What To Do If You Suffer A Personal Injury Abroad

Have travel plans for the summer? Here’s what you need to know in case you suffer an injury abroad:

OHIP goes wherever you go

The nice thing about our health system is it goes wherever you go. Unfortunately, it rarely covers all the medical and hospital expenses you might incur should you be involved in an accident or have a health crisis. Most US hospitals and Doctors will accept OHIP, but usually only as a partial payment of the total account.

Understanding your travel insurance

Before booking your trip, ask your insurance provider about travel insurance that would provide emergency medical and rehabilitation coverage. Most often, travellers will be protected against any accidental injuries or illnesses. However, the specific details about the coverage vary between each insurer. For example, pre-existing illnesses, injuries or diseases are usually not covered if there should be some sort of relapse.

Driving in North America

If you have car insurance in Ontario and you are involved in a car accident in continental North America, rest assured you have Statutory Accident Benefits (SAB) and likely have third-party liability coverage that protects you and your family.

• Make notes about what happened,
• If possible, take photographs of the accident (e.g. licence plates of other vehicles involved and their positions),
• Exchange insurance details,
• Take down the names and addresses of as many witnesses as possible,
• When in doubt, call one of Thomson Rogers’ personal injury lawyers at 1.888.223.0448 (toll-free)

Driving outside North America

If you drive outside North America, your Ontario automobile insurance doesn’t cover you. In these situations, purchasing insurance through the rental provider or asking your travel insurance provider about car insurance before your trip is always best. Plan ahead! A last-minute decision could be costly.

What happens next after a personal injury abroad?

Contact your insurer, hotel and travel agency as soon as possible. If injured, be sure to keep all your travel documents, hospital discharge letters, receipts and paperwork for any expenses incurred and any other documents from the accident, as these items will be needed to process any claims for compensation or reimbursement. What happens next will depend on your insurance coverage and where you travelled. Each province, state and country has different legal processes in place that determine your rights and remedies when dealing with a personal injury.

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If you experience a personal injury abroad, contact Thomson Rogers for a free consultation.