How to protect yourself in case of injuries abroad

Written in collaboration with Gerard McDermott KC, leading personal injury and travel law barrister.

Why you need the right travel insurance

No one wants to think about their holiday going wrong, but accidents and illnesses abroad can happen unexpectedly. Particularly if you’re engaging in risky activities or excursions that may lead to injury, having the right travel insurance in place can help protect you from high medical and financial costs.

The right travel insurance can determine whether you are covered for emergency treatment, repatriation, hospital stays and, depending on the policy, additional rehabilitation support down the line. Winter and extreme sports like skiing, rock climbing and motorbike riding are often seen as too dangerous for standard cover, but this is often when accidents happen. Some policies do cover these activities and sports.

It is also important to check that your policy provides adequate cover for your destination, as medical treatment and repatriation costs can vary significantly between countries. In serious injury cases, those limits may be exhausted quickly, leaving major costs not covered.

You should always buy travel insurance when you book your trip so that you are covered for any insured events that occur between booking and departure. You should also check the current FCDO advice before travelling, including their local health and safety advice, as travelling to a region against this advice is likely to invalidate the policy, unless it changes once you’re already abroad.

If you don’t have insurance when you travel, you’re not alone. ABTA’s 2025 research found that one in four UK adults who travelled abroad in the previous 12 months did so without travel insurance at least once, rising to 41% among 25–34-year-olds (ABTA, 2025). Reasons include saving money and relying on European or Global Health Insurance Cards (EHIC; GHIC) instead.

Although a GHIC or EHIC can help UK travellers access state-provided healthcare in some countries and is particularly valuable for quick and acute care after an illness or accident, including after engaging in extreme sports, the NHS has stressed that neither of these cards is a substitute for travel insurance, often not covering all health costs, and never repatriation costs.

Taking out travel insurance is only the first step. Travellers should make sure their policy matches their destination, planned activities and medical circumstances, and provides sufficient cover should a serious accident or illness occur.

Why serious injury abroad can become expensive

ABI (The Association of British Insurers) figures show medical expenses were the most common type of travel insurance claim in 2024, accounting for 34% of claims. The average medical payout was £1,528, but costs can be far higher, with one case exceeding £1 million (ABI, 2025). For serious injuries sustained abroad, including traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, amputation, multiple fractures, or complex trauma, in which cases immediate hospital treatment is needed, the cost of medical treatment is often only one component of the wider financial impact of the injury.

Medical repatriation can be extremely expensive after a serious injury, as you may need a medical escort, stretcher, specialist transport, oxygen, or air ambulance, with costs varying greatly depending on the country. Air-ambulance transfers from Europe to the UK range widely from around £4,500- £35,000, while long-haul air ambulance repatriations from Thailand or Vietnam commonly cost between £60,000-£120,000+, with some international transfers exceeding £200,000 (IASMedical; SkyCareUK, 2025). Transfer costs can rise further where intensive care staff and specialist equipment are needed.

Recovery may also require extensive rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological support, speech and language therapy, specialist equipment, ongoing case management and, in cases involving amputation or limb loss, prostheses. Early rehabilitation is often crucial in helping seriously injured people maximise their recovery, but access to these services can be difficult without adequate insurance and compensation. Interim payments can also help bridge the gap while a claim is progressing, allowing rehabilitation to start early rather than being delayed by cost.

What can invalidate or limit cover

Travellers risk invalidating their policy by failing to declare pre-existing medical conditions or by taking part in activities that are not covered. Admiral Group’s 2026 insurer research found nearly six million Brits admitted they intentionally failed to declare a medical condition when applying for insurance (Admiral Group, 2026). If a condition is relevant to the treatment needed abroad, an insurer may at least refuse or limit a claim where it was not properly disclosed. Insurance policies are contracts made in utmost good faith, so failure to declare a material fact will often entitle an insurer to void a policy ab initio (from the beginning).

Other common issues include participating in activities excluded from the policy, ignoring medical advice before travelling, or failing to notify an insurer when required under the policy terms.

Alcohol and drug-related exclusions can also come into play, particularly where an insurer argues that alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident. Comprehensive policies typically cover emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and repatriation, but coverage varies between providers. Holidaymakers and business travellers should read the policy wording carefully rather than assume they’re covered.

Comparison sites are a good way to compare different policies. Still, although all policies will include basic cover, it is worth considering not only the amount of cover offered but also variations in what extra is covered by different policies. The Money Saving Expert website is an excellent resource for checking policy options because it has a tool which gives you quotes from over 40 insurers and two comparison sites.

Legal claims and lawyers abroad

While travel insurance can help with immediate costs, questions may remain about who was responsible for an accident and whether somebody can pursue compensation. Many holidaymakers injured abroad may have grounds for a claim without realising it. In some cases, claims can be brought through the UK courts, particularly where the claimant booked the holiday, accommodation or excursion through a UK-based package travel provider.

Many overseas accidents arise from preventable hazards such as wet floors, broken glass, unsafe hotel facilities, or poorly managed excursions. For instance, if a hotel pool has no clear depth markings or warning signs and someone is seriously injured after diving in, there may be questions about whether adequate safety information was provided.

Cover under a travel insurance policy may not be as wide as the heads of loss typically covered by a personal injury claim. Where an accident was caused by negligence, compensation may cover the wider impact of the injury, including pain and suffering, psychological trauma, lost earnings, rehabilitation, future care needs, wasted costs and loss of enjoyment of the holiday.

After an accident abroad, it is important to gather evidence where possible, including photographs, witness details, accident reports, receipts, booking documents, medical records and correspondence with the hotel, tour operator or excursion provider.

Leading personal injury and travel law barrister, Gerard McDermott KC, said: “Anyone who sustains serious injury abroad which may have been the fault of another needs to seek specialist legal advice from a solicitor as soon as possible. They would be well advised to choose solicitors experienced in the field, as it is very specialist.”

Key steps to take following an accident:

• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible and keep copies of all medical records, reports, and prescriptions.

• Contact your travel insurer promptly and follow its instructions.

• Report the accident to the hotel, tour operator, excursion provider or relevant local authority and request a copy of the accident report. If a road traffic accident, you may need to inform the local police.

• Gather evidence where possible, including photographs of the scene, witness contact details, booking documents, and correspondence with those involved.

• Keep receipts and records of all expenses arising from the accident, including medical treatment, accommodation, transport, and other associated costs.

• Do not assume that an EHIC or GHIC will cover all treatment or repatriation costs.

• Consider seeking specialist legal advice at an early stage.