Majorca Car Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For A Car Crash Injury In Majorca
Many British tourists travel to Majorca every year as it’s such a short flight to such a warm and inviting client.
Car accident claims Majorca
If you’ve been on holiday and had a car accident in Majorca, then it may mean that you’re entitle to compensation for your injuries and any financial losses.
Legal Expert specialises in personal injury claims which include car accidents, whiplash and accidents where a pedestrian is injured in a collision and, for any claims that we take on, we’ll offer a no win no fee service.
If you’d like to begin a claim with us, then please call today on 0800 073 8804. If, however, you’d like to know more first then please carry on reading this useful guide which should cover everything you need to know.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Car Accident Compensation Claims In Mallorca
- Useful Emergency Numbers In Majorca
- Medical Treatment For Victims Of Car Accidents In Mallorca
- What To Do In A Car Crash In Majorca
- What To Do In An Emergency In Mallorca Or Majorca
- When And How To Report A Car Accident
- Claims For A Whiplash Injury Suffered On Holiday
- 5 Types Of Compensation You Can Claim For After A Car Accident Abroad
- Calculating Compensation For An Car Accident On Holiday
- No Win No Fee Majorcan Car Accident Claims
- Make Your Car Accident Abroad Claim With Legal Expert
- How To Contact Our Team
- Holiday Accident Claim Guides And Contacting The British Embassy
A Guide To Car Accident Compensation Claims In Mallorca
Majorca (or Mallorca as it’s known locally) is one of Spain’s Balearic Islands and has always been popular with British tourists because of its sandy beaches, the hot climate, its capital’s nightlife and its short flight time (just over 2 and a half hours).
A lot of tourists now choose to travel around the island by hire car rather than using the excursions provided by tour operators which is fine as the roads are generally safe but if you’re involved in a car accident in Majorca then it can have an adverse effect on your holiday.
Legal expert have dealt with personal injury and holiday accident claims for many years and this guide will explain what you should do if you’re involved in a road traffic accident, how much compensation you could be entitled to, the local policies for driving in Majorca, what you can actually claim for, who you have to report an accident to and also how we can help you to make a claim using our no win no fee service.
To be able to make a claim for compensation you, or your personal injury lawyer, will need to be able to prove that the accident was somebody else’s fault. So, as well as all of the information mentioned above, this guide will explain how we can build a successful compensation claim and what you can do, while still in Majorca, to help make the claim process easier.
If you’re not sure if your accident could be deemed to be other driver’s fault then speak with one of our specialist advisers who will be able to answer any questions you might have and help you to decide on your next actions.
As with the rest of Europe, Majorca has strict time limits within which you must make any compensation claims for personal injuries. Any late filing of a claim will result it in it automatically be dismissed.
The time limits for compensation claims in Majorca are:
| How holiday to Majorca was booked | Time limit for claims |
|---|---|
| UK Tour or package holiday | 3 years |
| Booked independently by you | 1 year (but this can vary) – contact our team to discuss as soon as possible |
When returning to the UK we recommend you begin your claim as soon as possible so that your solicitor has enough time to gather evidence that will support your claim.
Useful Emergency Numbers In Majorca
If you require the help of any emergency service, either police, ambulance or the fire service, then the good news is that Spain operates the same sort of emergency service as in the UK so there’s only one number to remember.
Dial 112 from any payphone or mobile and you’ll be connected to an operator who’ll transfer you to the correct service immediately.
The call is free, so you don’t need to worry about finding change if using a payphone. If you do have to contact the emergency services, then a log will be created detailing your accident which can be requested at a later date as evidence to support your compensation claim.
Medical Treatment For Victims Of Car Accidents In Mallorca
When you’re involved in an accident in Majorca, you may require medical treatment. Prior to travelling you should apply for a free EHIC card (which takes between a week and 10 days to arrive – so leave enough time).
EHIC is an agreement between Spain and the UK to allow British tourists to receive free medical care from a doctor or at the hospital but it won’t cover you if you try to use private healthcare or require a different flight home.
For more enhanced cover you should take out a travel insurance policy which includes medical care.
When you attend any medical practice, you should present either your EHIC card or travel insurance documents to avoid being charged for any treatment required.
