Whatever your reasons are for staying at a hotel, chances are, getting injured wasn’t on your to-do list. You’d be surprised to learn that there are many ways to get hurt at your place of lodging, ruining your business trip, or a long-awaited personal getaway.
The hotel management and staff have a duty of care to ensure that the premises are safe for every guest. Still, even the best-rated hotels have potential hazards. It’s the job of those working there to minimize these dangers and protect guests from any “foreseeable damage.”
So, if you’re injured at the hotel, whether you’re a guest or just passing through, you may be entitled to file a negligence lawsuit with a hotel injury lawyer. Here are 6 of the most common reasons these claims are filed.
Why Hotels Are Sued for Injuries
Hotel managers are responsible for preventable risks. It’s their job to make sure those foreseeable dangers are handled correctly, and injuries are avoided.
Some of these dangerous areas include fitness centers, swimming pools, and hotel bathrooms. Management will concentrate on those areas. However, there are multiple ways you might be injured during your stay, such as:
- Slip and fall on a slippery floor or over a crack or obstacle not clearly marked. Area rugs raised lips in the pavement or floor, rips in carpeting, spills or recently mopped floors, and other problems on the ground can be dangerous. Yes, you should be “watching where you’re going,” but you also should be able to expect that you can walk on a floor without jumping through hazards.
- Slippery areas around pools are another danger zone. This comes with the territory. However, a hotel should do due diligence by providing non-slip coverings where possible. If a lifeguard isn’t on duty and a guest is injured while swimming, the hotel may be held liable, as well.
- Burns from hot food, liquids, or water thermostats occur. Hotel management is responsible for ensuring the safety of their guests when eating, drinking, and using heaters or hot water.
- Broken equipment or furniture can injure a guest while they are using the item. For instance, a chair can break while the guest is sitting on it, or a piece of fitness equipment that was not repaired properly may cause serious harm.
- Criminal behavior, including theft and assault, isn’t the hotel’s “fault,” necessarily, but if it happened on the premises, they could be liable. The security system is supposed to prevent crime on-site, so if the theft and assault were from an outside source, the hotel should have been able to prevent them from occurring.
- Pests, such as bed bugs or mold, can irritate your skin and cause problems breathing. If you find mold in your room or end up with bed bug bites, the hotel may cover your medical care.
Why You Need a Lawyer for Your Injuries
Hotels are legally obligated to provide a duty of care to their guests. With that said, it’s possible to get injured in ways that might not be the hotel’s fault.
For instance, if you’re intoxicated or under the influence of a substance, the hotel may be able to avoid liability. Or, if you are in an altercation with someone, and you’re injured in the fight (but on the hotel’s property), the hotel may be able to get out of responsibility.
The hotel’s insurance company is going to do whatever it can to prove the hotel is not liable for your injury. That’s why it’s essential to hire a lawyer when you’re hurt on-site.
No matter what the cause of your injury was, a knowledgeable lawyer can guide you through your lawsuit so you can focus on your recovery.
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