As the winter holidays approach, many Canadians prepare for family vacations abroad. With gifts, packing, and the sun and sand on their minds, many people overlook the real possibility of suffering a personal injury while abroad due to a car accident or slip, trip and fall accident.

Oftentimes, vacationers sustain personal injuries while on vacation, abroad, and are unable to bring a civil claim for damages due to the inconvenience of prosecuting their civil claim in the vacation destination where their personal injuries were sustained and the differing legal system and requirements from that of Canada.

While it has long been established, time and again, that the appropriate jurisdiction to commence a civil claim for personal injuries sustained abroad is where the personal injuries were suffered, the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada have held that there are special circumstances where it may be appropriate to commence a civil claim in Canada when personal injuries have been sustained abroad.

If you or a loved one have sustained personal injuries while abroad, you may fall into the exempt categories and be able to bring a personal injury claim in Canada. To find out more, contact a personal injury lawyer a Law Fifty One LLP to see if you may be able to prosecute a personal injury claim in Canada for personal injuries sustained while abroad.