New Accident Statistics Could Increase Holiday Accident Claims

So the summer has finally arrived and so itsWorryingly, many holiday accident claims are on
holiday time! The months July to August are thethe cards before holiday makers even make their
peak time to take a break in the UK, this isdestinations as the UK national estimate for
because as soon as the schools shut down for sixaccidents while travelling and touring was 480,664.
weeks the parents are raring to go away for aThere is also worrying news if you are staying
few weeks. The suitcases, sun cream, bucketsclose to home and either touring local attractions
and spades are dusted off and they are all off onor doing a cross-country trip, as around 271,017
a summer holiday. But the last thing any of uspeople suffered personal injury in road accidents.
want to consider once we return from ourThis figure relates to all drivers in the UK, not just
escapades is to make a holiday accident claim.holiday makers, but is worth bearing in mind all the
No matter where you go on holiday this year yousame.
will find yourself having to use some form ofAlso, there were around 5,172 casualties from
transport. Whether you are jetting off to exploretrain accidents, including accidents through the
Australia, you are hopping onboard a liner to cruisemovement of railway vehicles and accidents on
around the Caribbean, or you are taking therailway premises. But, despite a number of fatal
passenger ferry or the Eurostar over to Francecrashes being reported in the media recentely,
or simply getting in the car for a trip down topublic transport is still the best and safest method
Cornwall, the reality is that you are vulnerable toof travel. So it is worth considering to take the
become an accident statistic.train rather than driving long hours, as it would
However, it's not quite as dismal as it may appearmake the journey less tiresome and also a safer
to be. The odds of having a holiday accident forone at the same time.despite there being a more
which you have to consult a personal injurylikelier chance of being killed by lightning than you
solicitor to make a compensation claim are ado of being involved in a plane crash, in 2005
thousand to one. The majority of travellers willthere was a total of 105 casualties and 27 deaths
return with a sun tan, a selection of tackyresulting from aviation accidents in UK airspace.
souvenirs and a suitcase full of duty frees hardlyThe majority of these air crashes were caused
ever a serious personal injury. However, someby UK registered aircraft.
accident statistics released reveal some greaterYou should also take extra care when choosing
insight into the dangers that British holiday makerswhich leisure activities to pursue when on holiday.
may face.There are also leisure activities on offer in the UK
Although it is a good job that you have decidedand abroad from surfing and sailing to hiking and
to take some time off from work. As workingmountain climbing and although there are stringent
for long periods without regular breaks away cansafety measures in place with professional
lead to work-related stress, which could thenestablishments, accidents are still fairly common.
make you become more vulnerable to the risk ofAccording to the Home Accident Surveillance
having an accident at work. During 2005/06 thereSystem including the Leisure Activities Final
were 160 fatal accidents and a staggering 28,605Report, it found that a total of 1,208,414 people
personal injuries in the workplace reported to thehad accidents whilst participating in leisure activities
Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR.in the UK. Also, the national estimate for non-fatal
Likewise, there were a total of four deathswater sport accidents is 21,935. It is thought that
reported in schools.many of these resulted in holiday accident claims.