Hurricane in Mexico and Florida affects holidaymakers
26/10/2005
Thank you very much for all you did for us. Our lives are so much better through your help.
Barry, DoncasterAfter the recent hurricane Wilma hit Mexico and Florida earlier this month hundreds of Britons face serious injuries and ruined holidays, having had their holidays to Mexico ruined by the hurricane.
Alexander Harris' specialist injury and illness overseas team are handling over thirty cases of travellers who have had their holidays ruined by the hurricane.
The hurricane hit Mexico first last week where the popular tourist resort of Cancun was badly affected, and moved into Florida at the beginning of this week.
Specialist injury and illness overseas solicitor Simon Taylor outlines the legal implications of this kind of event:
"If a tour operator knows of a significant problem before departure, they have a duty to allow customers to cancel their trip and receive a full refund."
"If the operator becomes aware of a problem after departure they must try to make suitable alternative arrangements, or to offer to bring their customers home at no extra cost. Customers would also be entitled to compensation."
"In the event that these conditions were not met this would amount to a breach of regulations, and people would be entitled to receive damages," said injury and illness overseas specialist, solicitor Simon Taylor.
"In this case, although tour operators have made a token offer of compensation to some of their customers, I would strongly advise holidaymakers not to accept any offer without first seeking legal advice," he added.
"I am furious with my travel company," said Joanne from Manchester. "I arrived in Cancun to find they were on a major hurricane watch for a category five hurricane within twenty-four hours of a direct hit. I was evacuated from the hotel within 17 hours of arriving on the island."
"On returning home I have gathered information from the National Hurricane centre that reports of a catastrophic hurricane were predicted 24 hours before I'd even left the UK."
"I have since returned from my rescue centre losing all my luggage and personal possessions."
"A day after arriving at the resort our hotel was boarded up and we were evacuated."
"We spent five nights in a government shelter with no running water or toilet facilities, and very little food or drink. We had two children with us throughout."
"Water was pouring through the windows. We were lying in wet clothes on the floor for five days on floor. I can't believe we have gone through this. We are still shell-shocked," said Fiona from Farnborough, Hampshire.
"My partner and I spent five nights sleeping on the floor in a brothel with little food or water and no toilet facilities - there was raw sewage coming out of the toilet before being flown back to the UK," - Lyndsay from Manchester.
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