Solicitors urge holidaymakers to be cautious


Tanya Waterworth and Lenore Rice of Wilson Nesbitt solicitors in Northern Ireland have urged their clients going on holiday to exercise caution. There has been an increase in the number of accidents, cases of severe illness, and deaths involving holidaymakers in recent years.

Tanya Waterworth, a solicitor in the firm specialising in claims, commented:

"There is a tendency among us all to believe that normal rules don't apply when we are on holiday, especially when we go abroad. Holidaymakers often engage in high-risk activities that they wouldn't normally consider at home, such as para-gliding, water sports, hiking in unfamiliar territory, canopying and others. Such activities are often done in extreme heat and/or under the influence of alcohol, or with unregulated companies/persons who might not necessarily be meeting all the legally required safety standards.

"There is also the issue of health and safety in the hotels people stay in, and the restaurants and cafes they eat out in. Holidaymakers should inform themselves as much as possible about the area they are visiting, including any dietary or other health and safety advice they can find."

The number of claims made by holidaymakers has been on the increase over the past years, many involving severe illness resulting from food poisoning, and injury sustained from faulty hotel installations or safety equipment during holiday activities.

June 2010 saw the death of 70 year old Pauline Keachie who drowned in a swimming pool in Portugal, and just last month 68 year old Marion Sewell died when she fell off a boat into freezing waters when on holiday in Norfolk. There have also been a high number of cases of holidaymakers contracting Legionnaires disease while on holiday - approximately 170 people in the UK dying from it in 2009 after developing the disease abroad from contaminated water tanks. The risks are numerous, and unfortunately hundreds of holidaymakers fall foul of them every year.

Lenore Rice, a solicitor in the firm specialising in estates and will writing, commented:

"There is no pleasant time to consider making a Will, and it is something that most adults in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK put off until their dying day. However, if ever there is a time to make sure you have a Will, it is before going on holiday, when your exposure to risks is much higher than in your normal daily routine. Unfamiliar surroundings, high-risk activities, higher alcohol intake, and food that your body is not accustomed to are all factors that make holidaymakers more prone to accident or injury."

If you are planning on taking a holiday this summer you can ask for a free Wills pack containing advice and information by emailing Wilson Nesbitt solicitors at estates@wilson-nesbitt.com .

If you have been on holiday, and suffered an illness or injury that was not your fault you may want to consider making a claim for compensation. Contact the Wilson Nesbitt claims specialists by email at claims@wilson-nesbitt.com .



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