Accidents abroad can pose particular legal problems. However, with the right advice, there is no reason why you should not be properly compensated. In one case, a club disc jockey who lost his arm in a road accident on the island of Crete has won the right to six-figure damages.
The man was working on the island when he swerved the moped that he was riding in order to avoid an overtaking car and crashed into a safety barrier. His right arm was so badly damaged that it had to be amputated. He launched proceedings against the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), the industry body that exists to compensate victims of uninsured or untraced drivers.
In upholding his claim in full, a judge rejected the MIB's claim that there was no overtaking car. Although he was travelling above the speed limit, a collision with the oncoming vehicle would have been inevitable had he not swerved when he did. The amount of the man's compensation – which will be assessed under Greek law – has yet to be calculated, but is expected to be a six-figure sum.