‘Travelling’ means packing your bags, catching a plane, hitting the road, exploring, learning about new cultures, getting stuck at embassies, taking selfies, visiting landmarks… Just having fun. Until you suddenly end up in a hospital that asks you to pay up before they’ll treat you. Or you pay for an apartment, get to the address, and find out that the apartment doesn’t exist.
What do you do?
Panic? Probably. But after you’re done panicking, it’s obvious you need a legal professional to help you, which is exactly what this article is about. Nobody is trying to make you paranoid; it’s just an “in case” list so you’re prepared for everything.
Let’s start.
Travel Troubles That Need Legal Backup
Usually, problems that happen while you travel are annoying, but you can manage them on your own. Sometimes, though, things aren’t just inconvenient but downright scary, and you can’t get out of the situation on your own.
Just to get it out of the way, here’s a quick checklist of what to do before you set off onto your travels:
- Save contact info (embassies, consulates, accommodation, emergency services, etc.)
- Hard copy of important documents (passport, ID, visa, travel insurance, boarding pass, etc.)
- Check medication regulations* (if you have any; some medication may be contraband in other countries)
Here are situations in which you could find yourself while traveling where you’ll need legal help.
You’re Injured Abroad
This doesn’t have to be solely ‘abroad’. But, let’s say you’re going on a guided hike, or a group excursion and the trail isn’t very well-maintained. There are no warning signs anywhere, no guide at the front, and one minute you’re hiking, the next you’re on the ground, screaming in pain because you broke your leg. Is the tour operator the one who’s at fault? Or can you blame nobody but yourself?
Travel liability laws change from one country to another, so you’ll need a personal injury lawyer who is familiar with international claims and the fine print of travel waivers.
Look for someone who knows their way around international travel claims or cross-border incident cases because they’ll know how to deal with tour companies that work in one country but are based somewhere else.
Local Laws Catch You Off Guard
This one happens pretty often, especially when traveling with medication, because every country has its own rules for medicines. That perfectly legal prescription from your country might be banned in the country you just landed in and now you’re in a pickle. Security is pulling you into a room, and you’re completely confused about what’s happening. Even if you didn’t commit an offense on purpose, you might still get arrested.
This is where you need a criminal defense lawyer, preferably one that knows the local legal system or has ties to someone who does.
The first step is calling your local consulate or embassy while abroad, but the next one is getting a lawyer.
Dealing With Booking Scams/Problems
You booked the cutest apartment online: great reviews, nice photos, everything looks legit. But you get there and it’s a completely different place or, worse, it doesn’t exist at all.
Now you’re left stranded without lodging, your money is gone, and the listing site won’t answer your emails.
In this case, you need a real estate or consumer protection lawyer. They can handle contract fraud, false advertising, and cases where you’re unable to get a refund. If your booking went through an international platform, you should try to find someone who can work across legal systems.
This is especially important if the host is located overseas in one country and the platform is based in another.
Harassment/Abuse While Traveling
Abuse can happen anywhere, but it’s even more traumatic when it happens abroad. You don’t know the legal system and on top of that, you might not speak the local language. If something like this should ever happen, you’ll need to file a sexual abuse lawsuit, and a personal injury lawyer can help you with that.
This type of lawyer understands both the legal process and the trauma survivors carry with them.
Medical Emergencies While On The Road
You need help but the clinic says they won’t treat you if you don’t hand over your credit card. They might refuse even if you show proof of insurance.
Having a medical emergency in itself is already stressful, but having a health crisis while traveling is taking things to another level. Plus, now you have to argue your right to care, and it could be in a language you don’t speak/understand. If things get extreme, this can be international medical negligence or malpractice.
A medical malpractice lawyer is the one to call in cases like this one. They’ll review the situation, see if the facility broke any laws and ethical standards, and know how to assess whether the clinic was allowed to refuse treatment or not.
Conclusion
There are some things you can never be totally prepared for, but knowing the basics sure helps. Emergencies aren’t something you want to think of while you’re on vacation, on the road, in transit, etc. But they do happen, and they’ll be hundreds of times worse if you have no idea what to do if you’re caught in one.
Lived in England since 1998 and travelled the world since 2005, visiting over 100 countries on 5 continents. Writer, blogger, photographer with a passion for adventure and travel, discovering those off beat places not yet on the tourist trail. Marco contributes the very best in independent travel tips and lifestyle articles.
