(Newswire.net — November 28, 2018) — No one likes to imagine getting injured or sick while on vacation. It’s definitely up there with “running out of gas in the middle of nowhere” on the list of worst-case scenarios you hope you’ll never have to deal with. Fortunately, most of the time, you’ll never have to worry about an emergency hospital trip while you’re on vacation. But if you do, here’s what you need to know.
Early steps
Even if you or one of your friends or family members does get sick, your travel insurance is likely to cover the costs and get you back on your feet as soon as possible. The issues arise when you are not adequately prepared. If you’re a frequent traveler, you might decide to skip out on travel insurance just this once, assuming that nothing will happen.
Plenty of Canadians who travel to the US regularly shrug off the possibility that they’ll need to be hospitalized while in a country without free health care. While travel insurance may not be mandatory for frequent border-hoppers, it’s generally expected.
The good news is that if you do take the necessary steps to protect yourself before you head out of the country, you’ll probably be fine, even if you do find yourself in need of medical attention while abroad. It happens to millions of travelers every year, and those who are protected by insurance are much less likely to suffer long-term consequences than those who enter another country without safeguards in place.
So, what should you do in case the worst happens? Of course, you can’t prepare for every eventuality, but you can certainly take preventative measures.
Research travel health insurance plans
Contrary to common belief, a lot of different travel insurance plans are available for vacationers, and there is likely to be one in your budget. There’s virtually no excuse to skip this important part of your vacation planning.
Thanks to the internet, you can now read extensive reviews of travel health insurance providers, as well as find information about doctors and medical care globally. If you’re headed to a rural location without easy access to a hospital, this is crucial. It will likely give you peace of mind to know you’re covered by your insurance back home, too.
Stay calm
Although a sudden injury can take the wind out of your sails pretty quickly, and waking up with a migraine in a foreign country can make you feel like curling up in your hotel room and never leaving, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In some cases, you’ll know what you need to do and won’t hesitate. If you are in a car accident, an onlooker might dial 911 before you even get the chance to.
In less clear-cut cases, you might be wondering if you simply ate some bad food or if your stomach pain is because of a rupturing appendix. If there is any uncertainty whatsoever, it’s always best to err on the side of caution, even though your first instinct might be to pop some Advil, brush it off, and try to get back to enjoying your vacation.
Get a lawyer
If you get injured in a vehicular accident, fall at your hotel, or get sick after dining at a certain restaurant, you might be entitled to compensation. It’s important to know your rights and find a credible personal injury attorney who will fight for you.
It isn’t difficult to find a personal injury lawyer with experience in similar cases. Car accidents are surprisingly common during vacations, where rental car drivers are often unfamiliar with the terrain, and locals occasionally drive recklessly.