Can I Make a Claim if I was Injured in the USA?
Claims for Accidents on Holiday, Travelling or Working in the USA
If you were injured in an accident in the USA and it wasn’t your fault, you may still be able to claim compensation from the UK. Whether your claim can be brought in the English courts depends on who was responsible and how your trip was arranged, but UK solicitors can often still help.
Call 020 7485 8811 today.
“Osbornes is a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims.”
“Osbornes fields a specialist personal injury team with standout expertise in catastrophic trauma, regularly securing multimillion-pound settlements in spinal, brain, and amputation cases. “
If you were injured while visiting the United States and the accident was not your fault, you may still be able to bring a holiday accident compensation claim from the UK. Whether your claim can be handled in the English courts, or whether it must be pursued in the US, depends on factors such as who was responsible for the accident, where they are based, and how your holiday or trip was arranged. In some cases, UK residents can instruct UK personal injury solicitors to manage their claim even if the injury happened abroad.
Can UK courts deal with an accident that happened in the US?
Sometimes, yes.
You may be able to bring a claim in the UK if there is a connection to England and Wales, such as a UK-based company or insurer being responsible for your injuries.
When you can usually claim in the UK
You are more likely to be able to pursue your claim in the UK if one of the following applies.
The responsible party is based in the UK
You may be able to claim in the UK if the accident was caused by:
- A UK-based company or organisation
- A UK employer (for example, if you were injured during work-related travel)
- A UK insurer
In these situations, the English courts will often have jurisdiction, even though the accident happened overseas.
You booked a package holiday from the UK
If your trip to the USA was booked as a package holiday with a UK tour operator, you can usually make your claim in the UK.
Under UK package travel laws, the tour operator can be held responsible for injuries caused by failures in accommodation, transport, or services included in the package — regardless of where the accident occurred.
When you may need to claim in the USA
You may need to pursue your claim in the US if:
- You were injured in a road traffic accident caused by a US driver
- The accident occurred in a US hotel, restaurant, shop, or attraction
- The injury was caused by a US company with no UK presence
In these cases, the claim is usually governed by US law and must be brought in the appropriate US state.
However, this does not mean you have to deal with the process alone or travel back and forth unnecessarily.
Can a UK solicitor still help if the claim is in the US?
Yes.
Even if your claim needs to be pursued in the USA, a UK personal injury solicitor can:
- Advise you on your legal options
- Handle evidence gathering and medical reports in the UK
- Work with trusted US attorneys on your behalf
- Communicate with insurers and defendants
- Manage the claim while you remain in the UK
Many US claims are settled without the need for a court hearing, meaning you may never need to return to the US.
Time limits for making a claim
Time limits are extremely important in international injury claims.
- In the UK, personal injury claims usually have a three-year time limit
- In the USA, time limits vary by state and can be much shorter
- Some claims are affected by international conventions, such as those involving air travel
Because deadlines can be missed quickly, it is important to seek advice as soon as possible.
What should I do if I’m injured in the USA?
If you are injured while travelling in the US, you should:
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Report the accident to the relevant authority (police, hotel, employer, or tour operator)
- Take photographs and gather witness details if possible
- Keep copies of medical records and receipts
- Contact your travel insurer
- Speak to a UK solicitor experienced in overseas injury claims
Early advice can make the difference between a successful claim and one that cannot proceed.
Why instruct a UK personal injury solicitor?
A UK-based solicitor can:
- Advise whether your claim can be brought in the UK or must be pursued in the US
- Explain your rights clearly and in plain English
- Help you avoid missed deadlines
- Coordinate international legal work on your behalf
- Often act on a No Win No Fee basis
This allows you to focus on your recovery while our solicitors manage the claim.
Speak to our holiday accident claims team
If you were injured in the USA and want to know whether you can claim compensation from the UK, our specialist holiday accident solicitors can assess your case and advise you on the best course of action.
Contact us today for expert advice on your options.
- Call 020 7485 8811 or
- Fill in the form below
Contact us about a USA Accident Compensation Claim
Call us 020 7485 8811
For all new enquiries, please submit your details via the contact forms on our website. This will ensure your query reaches the right team and is handled promptly.
The team offers specialist expertise in cycling-related injury claims and regularly acts for foreign nationals.
It has considerable experience in cases arising from motor accidents and accidents at work.
Osbornes has a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims, including fatalities and severe injuries regarding the brain and spinal cord.
