Hotel Accident Lawyer

When you visit a hotel, one of your expectations is that it’s a safe place to spend the night. It’s your temporary home, where you can relax and plan for the next day’s activities. But sometimes, a hotel does not offer the safety that you deserve. Sometimes, there are dangers present in the hotel that can cause injury. Or even worse, a negligent staff member could have caused your injuries. Soon, your home away from home will not be as comfortable and as safe as it once was.

If you were involved in an accident while visiting a hotel or motel, you would need an experienced hotel accident lawyer to help get the compensation you need. For 65 years, the hotel accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have been helping hotel accident victims across the United States. Our team of award-winning lawyers will not rest until you receive proper compensation for your injuries.

Holding the Hotel Accountable

When you are injured as a guest in a hotel, either by unsafe conditions or because of the negligence of the hotel employees, the owners may be held responsible for your injuries. However, you must prove that the hotel was negligent, and this can be tricky. To prove negligence, you need to show:

• The hotel breached its duty of keeping you safe from harm
• Your injury is a direct cause of the hotel’s negligence
• You experienced some type of injury or loss because of the hotel’s negligence

According to premises liability law, the hotel has a duty to exercise reasonable care when in operation and has a legal responsibility to protect its guests. This means the hotel must be a safe environment and any hazardous conditions should be taken care of in a reasonable amount of time. For instance, the shower in a room’s bathroom is leaking water and causing a puddle to form on the tile floor. Before anyone can occupy that room, the hotel has the responsibility to clean up the puddle and fix the shower.

Some of the hotel’s duties to its guests include:

• Control an insect infestation, such as bed bugs
• Maintain proper security to avoid theft
• Maintain the hallways, stairs, and elevators from obstructions or other types of hazards
• Maintain the locks on hotel rooms
• Properly train hotel staff

How Employee Conduct Can Cause Your Injury

According to vicarious liability law, a hotel may be held liable for the actions of its employees as long as they occurred during their employment. For instance, if an employee was not adequately trained as a lifeguard and had an accident at the hotel’s pool, the hotel can be held responsible for the employee.

Common Hotel Injuries and Accidents

Many hotel guests suffer injuries from hazardous conditions in their rooms, common areas, and hotel facilities. Slip and fall accidents are among the most frequent incidents on wet bathroom floors, poorly maintained stairs, or icy walkways. Property owners must take reasonable steps to prevent falls by placing warning signs and removing excess water when rain or snow creates slick conditions in hotel lobbies. Some examples include:

• Swimming pools and hot tubs pose significant risks without proper maintenance and supervision. Guests have sustained serious injuries from drowning incidents, chemical burns from improper water treatment and falls on wet pool decks. Broken pool furniture and equipment malfunction have also led to numerous accidents.
• Hotel elevators and escalators require constant inspection and maintenance to operate safely. Mechanical failures can result in sudden stops, stops between floors, and door malfunctions that trap or injure guests.
• Fitness center accidents frequently stem from poorly maintained equipment, lack of proper instructions, or unsanitary conditions that may cause infections.
• Inadequate lighting, faulty door locks, or insufficient monitoring of hotel premises often lead to security-related incidents. Due to these failures, guests have experienced assaults, robberies, and unauthorized room entries. Hotels must provide reasonable protection through proper lighting, security personnel, and functioning safety equipment.
• Room-related accidents encompass a wide range of incidents. Falling furniture, defective appliances, and exposure to toxic substances like carbon monoxide have caused serious injuries. Bed bug infestations can result in severe skin reactions and emotional trauma.
• Food poisoning from contaminated room service meals or restaurant food represents another significant risk to hotel guests.

Compensation Available After Hotel Injuries

Hotel injury victims may recover various forms of compensation for their losses. Medical expenses, including costs for emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing care, typically form the foundation of any claim. When injuries require future medical treatment, compensation should account for the anticipated expenses of continued care.
Lost income creates a significant burden for many injured hotel guests. Beyond immediate missed wages, victims may recover compensation for reduced earning capacity, lost business opportunities, and employment benefits. Some injuries force victims to change careers or prevent them from working altogether.

Pain and suffering damages acknowledge the physical and emotional impact of hotel injuries. Courts consider factors like physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and loss of life enjoyment when determining appropriate compensation. Permanent disabilities or disfigurement often warrant additional damages for their long-term effects on victims’ lives.

Settlement amounts vary dramatically based on injury severity and circumstances.  Talk to a skilled hotel injury lawyer at Munley Law today.

Time Limits for Filing Hotel Injury Claims

State laws establish different deadlines for filing hotel injury lawsuits. Most states allow legal action to be initiated two to three years from the date of the injury.

Special rules may extend filing deadlines in certain situations. When injuries remain hidden or symptoms develop gradually, many states postpone the filing deadline until victims reasonably discover their injuries. Children typically have additional time to pursue claims, as filing deadlines pause until they reach age 18.

Insurance Requirements

Insurance claims require prompt notification according to policy terms. Many hotels mandate immediate accident reporting and quick submission of formal claims. Failing to meet insurance deadlines can seriously impair victims’ ability to recover compensation.

Hotel injury victims should consult qualified attorneys promptly after accidents occur. Early investigation and evidence preservation often prove essential for successful claims. An experienced lawyer can evaluate filing deadlines, preserve legal rights, and pursue maximum compensation for injuries and losses.

Our Hotel Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Help

Like any premises liability claim, it’s challenging to prove fault. Yet, if you have an experienced hotel accident lawyer, those responsible for your injuries will be held accountable.

For more than six decades, Munley Law has helped countless injury victims who have suffered hotel injuries, casino injuries, and more. Our law firm has a long track record of success in holding hotel owners and other at-fault parties accountable. We know what it takes to fight big corporations and get the compensation our clients need and deserve. We never want our clients to worry about past medical bills, future medical care, and other financial concerns. Contact our  hotel accident attorneys now for a free consultation.