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6 Common Injuries Experienced by Canadians on Vacation Abroad
As Canadians, we’re incredibly fortunate to live in the beautiful Great White North. But many of us love to travel to escape a bit of winter and explore new cultures. Stay safe through your travels and learn how to protect yourself when your getaway morphs into a medical emergency.
We never expect to injure ourselves—otherwise, they wouldn’t call it an “accident.” Still, when we’re dreaming up our best vacation fantasies, we forget that injuries and illnesses happen all too often.
An injury abroad or vacation accident can quickly transform a great trip into a stressful and costly ordeal. While we’re fortunate to enjoy universal medical care in most Canadian provinces, things get a little more complicated once we cross borders.
At The Morris Law Group, we’ve helped many Canadians navigate the complex aftermath of accidents outside our home country. While you can’t prevent every accident on vacation, you can work to understand the common travel injuries examples, your legal options, and the importance of travel injuries compensation. Read below to build confidence in your recovery and your rights to financial well-being after international travel injuries.
6 Most Common Injuries Suffered by Canadians While Travelling
You’ve planned, you’ve saved, and you’ve finally arrived at your destination–but sometimes, the unexpected happens. Vacation injuries can be anything from a small scrape to a life-altering event that impacts you for years to come.
What are the health risks of traveling?
Canadian travelers often deal with common accidents on this travel injuries list:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents. Rental car crashes, scooter accidents, and bus collisions are common occurrences in Canada and elsewhere in the world. It’s even harder to avoid trouble dealing with car accident injuries when you’re dealing with different rules of the road, cultural driving standards, and potentially lower safety standards. Add in foreign law enforcement and trying to communicate in another language or navigate another legal system, and you have a recipe for confusion as you cope with the outcomes.
- Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents. There may be uneven pavement, different weather conditions, poorly maintained walkways, and wet floors everywhere, from streets to hotels, resorts, and tourist attractions. In Canada, we have relatively high safety standards compared to the rest of the world—don’t expect a slippery floor sign everywhere you go. Proving negligence can be even harder in foreign countries with different laws around the duty of care for property owners and local regulations.
- Water-Related Injuries. Many of us choose to travel to warm-weather destinations near the beach, so water-related injuries are incredibly common from swimming, boating, diving, and other water activities with inherent risks. Accidents may include drowning, near drowning, and spinal cord injuries from diving into shallow water. Slip-and-fall injuries are also common poolside. Liability considerations include inadequate lifeguard supervision and poor signage of risk.
- Food Poisoning. Foreign cuisine is one of the best parts of the travel experience, but food poisoning is unfortunately common, as are illnesses related to exposure to different strains of bacteria not commonly found at home in Canada. While symptoms are often mild, severe cases can lead to dehydration, hospitalization, and long-term health issues. Pinpointing the source of contamination can be incredibly difficult!
- Activities and Excursions. Adventure activities like ziplining, hiking, rock climbing, and horseback riding can be thrilling but also carry risks—that risk is even part of the thrill. Unfortunately, equipment standards aren’t always sufficient, and injuries from faulty equipment, inadequate safety precautions, or negligence by tour operators are common. If you sign waivers before you participate, it can make claiming even more challenging—but not impossible.
- Assault and Crime. Unfortunately, tourists can be targets for crime, even in relatively safe destinations. Physical assaults, robberies, and other violent acts can result in serious physical and emotional pain and trauma, and it can be difficult to deal with foreign law enforcement and criminal justice systems.
The Importance of Travel Insurance: A Safety Net Protection
Before you pack your bags, you must secure a first line of protection for travel injuries—travel insurance.
What happens if you have to go to the hospital in another country?
Of course, most foreign hospitals will treat you for an injury, but you’ll likely need to pay your bills out of pocket. Since these bills can easily jump into tens and hundreds of thousands for more serious injuries and complex treatments, most people opt for travel insurance to manage the risks.
Look for travel coverage that includes emergency medical expenses at a minimum to cover the cost of hospitalization, doctor visits, surgery, medication, and medical transportation, including emergency evacuation back to Canada if necessary.
Beyond your travel medical insurance, you may want to invest a little more and get trip interruption or cancellation insurance. This coverage will cover any non-refundable expenses in case an illness or injury cuts your travels shorter than anticipated.
Travel Insurance Policy Limits and Exclusions
Travel insurance isn’t all created equal, so read the fine print of your policy carefully. Pay close attention to:
Coverage Limits. You want policy limits that will be enough to cover potential medical expenses in the foreign country you’re visiting. Beware that medical care in some countries can be extremely expensive, like one of our top spots—the US.
Exclusions. Insurance policies often have exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions, high-risk activities, or injuries sustained while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Know the exclusions and avoid the ones you can control.
Deductibles: This is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in.
Claims Procedures: Understand the process for filing a claim, including required
Legal Options for Canadians Injured Abroad
When you first get injured abroad, it can be complicated to know where to turn next.
Depending on the circumstances, you may have several options:
- Insurance Claim. With travel insurance coverage, you can file a claim. If it’s denied or you’re offered less than what you deserve, you may need to escalate to a higher level and pursue other options for compensation.
- Lawsuit Against a Canadian Company. If you booked your trip through a Canadian travel agency or trip operator, you may be able to sue them for negligence. You must prove their negligence contributed to your injury, including failing to adequately vet local operators, providing misleading information about safety, or failing to warn of known dangers.
- Lawsuit in the Foreign Country. You may need to pursue a lawsuit in the country where the accident happened, which can toss all sorts of legal barriers into the mix. You may deal with language barriers, complex legalities, and potentially higher costs. However, you may still be able to sue an entity, like a resort or activity operator, even if the company is based in another country.
- Claim Against an At-Fault Individual or Business. If another individual or business is responsible for your accident, like a negligent driver or property owner, you may be able to file a legal claim against them directly.
Are airlines liable for injuries?
Absolutely! If you’re injured while flying to another country, you have a right may be able to sue the airline, the airplane manufacturer, and file complaints with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).
The Morris Law Group—Canadian Travel Injury Lawyers
Suffering an injury while traveling abroad can be a disorienting and overwhelming experience, leaving you vulnerable and uncertain about your rights. While travel insurance can provide you with a crucial safety net, navigating international claims and understanding foreign legal systems can be incredibly complex.
Our expert legal team at The Morris Law Group has successfully advocated for clients for 60+ years. We have the expertise and dedication to advocate for your best interests and help secure the justice you deserve after an unfortunate vacation accident.
Request a free consultation or call us at 905-526-8080 to learn more.
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