The summer holidays are an important time for families to take a break and enjoy time together, but sadly every year, thousands of British holidaymakers experience illness, accidents or other serious problems while on holiday. Taking steps to make sure you are health and safe should always come first, but the steps you take in the hours and days afterwards can make a significant difference if you later decide to pursue a legal claim. 1. Seek medical attention immediately Your health comes first. Attend the hotel doctor, local medical centre or hospital as soon as possible. Medical records often become important evidence. 2. Report the incident Whether you have suffered food poisoning, an accident or another issue, report it to the hotel and, if applicable, your tour operator. Ask for a copy of any incident report. 3. Take photographs and videos Photograph anything relevant, including unsafe conditions, defective equipment, poor hygiene, contaminated food or your injuries. Visual evidence can be invaluable. 4. Keep receipts Retain receipts for medical treatment, medication, transport, replacement accommodation and any other expenses you incur because of the incident. 5. Preserve evidence where possible If food appears undercooked or contaminated, or faulty equipment caused an injury, preserve photographs and any other evidence where it is safe to do so. 6. Speak to witnesses If other guests witnessed what happened or were also affected, ask whether they are willing to provide their contact details. 7. Keep a diary Make a daily note of your symptoms, pain, treatment, disruption to your holiday and activities you were unable to enjoy. Contemporary notes can provide valuable evidence. 8. Don’t feel pressured Avoid signing documents you do not understand or accepting explanations before the circumstances have been properly investigated. 9. Speak to a specialist solicitor Obtaining specialist legal advice at an early stage can help preserve important evidence and ensure your claim gets off to the strongest possible start. Why Choose Holiday Lawyers? Our team has recovered millions of pounds in compensation for holidaymakers whose holidays have been ruined by illness, accidents and safety failures abroad. We have acted for thousands of clients , including in some of the UK’s largest international group claims, and have experience handling cases involving food poisoning outbreaks, serious injuries, hotel accidents, cruise claims and package holiday litigation across the world.  If your holiday has been affected through no fault of your own, contact Holiday Lawyers for a free, no obligation assessment of your case.