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Original poster

To expect compensation from holiday company

317 replies

Ihaveausername · 18/02/2025 11:07

Changing a few details and being vague to remain unidentifiable. My partner and I recently had a 2 week holiday somewhere warm to celebrate a birthday and anniversary. On day 2 of the holiday my husband was injured as a result of something breaking (that shouldn't have). He grazed his forearm from fingertip to elbow, slight grazing to the leg and suffered a bump to the head. He received first aid from a hotel employee including an ice pack for his head. The next few days were a write off until his wounds healed and he didn't feel so sore. I have pictures of it all and the bruises He still had 6 days later. It was reported at the time and the travel company representatives checked in on him.
On our return I submitted the photos and a report of the incident to the travel company for some kind of apology / compensation, but they have told us that is not possible as we did not get a medical report.
This seems so unfair and we are wondering if we should take it further. What are our chances? Anyone have any experience of this.

OP posts:
scanni · 18/02/2025 12:48

Snowmanscarf · 18/02/2025 12:36

Out of curiosity, have you got travel insurance?

Yes, OP said they paid a lot of money for it, yet quite bizarrely chose not to make use of it to see a medic for a head injury

Original poster
Ihaveausername · 18/02/2025 12:48

OK, we are unreasonable on a lot of counts! Let's leave it here.

OP posts:
WhatFreshHellisThese · 18/02/2025 12:47

Khhi · 18/02/2025 12:16

Head injury + blood thinners normally means you need medical review - he would probably have been offered a CT scan in the UK.

Unfortunately you did choose not to seek medical attention and I do think it is fair that they would expect if the injuries were such that they required medical attention that you would be responsible enough to go and acquire it.

Holiday companies get lots of spurious claims and I think in this case you cannot expect compensation when you failed to seek a medical review.
It would be the case in the UK too.

This. It was either bad enough need medical attention or it wasn't. He didn't seek any so...

From the picture if was a fairly light graze

pearbottomjeans · 18/02/2025 12:46

Ihaveausername · 18/02/2025 11:21

I will add a photo of his arm. This was taken the day after the incident after all the blood had been cleaned up. It wasn't a simple graze.

? That looks like a perfectly simple graze to me

Diningtableornot · 18/02/2025 12:46

Hankunamatata · 18/02/2025 11:53

He had a head injury and is on blood thinners - you didn't think to take him to hospital to get checked out?

This is the point. You can't argue both that he was vulnerable and not get him checked out by a doctor.

Wolfpa · 18/02/2025 12:38

the picture is just making you seem neurotic it is a simple graze looking for compensation in this case is a little crass.

FeathersMcgraww · 18/02/2025 12:38

I was abroad a short while ago when one of the group got a cut on a pool slide. Reported it at reception just as an fyi so they could fix it and got a bottle of Prosecco (all inclusive so not a ‘freebie’ as such, but made use of it in one of the rooms one eve). We weren’t expecting anything though and definitely wouldn’t have sought monetary compensation.

AirthatIbreathe · 18/02/2025 12:37

I get scratches and bruises worse than that every time I drink too much wine of a weekend.

FeathersMcgraww · 18/02/2025 12:37

I was abroad a short while ago when one of the group got a cut on a pool slide. Reported it at reception just as an fyi so they could fix it and got a bottle of Prosecco (all inclusive so not a ‘freebie’ as such, but made use of it in one of the rooms one eve). We weren’t expecting anything though and definitely wouldn’t have sought monetary compensation.

Snowmanscarf · 18/02/2025 12:36

Out of curiosity, have you got travel insurance?

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 18/02/2025 12:35

Ihaveausername · 18/02/2025 11:21

I will add a photo of his arm. This was taken the day after the incident after all the blood had been cleaned up. It wasn't a simple graze.

That is a simple graze. It's so embarrassing you're trying to get compensation for this.

Diningtableornot · 18/02/2025 12:35

Head injuries can be serious, but a healthy person getting a graze doesn't need compensation. If the bump on the head didn't warrant being checked by a doctor, I don't think you have grounds.

purplecorkheart · 18/02/2025 12:35

I still a a bit loss at the board snapping. Was it a plank put in place to cover a gap or was it the actual floor. Was he the area blocked off or anything

I would imagine the hotel are saying nothing that could later be held against them in court. It is easier to say that they are not aware.

Did you report the accident to reception and ask for an accident form?

