Trial win on liability disputed accident in Thailand

Our client

Our client, Sheila, sustained a deep laceration to the head, which required 6 stitches, along with bruising to the right elbow, and was experiencing headaches. The injury to the head resulted in nerve damage. Whilst on holiday in Thailand, our client was involved in an accident, when she slipped as she stepped onto wooden decking, within the hotel complex. It had been raining, and with poor lighting and no warning signs, the surface was incredibly slippery. The wooden surface was smooth so there was no grip whatsoever.

As a result of the accident, Sheila was hospitalised whilst away, and she also attended hospital upon her return to the UK.

How Slater and Gordon helped

After contacting Slater and Gordon’s personal injury solicitors specialising in travel accident claims, Sheila began working with Nicholas Lukacs, our specialist travel accident lawyer. Nicholas has been working in the travel law sector for over 15 years and specialises in foreign accidents including:

• Holiday accident claims
• Road traffic accidents abroad
• Airline accident claims
• Cruise ship accident claims

Initial medical evidence was obtained, in the disciplines of orthopaedics and neurology.

The process of the claim

Upon liaising with the tour operator Defendant, with a view to making a claim under the Package Travel Regulations, liability was denied. Court proceedings were issued, to protect Sheila’s position, given limitation was 3 years in this case.

Further expert evidence was also obtained to deal with the issue of liability and the standards in Thailand, from a Thai Lawyer. The Defendant obtained like evidence in this discipline and the parties and their experts then worked together on a joint statement from the respective experts.

Whilst a settlement offer was made by Sheila, in an attempt to settle the matter out of court, the Defendant didn’t accept this, nor was any counter-offer made and the matter continued to trial. The trial judge concluded the matter in Sheila’s favour, finding that there had been a breach of the standards in Thailand, which had resulted in the accident. Additional sums were also awarded, in respect of both damages and costs, along with interest, given that Sheila had beaten her previous settlement offer. This was a positive outcome that Sheila was very pleased with and which will allow her some closure and to move on from this accident.

How can Slater and Gordon help you?

At Slater and Gordon, our experts are here to help you take the next steps. If you’ve been injured in an accident overseas, the impact that this has on your life can be devastating. Because of this, we're committed to ensuring we get the best possible outcome for you. This case is an example of how our dedicated and specialist lawyers can support valued clients and ensure that they achieve the compensation they deserve.

If you, or your child, have suffered an injury as a result of an accident overseas, simply contact our experts today on 0330 041 5869, or you can contact us online here to learn more about your options going forward.