About Us
FAQ
Global Law Experts Logo
Global Law Experts Logo

Find a Global Law Expert

Specialism
Country
Practice Area

Awards

Since 2010, the Global Law Experts annual awards have been celebrating excellence, innovation and performance across the legal communities from around the world.

A Local Standards Report May be Required for a Claim for Compensation for an Accident Abroad

posted 4 years ago

Author: Piero Mastrosimone, Head of Insurance and Personal Injury 

If you had an accident whilst you were abroad for work or on holiday that was caused by unsafe equipment or an unsafe feature related to a building such as a staircase, balcony or lift, you may be entitled to pursue damages for your injury and ruined holiday.

A claim can be brought if the standards relating to the cause of the accident, such as the building regulations, have been breached. Some countries sanction safety standards that are considerably lower than those found in the UK; for example, there may not be the requirement for toughened glass in glass doors leading out to a balcony or garden in a hotel room. In certain instances, there may not be a handrail on a staircase. Giambrone’s expert lawyers in its personal injury team will be able to guide you.

In the event of an accident, the first step is to establish where the responsibility for the accident lies. In order to do this, you will have to gather evidence to demonstrate why you believe an organisation or person should be held to account for your accident. It is understandable that in the aftermath of an accident, you or anyone with you may not necessarily think to gather evidence of the accident. However, the following information will considerably assist to build the evidence for a claim:

• Photographic evidence of all aspects of the accident site.
• Photographic evidence of your clothing and footwear in the case of falls – this will fend off any suggestion that you were partly responsible by reason of unsuitable shoes.
• Ask witnesses if they are prepared to give evidence.
• Make notes about the accident as soon as possible, including all the circumstances, such as alcohol consumption. Ideally ask any witnesses to countersign the notes.
• Where appropriate, report the incident to the local police.
• Ask for the contact details of all potential witnesses, including medical staff and the police. 
• Where appropriate, inform the British consulate or embassy.
• Ask the manager of the hotel/restaurant/bar/nightclub for details of their insurance and legal team.
 
A Local Standards Report will be required if your accident was caused by faulty or unsafe equipment or handrails, faulty lifts, or dangerous balconies. This will set out the safety standards that are normal for the country in which you had the accident. Accidents abroad due to a failure of safety standards are judged on the basis of the safety standards common to the country in which the accident took place. If it is found that the cause of your accident complied with safety standards that are normal for that country, then it will be deemed that there is no liability. The exception to this rule is if the standards are so poor that no reasonable guest would choose to stay in the hotel, and that the low safety standard was the cause of the accident. 

There are some rare situations where a Local Standards Report is not required; for example, when the circumstances of the accident “speak for themselves” (res ipsa loquitur).

A Local Standards Report is crucial in supporting a personal injury claim and should be commissioned at the earliest opportunity to avoid any attempt to rectify any faulty workmanship, such as repairing a defective handrail. A Local Standards Report must be compiled by a recognised expert who is able to outline the statutory, regulatory or customary standards for the country concerned. The Report will have to be comprehensible and must consider the legal ramifications with regard to the jurisdiction where the Report will be produced as evidence.

There are some rare situations where a Local Standards Report is not required; for example, when the conditions of the accident “speak for themselves” (res ipsa loquitur). As a further example: in a case where, say, a neglected handrail had insufficient strength to bear the weight of a person relying on it to support them whilst walking down stairs, it would be clear to all parties that the lack of strength in the handrail caused the accident. The personal injury lawyers at Giambrone are extremely experienced in a wide range of circumstances related to variety of accidents, and will be able to steer you through the entire process.

Author

Find the right Legal Expert for your business

The premier guide to leading legal professionals throughout the world

Specialism
Country
Practice Area
0
LAWYERS RECOGNIZED
0 m+
EVALUATIONS OF LAWYERS BY THEIR PEERS
0
PRACTICE AREAS
0
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD

Join

0
who are already getting the benefits

Sign up for the latest legal briefings and news within Global Law Experts’ community, as well as a whole host of features, editorial and conference updates direct to your email inbox.

Naturally you can unsubscribe at any time.

Newsletter Sign Up

About Us

Global Law Experts is dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to clients around the world. With a vast network of highly skilled and experienced lawyers, we are committed to delivering innovative and tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients in various jurisdictions.

Contact Us

Stay Informed

Join Mailing List

GLE