Even with the bloodthinners (which would have caused me to get the head injury checked out) I cannot see how days of the holiday were written off.

murasaki · 18/02/2025 12:33

My blood thinners come with a leaflet that says to go and get checked out if I get a large bruise. I can't imagine his doesn't. So he was very stupid, healthwise , quite aside from any compo claims.

HollaHolla · 18/02/2025 12:32

OK, I can see how this gave you a fright, but without medical evidence, I think you're going to struggle to get anywhere. I do think you may be over-egging the pudding here, as the injury doesn't look severe, but I do understand your worry, given his underlying health problems.
If they are hell-bent on going down the 'you need evidence' line, then, you do need evidence. Him not wanting to go to the Dr will have put the kibosh on that.
Yes, an apology would be nice, but accidents happen, and unless you've got clear evidence that this was due to lack of maintenance, etc., it might be better for you all just to accept this was an accident, and move on. For example, if he had tripped out on the street, and hurt himself that way, then it would be an unfortunate accident.
I hope that there aren't any more ill effects for him, and take care.

justkeepswimmng · 18/02/2025 12:29

TotallyFloored · 18/02/2025 12:27

Yes - but your documented injuries were serious enough to warrant medical attention. Not the case here at all.

Show quote history

Ah!!!! sorry the photos just loaded for me.

Yes this does seem a bit excessive for a few scratches, had DD fallen and not been injured i would have been angry and we would have reported it but i wouldn't have expected anything.

Strawberryfruitcorner · 18/02/2025 12:29

Strawberryfruitcorner · 18/02/2025 12:28

This is different, your daughter had damaged ligaments and there would have been medical reports to prove this.

that was to @justkeepswimmng

TiggyTomCat · 18/02/2025 12:28

If it's not bad enough to be able to claim off your insurance despite his general state of health, then it's not bad enough for the hotel to legally compensate you.
But morally at least they are deficient in not offering him a free meal/bottle of wine/spa treatment or whatever.
Your tour company likewise could have offered a small voucher of some sort as a gesture of good will.

More than that would not be needed.

Strawberryfruitcorner · 18/02/2025 12:28

This is different, your daughter had damaged ligaments and there would have been medical reports to prove this.

ExercicenformedeZ · 18/02/2025 12:28

SlightlyJaded · 18/02/2025 12:24

That's the very definition of a 'graze' OP. Sorry, but I also think you're being a bit ridiculous.

For context - the attached was an injury to my leg after a manhole came away at a hotel several years ago and I literally lost one leg down a hole. It was also deemed a 'graze' with 'some bruising' by insurance. I got an apology and a nice dinner from hotel but that's all.

Wow, that looks painful! I actually would have possibly expected more in that case, possibly even a comped stay.

Sunnydiary · 18/02/2025 12:28

You’re taking the piss OP.

It didn’t warrant a medical appointment so it won’t merit compensation.

friendlycat · 18/02/2025 12:28

mitogoshigg · 18/02/2025 12:26

Of course you need medical report to say what injuries you have, I'm surprised you didn't seek medical attention if it is serious enough to warrant days in bed

This.

TotallyFloored · 18/02/2025 12:27

justkeepswimmng · 18/02/2025 12:25

I do think your entitled to something.

Something similar happened to us at alton towers when were staying for a weekend, there was a hole in the ground where a bollard had been removed. My DD who was running at the time fell down it and damaged all her ligaments ( confirmed at A&E)

Alton towers were fantastic, this is everything they done

Got a taxi to and from the hospital paid for
Free electric scooter as she couldn't walk and fast pass through all the rides
Fully expense paid weekend stay any time we wanted with everything included (except food)

Honestly it was a massive pain when it happened as we had DD then a 4 year old and a newborn, we had traveled 5 hours so going home wasn't a quick option and it meant my husband had to take her on and off all the rides as i couldn't lift her weight, anyways i thought the response from alton towers was fantastic and i always recommend them purely based on their response.

Yes - but your documented injuries were serious enough to warrant medical attention. Not the case here at all.

mitogoshigg · 18/02/2025 12:26

Of course you need medical report to say what injuries you have, I'm surprised you didn't seek medical attention if it is serious enough to warrant days in bed

ExercicenformedeZ · 18/02/2025 12:26

This thread has really given me a laugh, and I am normally all about getting compensation as I think that customer service has gone to shit and I generally won't accept it. However, I really think that you're taking the piss with this one. The most you could hope for is a free bottle of wine: I think that if something broke that shouldn't, a little token like that is good because it acknowledges a less than optimal experience. But monetary compensation? Nah.