Accident on holiday - AIBU

[PooBearnow]

Middle of 2 week holiday in EU. Large chain of American hotels.

Taking daughter to toilets by pool, down some steps, got to bottom, slipped on metal grill, and broke my arm/wrist.

Management aware at time. Went to hospital. Full cast on arm. Can’t swim, sunbathe, do anything really. But when I get home the nightmare begins of not being able to drive etc etc

Insurance company and travel agents aware. I have asked to fill in an accident form/log but reception are refusing saying I need to do it through travel company. I think that’s pure bs. AIBU? Wwyd?

Sorry to hear this OP, what a nightmare.

I would get copies of your medical records from whatever hospital you were treated at and take pictures of where you had your accident, as well. It’s also worth keeping a record of who you are speaking with at the hotel and what was said too.

Surely it depends on the rules in the country you are in?

Surely an accident log was filled in at the time? I would ask the travel company to assist with getting the required paperwork and I would copy that request to as many people as I could including the manager of the hotel.

They sound afraid of litigation.

I would ask to speak to the hotel manager about this. Then get them to write you a letter explaining why they refuse to complete their own accident form. Take lots of photos of the area in question, plus any notices that might be in the pool area.
Are you trying to claim anything off the hotel? I wold have thought that this is the type of accident that might happen in a pool area, rather than neglect or some such thing on the part of the hotel.

Is there a Travel Agent rep there to discuss this with? Failing that you could ring the UK Embassy of the country you are in for advice too.

EG this is the Embassy info page for Spain: www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-madrid

Was it a package holiday? If so, speak to your rep. If not, ask to speak to a manager, ask for the documents, if they say no, ask them for a letter confirming that they won’t give you the documentation.

Ring travel company and ask them, if they say it has to be done by the hotel, then you have to get tough.

Thank you. It was beginning of day do not slippy from pool use, I’ve used it loads of times and never slipped but there was a cleaning cart at top of steps (no cleaners around though). I have tweeted the chain and contacted my travel company (again) and will start being tough! Thank you x

It sounds like an unfortunate accident. I’m not sure what you want the hotel to do about it? Surely your travel insurance will cover all your medical fees?

It sounds like an unfortunate accident. I’m not sure what you want the hotel to do about it? Surely your travel insurance will cover all your medical fees?

Compensayshun......

It must be someone else's fault - it's the Western plaugue way.

Clumsy fuckers the world over are doing it - it's why our insurance goes up year on year....

Err SlartiAardvark and welshweasel , how do you think insurance works? Yes, to claim off insurance, but then the insurance company looks to see if they can “recover their losses” I.e. sue someone if they’re at fault.

If OP cannot get documentation proving the accident occurred at the hotel, the insurance company may not pay out at all!

Write down where the accident happened and when. That you asked the hotel for a copy of their accident book but they refused. Ask manager to sign it.
If manager won't sign it, add date and time if this refusal and sign it in front of him/her. Witnesses by either your DH or someone else (eg have you made friends with another family, one of them could witness it).
Then I think let your insurers deal with it.
Speak to rep as well and email the company and ask them to tell you whether it should be recorded in an accident log. Even if they don't respond, you will have the email.
Lots of photos of the area.
Why did you slip? Eg no handrail? Or you couldn't reach handrail because of cleaning cart?

Was this a pure accident or one where there was fault?

OP is insured and that's why she bought insurance, like the sensible people do. If unable to work when home there are consequential losses. And yes, the insurers will want to recover their costs.

sounds like work avoidance from someone - if there is a rep from the travel company, get him/her to do their job (some think they are on holiday although by this stage in the season they should have worked it out)

Slarti, I expect that what OP expects the hotel to do about it is to deal with the paperwork she needs to enable her to make an insurance claim. It's hardly unreasonable, is it?

Exactly right. The first question the insurance company asked was about the accident log. They cover my medical expenses in resort, but will reclaim from hotel. I’m annoyed as travel operator have had a report from hotel yesterday which is completely factually incorrect. I’m so confused!

You will find that the company’s will all start being difficult. I was involved in an accident a few years ago. Direct Holidays (not sure if they still exist?) myself and DH were injured along with a couple other people on an excursion, we all ended up in hospital. They sent out there health and safety guy straight away and then claimed that it wasn’t their problem as they acted as an agent for the exclusion that they sold us at The welcome meeting so we were on our own..

SlartiAardvark There is nothing wrong with owning up and taking responsibility when you’ve done something wrong. Trying to worm your way out of it and not doing your job is the plague of the western world. I don’t want compensation. I want to log the accident. I don’t fancy a bill of thousands of pounds in medical care.

OP, you don't say which country you are in. If you are in Spain, every business is required by law to have a complaints book. Its called a 'libro de reclamaciones' and the forms are called 'hojas de reclamaciones'. If they don't provide this, you can involve the local police 'policia local' who can demand the book or provide you with a form.
Sorry you are going through this

Tara336 that’s awful! You poor things.

Lovewineandchocolate - I never knew that! How efficient! It’s Greece we are in x