What To Do In A Car Crash In Majorca
Following any car crash in Majorca there are a number of steps that you need to try and take and remember, if you breach any local regulations, you could be an issued an on the spot fine.
Firstly, if it’s safe to do so, try to photograph the scene of the accident before moving any vehicles. Once done, move the car to the side of the road and turn on your hazard warning lights then place a warning triangle between 30 and 50 meters from the scene of the accident as warning to other drivers.
Remember, while you are out of the car, you must wear a reflective jacket and the same is true for any passenger who leaves the vehicle.
Once all of this is done, and anybody who needs treatment has received it, you should speak with the other driver and swap details. There is a pro forma document called a Spanish accident report form which is used by insurance companies.
There’s a section for both drivers and it captures all of the relevant information but you should only commit to facts about the accident, don’t admit responsibility for the accident in any way.
What To Do In An Emergency In Mallorca Or Majorca
Following any accident in Majorca, not just car accidents, there are a number of steps you should take:
- Ensure everybody gets treated.
- Photograph the scene of the accident.
- Take the details of anybody else involved.
- Ask witnesses for their contact details.
- In the case of car accidents, it’s worth trying to obtain dashcam footage.
Any evidence you gather in the aftermath of your accident can result in a much easier compensation claim and increase the chances of it being successful.
When And How To Report A Car Accident
When you’ve had a car accident in Majorca, there are a number of places you’ll need to report the accident:
- The emergency services. Contacting the police is not essential in the event of a car crash but you should contact them for anything more than a minor collision and the ambulance service as well. This will also be beneficial when contacting your car hire company and solicitor as there will be an official record and reference number which will detail the accident.
- Your car hire company, if it is a hire car, to let them know what’s happened and to get the car recovered and replaced.
- If you are on a package holiday, then it is essential that you let your holiday rep know about the accident so that they can record it and try to provide help where they can.
- Your travel insurer should also be informed about the accident so that they can provide help or direct you to the best medical treatment that your cover allows.
- As within the UK, you should contact your motor insurance company and let them know about your accident.
As mentioned previously, there is a Spanish accident report form which the other driver may present you with. Only fill in factual data, don’t admit liability and don’t let the other driver fill the form in for you. If there is any doubt, do not sign the document but do gather as much information as possible.
Claims For A Whiplash Injury Suffered On Holiday
Following a car accident in Majorca you may suffer whiplash as it is one of the most common injuries sustained during a collision.
It occurs when the head is jerked or changes direction suddenly and when you consider that the rest of the body should remain in place because of your seatbelt, it becomes obvious that whiplash could happen to anybody in the car.
According to the NHS, whiplash may not present itself immediately following a car crash and may take up to 12 hours symptoms to become obvious. Also, the symptoms are likely to get worse in the few days following the accident.
The common symptoms to look out for include stiffness, soreness and pain in the neck and shoulders, pain when moving the head, bruising and headaches. If you experience any of these symptoms you should visit a GP (with your EHIC card) to be assessed and you’ll probably be re-assessed when you return to the UK as part of your claim.
5 Types Of Compensation You Can Claim For After A Car Accident Abroad
As part of your holiday accident compensation claim your solicitor will usually include a number of different elements depending on how your injuries have affected you.
It is essential to use a specialist personal injury solicitor who can back up the claims by providing supporting evidence that proves how each part of the claim has affected you, either financially, physically or mentally.
The parts of a claim for compensation can include:
- General damages which are claimed for the pain and suffering caused by your injury. They are defined in a list of payments and range in value based on the severity of the injury i.e. a broken toe would be paid less compensation than an amputated foot. Your solicitor’s job is to provide evidence that ensures you get the right compensation amount within the given range.
- Medical costs can be claimed back for things like prescriptions both in Majorca and back in the UK, which can build up if you have a long-term injury.
- Care costs are another element that can be claimed if you have to employ somebody to help you complete tasks that you’d normally be able to do if you weren’t injured.
- You can claim for damage to personal property if it was damaged during your accident. Items like mobile phones, clothing, jewellery, watches, glasses and handbags could all be included if they needed to be replaced or repaired because of your accident.
- Travel costs are another popular part of any claim. The cost of getting back to the UK can be expensive if you’re unable to make your scheduled flight and if that was because you were too injured to travel, then you could claim that cost back.