Osbornes have expert leadership. They are very client-centred and provide great communication.
They have got a team of strong partners who are experienced and capable, and their lawyers have a can-do attitude and don't seem to be fazed by anything.
They grasp complex and sophisticated matters quickly.
From partners to associates, the lawyers are committed to ensuring a successful outcome for every client.
They have intelligent, experienced lawyers who advise their clients very carefully.
Osbornes deal with their clients in a very professional manner, attempting to get the best results at all times.
Ben Posford, head of catastrophic injury, is well-known for spinal cord and cauda equina claims, including high-profile fatality work.
Osbornes fields a specialist personal injury team with standout expertise in catastrophic trauma, regularly securing multimillion-pound settlements in spinal, brain, and amputation cases.
Excellent firm with a good insight into and prosecution of catastrophic PI work handled by an experienced team.
Without doubt, Osbornes are the firm to watch in London.
This team is growing in profile all the time. The firm now has many of London's leading personal injury solicitors.
The file handlers I have worked with are experienced and expert personal injury practitioners who can be relied upon to achieve excellent outcomes for the client.
They are very supportive of their clients and are willing to take on difficult cases.
This team is very well organised and approach their cases with great attention to detail.
They have particular expertise in dealing with Eastern European clients who speak little or no English as they have native speakers within their team.
Osbornes is a excellent firm for high value and complex personal injury work.
Osbornes Law is a really strong team with a lot of depth.
Osbornes work professionally as a team, responding diligently to emails or telephone calls.
Osbornes clients are individuals whose cases are treated with the focus required when dealing with life changing injuries.
Fielding a ‘first class, very well resourced’ team of litigators, the personal injury department at Osbornes is rated for its diverse workload of complex, high-value injury claims, representing both domestic and international claimants.
Osbornes is an excellent firm, made up of lawyers with flair and pedigree.
Osbornes lawyers are smart, well trained, experienced and well managed.
Osbornes personal injury practice is first class; very well resourced and second to none.
Osbornes is becoming one of the top players in the claimant personal injury market. A large team with a great number of very high quality solicitors.
Osbornes is a highly proficient serious injury firm. They bring all the benefits of the biggest firms in the market but none of the downsides.
Their team includes bright, hard-working solicitors dedicated to achieving successful outcomes for their clients from partner level to paralegal. Their client care is exceptional.
They are a team who are highly respected in the PI sector.
This is an excellent PI team doing a broad range of PI work.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims, with notable strength in acting for European clients for whom English is not a first language.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims.
Ben Posford is fiercely bright, with an unrivalled passion for his clients’ cases. His encyclopaedic knowledge of all things PI is second to none. His foresight and commercial nous have propelled Osbornes into the highest echelons of the market where they rightly belong.
The firm has an excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants, managed by recruiting paralegals with multi-language skills – an impressive route for expansion of the caseload.
Great expanding team with expertise and respect in the sector. Led by a commercially savvy and business minded team.
A really excellent group of PI solicitors, notable for their individual quality.’
A niche firm that punches well above its weight in the catastrophic injury sector, borne out by the quality of work they obtain.
This combination of experience and diligence reaps massive rewards for clients, Osbornes being well known in the industry as a fantastic firm.
The Osbornes personal injury team now comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business.
Excellent coverage of personal injury, and traumatic brain injury. There is a real specialism in claimants who do not speak English as a first language.
The group is noted for its expertise in matters relating to cycling injuries, and is the official legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign charity.
To complement its strong reputation for high-value and complex personal injury work, the firm continues to develop its 'excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants'
"Osbornes comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business"
Thank you for the hard work and patience and for being so patient with my constant questions.
"I have found Osbornes to be thorough, clear and understanding from the initial call. They do exactly what they say they will and with passion! I would recommend them to anyone".
Very good efficient service. Would not hesitate to use again.
I will use Osbornes for any future needs.
I don't think I could have asked for anything more. One of the best dealings I've had with the legal profession.
Sam was excellent and very professional in dealing with our claim.
My claim was dealt with efficiently and professionally. Communication was excellent, and timely. Shrewd and sound advice was provided at every stage of the claim from beginning through to completion. On the basis of my personal experience I would strongly recommend Osbornes.
I just wish to thank you for your hard work and successful outcome. I am pleased with the result and would recommend you and your firm to anyone in the future.
Ben Posford ‘knows how to maximise the value of the claim for his clients’.
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