could find yourself needing them. For Gran Canaria, you can use the European accident and emergency number, which is 112. For general information, dial 012. You can also find contact information for the British Embassy in Gran Canaria at the end of the guide.

Healthcare In Gran Canaria For Tourists

When going on holiday, you should always take out health insurance. This is the case no matter where you are flying to. After all, it is imperative to make sure you are fully covered. We have all heard those horror stories about people who have fallen ill overseas and they have been forced to pay thousands and thousands of pounds for healthcare because they either did not have health insurance or they did not have the correct coverage. In addition to this, it is important to note that your EHIC card will be valid in Gran Canaria. This may give you access to reduced state care, and sometimes even free care. Despite this, you still need to have travel insurance, though, as not all treatments may be covered. If you don’t have an EHIC card, this is something you can acquire via the UK Government website. It is free of charge, so it is definitely worth having one.

Personal Injury Claim Time Limits Applicable To Accidents In Gran Canaria

One thing a lot of people do not realise is that there is a personal injury claim time limit in place. In most cases, this time limit is three years. However, this does slightly differ when it comes to accidents that have occurred on holiday, as you will discover from the table below. How long you have to make a personal injury claim is dependent on where the accident happened and how your holiday was booked. Package holidays are generally a lot safer in this regard, as they are more straightforward and you have longer to claim. Nevertheless, we always advise people to claim as soon as they are able to, as this will avoid any complications.

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Circumstances of your illness or injury Time limit for your claim
Claiming for an illness or injury that has happened on a UK based package holiday company 3 years
Claiming for an illness or injury that has happened on a privately booked holiday Varies, but usually 1 year
Illness or injury that has happened during a flight 2 years

Spanish Holiday Accident, Injury, And Illness Claims In Gran Canaria We Can Help With

Some of the most common types of accident and injury, inlcuding many of the top ten types of accident on holiday in Gran Canaria include;

  • Car accidents,
  • Other accidents on the road,
  • Cases of food poisoing,
  • Injury or illness in a swimming pool,
  • Injuries when participating in sports or leisure injuries,
  • Falls and slips.

Gran Canaria Package Holiday Accident Claims

If you have been injured while on a package holiday, we can help you to get the compensation you are entitled to. Below we have listed some of the most common tour operators in the UK. If you have been injured on a package holiday, it is vital to report the accident at the earliest opportunity to the tour provider to ensure there is an official record of what has happened.

  • TUI
  • EasyJet
  • Jet2Holidays
  • British Airways

A lot of people fear that package holiday claims are going to be very difficult to make. Actually, this is not the case. Regulations were put in place in 1992 to make sure that this was not the case. These regulations meant that if you were injured on a package holiday, whether on a flight or on a tour being provided by a local Spanish firm, you can make the claim through the tour operator if these services were booked as part of the deal.

Just so you are aware, for a holiday to be deemed a package holiday, it must include at least two of the following…

  • An overnight stay or at least 24 hours stay in a hotel
  • Travel
  • Excursions/tour services

Gran Canaria Hotel Accident Claims

Now, we are going to take a look at some of the different ways accidents can happen while you are on holiday. Firstly, we are going to take a look at using the services of a personal injury lawyer to make a claim for an accident that has happened in your hotel. There are so many different ways such an accident could occur. For example, you may have been injured because of a problem with your hotel room, such as poor cleaning standards or broken furniture. You can also make a claim if you have fallen sick or suffered any sort of injury, such as skin or eye irritation, because the pool has not been looked after properly. Some people also make hotel accident claims because they have had a spa treatment and it has gone wrong or because the facilities in the hotel have not been maintained correctly, such as the gym facilities.

Food Poisoning, Restaurant Accidents, And Other Illnesses

We have also helped many people to claim when they have experienced sickness on holiday because they have contracted food poisoning. Food poisoning occurs when food has not been cooked, prepared, or stored properly. From being served raw meat to cross-contamination, there are many different ways that you could end up suffering food poisoning while on holiday. Luckily, most people tend to recover from this illness within a day or two. However, there have been cases of food poisoning whereby people have suffered life-threatening injuries, so it is not something to take lightly. Either way, we can make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Holiday Accident Slips, Trips And Falls

There is no denying that slips, trips, and falls are one of the most common reasons for requiring a personal injury solicitor. After all, such an accident can happen anywhere in Gran Canaria. You could fall or trip while you are at the airport or even while you are getting on or off the plane. You could also experience such an accident while in your hotel or out on an excursion. No matter where such an accident has occurred, the important part of the process is making sure that the accident happened because of someone else’s negligence and not your own clumsiness.

