This time of the year a lot of people choose to travel. Whether it’s to warmer places to soak up some sun or colder areas to hit the slopes, the one thing that every place you can choose to go on vacation has in common is that accidents can happen.

While you may like to think you’re leaving your cares behind when you go away, the truth is that sometimes vacation plans don’t go to, well, plan. Sometimes in unfamiliar surroundings or environments with different risks, activities can result in injuries.

What should you do if you’re injured away from home on vacation? Here are some tips to help you understand the things to consider and the steps to take to protect yourself and ensure your legal rights are protected down the road.

Most Common Travel Accidents

You may be familiar with the dangers in Minnesota, but when traveling to someplace new, you may not know what to expect. Of course, it seems most places pose the same risks no matter where you are, which is evident in the most common accidents that happen to travelers.

Trips, Slips, and Falls

Believe it or not, falls from tripping or slipping are commonplace wherever you go and are the most common accident experienced by travelers. Falls can happen in airports or on public transportation, in hotels, around pools, and in bathrooms. Falls may sound innocent, but they can result in serious injury that will ruin more than just a vacation.

Injuries on Cruise Ships

Cruise ships are enormous, and these floating cities can pose many dangers. Of course, falling overboard is one type of danger that’s not that common, but there are many more common dangers.

Cruise ship injuries can include slip and fall accidents, pool accidents, and even sexual assault. Stay aware of your surroundings on a cruise and pay attention to where you’re walking.

Excursions

When you go to a destination on tour or a cruise, taking excursions is very popular. But these excursions pose their dangers. Transportation injuries, dangerous activities such as zip lining or parasailing, and even food poisoning can wreak havoc on vacation and lead to injury.

Theme Park Injuries

Theme parks are destinations in themselves, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other dangers. These parks are large with a lot of moving parts, easily causing visitors to become distracted and accidents to occur. Malfunctioning rides can also cause injury from defective ride designs or maintenance issues.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are another of the most common reasons behind injuries to travelers. Thousands of tourists are killed or injured each year in car accidents.  That’s why you should always wear your seatbelt, never drink and drive, and understand the local traffic laws before you get in a car.

Air Travel

There are also a lot of injuries related to air travel. Some of the most common injuries are a result of turbulence. Falling objects can hit them on the plane, such as luggage, or tripping and falling.

What To Do If You’re In an Accident

There are a few essential steps to take injured on vacation. While the severity of your injury will indicate what steps to take after an accident. You should ensure that you follow as many of these suggestions as possible.

• Get medical help – Always address your medical needs as soon as possible after an accident to ensure you’re OK and get the proper treatment.
• Collect Evidence – You or someone in your party should take photos of the accident scene and the surroundings. You should also document any injuries you have with photos and get the contact information for any witnesses. Write down everything that happened as soon as possible after the accident, and be as detailed as possible.
• Fill out the Right Forms – If injured at a business, such as an amusement park or cruise ship, they’ll likely have an accident form they need to fill out. It’s OK to do this, but never admit fault or blame in any statements you make, and make sure to get a copy of it for your records. Be aware that local police will be contacted. If that happens, be honest but don’t volunteer additional information. Request a copy of all documents they may produce as well.

About the Author:

A lifelong Minnesotan, founding partner Ronald R. Envall has spent his entire legal career fighting for the little guy, focusing on workers’ compensation, Social Security, and personal injury cases. He has been recognized by SuperLawyers as a Top Rated attorney in Duluth, placing him in the top 5 percent of all workers comp lawyers across the state. In his free time, Mr. Envall serves on the boards of several area government and nonprofit organizations and is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice, which supports consumer rights.