Hospitalised in Budapest whilst on holiday. Any suggestions for what to do?
Posted by Kaneok1000@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 28 comments
I've made a Reddit account specifically to ask this question. On Monday I flew to Budapest with my girlfriend for a 3 night city break. On the Tuesday night we were in one of the ruins bars and I was punched in the face by an unknown man, everything went so fast and I have no idea what happened. I was taken to hospital with a broken nose and some fluid stuck in my skull. The police have gotten involved and me and my girlfriend both had to give a statement, none of us had any useful information as the whole thing went so fast. All we could provide was the date, time and location. I've been in touch with my travel insurance provider and they are assessing my case. The hospital has told me I need at least 1 operation to reconstruct my nose.
Firstly I'm worried that my claim is going to be denied as I had alcohol in my system, and I know they look for any way out of having to pay. The indecent seemed completely unprovoked to me and I had no altercations with anyone at any point during the night, but I'm worried that it will somehow come out as a drunken scrap. I'm hoping the police can access CCTV footage of the event and I can use this to fight my case.
Secondly I have been told I can't fly due to a piece of my nose bone being too close to my brain. I'm going to have to travel from Budapest to the UK on land. I'm quite worried about undertaking such a long journey whilst in the condition that I'm in. Looking at the train lengths and times it looks like it's going to be a rough journey.
I'm really struggling to find anything online where people have had similar stories, If anyone has any advice I'd much appreciate it .
Thank you
SamCreated@reddit
Train route DAY 1:
Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:40, arriving Munich Hbf 14:32.
Step 2, travel from Munich to Stuttgart by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:27, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:45.
Step 3, travel from Stuttgart to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 18:52, arriving Paris Gare de l’Est 22:14.
TRAIN ROUTE DAY 2:
Paris to London by Eurostar.
cougieuk@reddit
This sounds like a great journey. I'd prefer it to flying!
Lilancis@reddit
Plan won’t play out like that. Trains in germany are always late. He will definitely miss connections.
cougieuk@reddit
The couple of times I've travelled by train in Europe everything went swimmingly.
badgersruse@reddit
That first day is way too much post injury. Break it into 2 days
DontCatchThePigeon@reddit
Could your girlfriend drive? That way you could stop for breaks whenever you needed to, and split it over a few days. Depending on where you live, it'll be about 18 hours of driving, perhaps the embassy could help you find a one way hire car.
mariocipolloni@reddit
Contact the embassy of your country in Budapest and request consular assistance. They may be able to help you navigate this situation re police and medical.
Kaneok1000@reddit (OP)
Thank you! I contacted the embassy on the day of the incident and they’ve been really helpful so far.
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
Budapest embassy is helpful and a nice plane to visit.
It's near Bimbo Utca which always raises a smile.
I'd love to do a long trans Europe train journey btw. Take it as a one off opportunity to watch the world go by.
ProperPorker@reddit
I'd like to see how much you'd want to do that train journey after you've just had your nose smashed up and the subsequent surgery to fix it.
Probably the most idiotic comment of the year so far.
Evening-Web-3038@reddit
A bit harsh you got downvoted lol because you are *kinda* right. This is less an "opportunity to watch the world go by" and more a major disruption to likely several things (work, relationships etc) at home and a huge unforseen bill (even if refunded by insurance eventually) and potentially having to be super vigilant about any potential knocks to the head on the long journey.
It's less an opportunity and more a prison sentence lol.
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
Have you got a better alternative, oh wise one?
ProperPorker@reddit
I wasn't trying to provide an alternative, seeing as there isn't one. Romanticising something that you'd like to do to someone who clearly doesn't share that sentiment is quite tactless and that's the point I was making.
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
So what would be better? Telling him the only available alternative sucks and he's going to hate it?
I don't think you understand what 'tact' is.
ProperPorker@reddit
How about just not talking about yourself and what you'd like to do when you don't have a broken nose and a fragment of skull nearly puncturing your brain. Pretty simple one that. Very tactful option. Should probably brush up on your understanding of it.
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
OP did put the post up themselves, asking for responses and opinions .....
That's sort of the point of reddit. As self appointed policer of the thread I'd have thought you understood that basic principle.
ProperPorker@reddit
Sometimes it's not what you say it's how you say it. You're evidently having a bit of a wobble to understand the point I'm making so we'll just leave it there, have a good one.
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
Yeah, Sorry we got of on the wrong foot with you calling me idiotic on your first post. That was very tactless of me.
ProperPorker@reddit
That's because your comment was idiotic.
cloche_du_fromage@reddit
Did you forget to take your ritalin today?
Life_Put1070@reddit
God, chill out. You are being a tar pit.
No_Calligrapher9732@reddit
I had my watch and camera stolen in Barcelona in 2016 while pissed out of my head and the insurers paid out with no problems at all.
CrazyCoffeeClub@reddit
https://www.penningtonslaw.com/news-publications/latest-news/2015/victims-of-crimes-of-violence-abroad-guidance-on-seeking-damages
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance#what-your-travel-insurance-should-cover
Kaneok1000@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
TheWanderingWomble@reddit
Drinking alcohol is not a valid reason to decline a claim. However, drinking excessively or drinking and then cycling, skiing, swimming etc would be. Perfectly reasonable to visit a bar for a few drinks whilst on holiday. Did you pay with card? A statement with a small number of transactions will support any claim that you weren't overly intoxicated. A statement with numerous transactions in multiple bars would be a red flag for the insurance company.
Kaneok1000@reddit (OP)
Hey, yes completely agreed, but you know what insurance companies are like. I’d understand a bit more if I was with a group of lads, or in Magaluf or something, but hopefully they’ll see this was a sight seeing trip with my girlfriend and not a big piss up session. They did take my blood when we got to the hospital which will show I’d been drinking, I’d probably had 4-5 pints over the course of a few hours at this bar. Thank you for your reply
SergeantGrillSet@reddit
Do you have a UK GHIC? If it is emergency treatment, you may be able to cover it with this: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/
It may be possible to retrospectively get money back if you haven't: https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-26741/en-us
The GHIC isn't there to replace travel insurance, but it can help with covering emergency treatments.
Kaneok1000@reddit (OP)
Thanks a lot! Yes luckily I do have one of these cards and was able to present them with a photo of it on the night of the incident. Hopefully my claim goes through with my travel insurance provider but if not I’ll see what happens with this card. Thanks again!