Every day across the United States, millions of Americans rely on hotels for lodging when they are traveling. Most hotels provide a safe and comfortable place for their customers to sleep for as many nights as they want.
But what happens if you have been injured in a hotel due to dangerous conditions? Following an accident of this type, you may wonder how to sue a hotel for injury.
Victims should not be stuck managing the personal and economic harm that results from a hotel injury they did not cause. Hotel owners have a legal duty to provide a reasonably safe environment for their customers.
When a hotel chain or operator fails to fulfill this duty, it can be held legally liable for any damages that occur as a result. If you need to know how to sue a hotel for injury, make sure to speak with one of the skilled attorneys at the firm of Morgan and Morgan.
Our accomplished legal team has the skills and knowledge to recover financial compensation for those injured in hotels. When you hire our firm, you will not pay anything unless we secure compensation for you.
We know that injury victims experience a wide range of costs and expenses. That is why our friendly staff will happily schedule a free legal case evaluation for you. Fill out the contact form on the Morgan & Morgan website to arrange your consultation.
Examples of Hotel Injuries
There are many situations in which hotel owners or operators can be held accountable for injuries experienced by guests. When a hotel is not properly maintained or repaired, there may be many hazards and dangers.
Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, you should not have to worry that the hotel you choose will be unsafe. Unfortunately, some hotel owners do not take their guests’ safety as seriously as they should.
When a hotel has been negligent and an injury happens, they may be financially responsible for the damages. Some of the most common injuries arising because of hotel owner negligence include:
Slips, Trips, or Other Falling Accidents
The most common cause of hotel guest injuries is falling accidents. When a hotel operator fails to regularly maintain their property, slips and trips become much more likely.
Owners and operators should maintain the following structural elements of their premises:
- Steps
- Sidewalks
- Traffic areas—such as parking lots
- Floors
- Hallways
- Walkways
Regular maintenance involves both structural repairs and routine cleaning. In the case of maintenance that cannot be immediately enacted, the hotel operators should use clear signage. This will help inform guests of the potential hazards.
Some of the common causes of slips and trips on hotel premises include:
- Broken, missing, or inadequate hand railing
- Dim or inadequately lit stairwells or hallways
- Inadequately marked steps in a swimming or pool area
- Recently mopped or waxed floors with no signage
- Debris, electrical wires, or loose objects in walkways
- Loose carpet, rugs, or tiles on the floor
- Spills in the hotel restaurant or bar
- Fractured, cracked, or uneven sidewalks and walkways
- Slippery surfaces near a hot tub or pool
- Snow or ice on sidewalks or parking lots
If you have been hurt in a falling mishap, you may wonder how to sue a hotel for injury. One of the accomplished tort lawyers at Morgan & Morgan will happily review the facts of your case to determine the best legal path forward.
Assault and Criminal Attacks
When you book a room in a hotel, you reasonably expect a certain level of security. You should not have to worry that anyone will assault or intentionally harm you during your stay.
Unfortunately, some hotel owners do not adequately invest in security measures to keep their guests safe. If you are assaulted in a hotel, the person who perpetrated the crime will be primarily liable.
But suppose the hotel’s inadequate security measures led to your assault. In this case, you may be able to pursue financial compensation directly from the hotel owner.
This is also true if the hotel security personnel behaved negligently. In a case like this, you would need to provide evidence that the hotel operators could have foreseen the risk of crime.
For instance, imagine that a hotel did not sufficiently check the background of one of its employees. If that employee assaulted a guest, the hotel might be held accountable for the costs of the injury the victim sustained.
Beyond security personnel, hotel owners have a duty to invest in structural safety features. These may include:
- Properly functioning window and door locks
- Secure key cards to open doors
- Security cameras
If a hotel’s lack of security features results in a guest being assaulted, the victim can file for damages. At Morgan & Morgan, we have the resources necessary to hold any type of hotel accountable for the damage its guests have experienced.
Defective or Faulty Exercise Equipment Injuries
Most hotels offer their guests several amenities. Oftentimes, guests have access to a gym or workout area.
Hotel guests should understand that there is always an inherent risk of physical injury when they work out. However, this risk of injury increases drastically if they use faulty or malfunctioning fitness equipment.
When a hotel staff fails to maintain exercise equipment, personal injuries become probable. For instance, suppose that you were injured while jogging on a treadmill because the equipment malfunctioned. In a case like this, you could pursue compensation through a lawsuit holding the hotel accountable.