With each of the financial elements it is easier to claim if you have evidence of the costs such as receipts or bank statements so remember to keep hold of them and provide them to your solicitor.
Legal Expert has a range of specialists that we use to provide evidence on our client’s behalf, and we know what is, and what isn’t, required to make a successful claim.
Calculating Compensation For An Car Accident On Holiday
When clients ask us how much compensation they’ll receive we have to admit that it’s not as simple as just giving a number. There are many elements of a personal injury claim (see above) which means every case is pretty much unique.
Once we’ve discussed your case further, as part of an initial consultation, we can give you a better idea of what your claim might be worth.
For now, here is a table of the possible amounts awarded for some injuries under the ‘general damages’ element of a claim:
| Type of Injury sustained in Majorca car accident | Range of Compensation | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Minor back injury | Up to £9,500 | The amount paid out will vary according to the severity of the injury |
| Severe back injury | £53,000 – £122,350 | Back injuries are more likely to be in the higher part of the range if there is permanent spinal damage |
| Minor neck injury | Compensation up to £6,000 | This can include whiplash claims as well as minor bruising |
| Severe neck injury | £34,575 – £112,750 | As with back injuries, if a serious neck injury results in paralysis then the compensation is likely to be higher. |
| Psychological pain and/ or anguish | Compensation up to £3,550 | |
| General pain and suffering | £1,000 – £200,000 | This is worked out based on medical evidence and is different for every case. |
| Expected loss of income | £10,000 – £400,000 | Usually covers actual losses plus predicted future losses. |
| Expected loss of benefits | £5,000 – £500,000 | Usually covers actual losses plus predicted future losses. |
If your injury is not listed then don’t worry, this is just a sample of injuries. If you’d like to know what yours is worth then please give us a call today.
No Win No Fee Majorcan Car Accident Claims
The biggest benefit, by far, of using our no win no fee service is that you never actually send us any funds to cover our costs, you simply make a payment when the claim is settled in your favour..
Our services cost you nothing, if we lose the case, but if we win then we’ll retain an agreed percentage of your compensation and send the rest directly to you.
There are no upfront fees or hourly rates to pay which makes no win no fee a much more stress free way to claim than the alternative where you pay a solicitor for every hour that they work on your case. Admittedly, if they win your case you retain 100% of the compensation BUT if they lose you still have to pay them what could be a large legal fee for their time.
Make Your Car Accident Abroad Claim With Legal Expert
Legal Expert are specialist personal injury solicitors who only deal with accident claims. We’ve got many years of experience and one of our friendly and professional solicitors will be assigned to your case.
We only offer no win no fee services and our team will be available to answer any queries throughout the process.
Most Popular Areas in Majorca
For your information, here are some of the most popular areas and resorts in Majorca:
- Playa de Muro
- Camp de Mar
- Port d’Andratx
- Colonia de Sant Pere
- Palma Nova
- Santa Ponsa
- Illetas
- Magluf
- Paguera
- Deia
How To Contact Our Team
If you’re happy to use Legal Expert to begin your claim, now that you’ve fully read our guide about compensation claims following a car accident in Majorca, then there are a number of ways that you can contact us:
- Telephone: Call us on 0800 073 8804 for free
- Email: Send a message with the details of your accident to info@legalexpert.co.uk
- Live chat: Our expert team are available 7 days a week to answer any queries or begin your claim
- Online form: Use this easy to fill in form to begin your claim
When you contact us we’ll start by offering a free initial consultation where we’ll listen to the details of your claim and give you our honest opinion about whether we think it’s got a good chance of being awarded compensation or not. If so, we’ll begin the process and offer you a no win no fee agreement.
Holiday Accident Claim Guides And Contacting The British Embassy
Here are some useful resources that may help you to decide on your next steps in deciding whether to make a compensation claim or not:
British Consulate Palma de Mallorca
Carrier Convent dels Caputxins, 4
Edificio Orisba B 4oD
07002 Palma De Mallorca
Spain
Tel: +34 93 366 6200
Web: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-consulate-palma-de-mallorca
Holiday Claims In The Balearic Islands – A guide to all sorts of accident claims in the Balearic Islands.
Accident Claims In Majorca – A guide that is less specific than this one. It covers all types of accident claim in Majorca, not just car accidents.