Swimming, Beach And Watersport Activity Accidents

In the Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, a lot of people enjoy the wide range of watersports and activities that are on offer. From banana boats to paragliding, there is something for everyone. While these activities tend to be a lot of fun, there have been cases whereby people have been injured. This could be because the equipment had not been maintained properly or because the incorrect instructions had not been provided. If this was the case, you can claim. There are lots of other accidents that could happen while at the beach or while swimming at your hotel. If a swimming pool has not been maintained properly, this could easily cause you to get ill because of a chemical imbalance in the pool.

Gran Canaria Car And Road Traffic Accident Claims

Have you been involved in a car crash that was not your fault while in Gran Canaria? Perhaps the other driver was doing way over the speed limit? Maybe they were talking on their phone? Or, perhaps they were just being careless? No matter what occurred, if you have been hurt, and someone else caused the incident, you will likely be entitled to compensation. Here are some steps to take to increase your chances when making a Canary Island car accident claim…

See a doctor – Your health is, of course, the most important concern, and so it is vital to get the medical attention you require. Even if you don’t feel like you have been too hurt, you are advised to see a doctor, as whiplash is a common injury that arises because of car crashes, and this is an injury that takes a while to show itself. You also need to see a medical professional if you are to make a compensation claim.

Get the contact details of the person that caused the incident – If you have been involved in a hit and run, this will obviously not be possible. Otherwise, however, make sure you get the individuals basic contact information, details of their insurer, and jot down a few details about their car, i.e. the registration number, make, and model.

Take photographs – Take photographs of the scene and any other applicable images, such as your injuries or damage to your vehicle.

Get the contact information of any witnesses – A great way to build a strong case is to get witness accounts of what occurred. So, if anyone saw the accident, you should get his or her contact details.

Keep receipts and additional proof of expenses – Last but not least, make sure you hold onto any proof of the costs you have incurred because of the incident and your injuries, such as vehicle repair costs, loss of income, and medical expenses.

How Can The Accident Claims UK Team Help You?

You Can Use UK Based Solicitors Or Lawyers

Even though your claim happened abroad, we can still help, and you do not need to use a local lawyer for a claim in Gran Canaria. In fact, it is often easier for you to claim with an expert in the UK.

No Win No Fee Accident On Holiday In Gran Canaria Claims

When making claim, one of the most important elements is to make sure you align yourself with an experienced solicitor. This is something we can help with. We have years of experience, yet the main feature of our service is our guaranteed No Win, No Fee approach. This means that we promise you that you won’t have to pay anything at all if we do not manage to secure compensation for you. This means that you are never going to find yourself out of pocket if you make a claim with Accent Claims UK. This also means that we are only going to take on your case if we believe there is genuinely a very high chance that you will be entitled to compensation. Plus, you can be safe in the knowledge that we will be doing all in our power to secure compensation for you, as our solicitor’s pay is impacted by the outcome of the case.

How Our Expert Team Can Help You

There are lots of law firms in the UK providing their services, and so you may be wondering why we are a brilliant choice for you. It is simple. We have years of experience and we have handled many cases like this before, and we have done so successfully. We also aim to secure compensation in the quickest and smoothest manner. Just follow the steps below…

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Contact our team by email, phone, or post. Our team will assess your claim. Once you are ready, we can then start your claim.

Begin Your Claim Today

If you are ready to make a claim for the accident you have experienced while on holiday in Gran Canaria, we are here and ready to help you. You can reach our team any day and any time by ringing 0800 073 8801. You will speak to one of our friendly advisors who will answer your questions and they can start the claims process for you if you are ready to proceed. There are also a number of other ways you can get in touch with us. If you take a look at our website, you will see that there is a live chat feature in the bottom right-hand corner and there is also a box for you to enter your details on our homepage and we will call you back. Or, if you prefer, you can send us an email and we will get back to you at the earliest opportunity.

Where You Can Find More Help And Advice

We have lots of great guides on Accident Claims UK. Here are some you may find useful:

I had an accident on my holiday – A guide for claimants

I suffered an injury on holiday – Further information for claimants

Holiday case study – You may find this of interest

You can also find some useful contact details below:

Canary Islands

Calle Luis Morote 6-3º
35007 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Spain

Telephone enquiries:
+34 928 26 25 08

www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-consulate-las-palmas-de-gran-canaria/office/british-consulate-las-palmas-de-gran-canaria

The NHS on Accidents in Spain – Read more on this here.