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Recently, Riu Playacar hotel, located in Playa del Carmen, was sued by a Chilean tourist after sustaining an alleged pelvic fracture from a fall. The accident happened on October 3rd, inside the hotel facilities, because of the wet floor. According to the tourist, she slipped in the hotel’s common area as there was no sign of a wet floor. The main reason why she is suing the hotel is that they did not offer her medical assistance.
Riu Playacar is a reputed and well-known hotel situated near the white-sand beach. People come to stay here worldwide because of its friendly community, garden areas, and modern rooms. It is a complete all-inclusive area for solo travelers, families, and groups. Not only is it just a place to stay, but it has four-star restaurants with exquisite cuisine.
The woman was rushed to Hospital Galenia in Cancun, where her total medical expenses were more than 21 thousand pesos (≈$1,050 USD). The response to this incident by the hotel was that the common area was not operating, and there was, in fact, a sign indicating a wet floor. Even the hotel said they offered medical assistance, but the affected family rejected it because they already had medical insurance.
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The affected daughter, Judith Calderón Rivas, has also explained that they do not have any medical insurance. They are tourists, and it is their first time in the Caribbean. The affected family asks why anyone would have medical insurance in a foreign country. The daughter also stated that the hotel had canceled their travel package, which was more than 85,000 pesos (≈$4,250 USD).
She said that we have the universal medical insurance that all travelers have, but that does not cover the surgery and hospital expense. Apart from the pelvic surgery, the hotel bills are more than 55,900 pesos (≈$2,795 USD), and the hotel is not responsible for it. Until now, the affected family has been paying for everything themselves. Still, the patient has to stay at least eight weeks in the hospital because of the surgery.
What does Riu Playacar have to say about this?
The hotel acknowledged the situation, and according to them, they handed an email address to the family for a refund request. In the past week, they were again provided with another email saying that the first email address was wrong. The family is desperate and wants the hotel to pay for their medical expenses.
It is a Civil code that the hotels should take care of their guest’s safety. Moreover, the staff and the owner are responsible for any incident inside their premises. For that, the hotel is bound to compensate the estimated expenses of their guests.
The affected family said they wanted the hotel to compensate them for 125 thousand dollars. They have no income and no place to stay, and the after the incident, the hotel also denied their request for a room.
How can travelers avoid such incidents?
Millions of tourists travel to their favorite destinations yearly, with Cancun consistently being one of the most popular choices. Accidents can, unfortunately, happen anywhere, so it’s crucial to be prepared before departure by getting travel insurance. While many people forego this step because they may deem it unimportant, it’s really the only way to fully protect yourself during your travels.
Though we all hope for a perfect trip, the truth is that anything can happen while you’re abroad. To protect yourself against mishaps, it’s wise to buy suitable travel insurance and always be prepared for the worst-case scenario. That way, you’ll be ready to take on whatever comes your way during your travels.
Your well-being should be a top priority when traveling, whether you’re going solo or with family. A lot of travelers have preexisting medical conditions, so it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for anything that might happen while you’re abroad. With emergency medical benefits and transportation services, you can rest assured knowing that help is always within reach if something does come up.
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Travel Agent
Tuesday 18th of October 2022
Not very bright tourist. As a travel agent, I let all clients know, you are NOT covered once you travel internationally. Did you book it or a travel agent? Universal coverage ? What would you use it for? Um, travel insurance would of paid your bill, YOU made a mistake and now you put yourself in a hole and trying to get resort to foot the bill. Underinsured is the culprit…
Ronald campbell
Tuesday 18th of October 2022
I had the same thing happen at the Baja in Rivera Maya they were scrubbing floors with soapy water as I come down the steps and hit the floor my feet slipped out from under me . There were no signs , I reported to front lobby they didn’t seemed concerned and even though medical help was offered I had to get to the airport so I didn’t miss my flight. The kindness of the persons in Mexico have drastically changed since the 1980’s