If you were injured while staying at a hotel, you might be able to file a premises liability claim. Hotels must ensure that their guests are safe while on the premises, and if they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any injuries.
What injuries are you likely to sustain in a hotel?
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of premises liability accidents, and they occur quite frequently in hotels. Often, these accidents occur near wet floors, loose carpeting or other hazards the hotel has failed to maintain properly.
Another common type of hotel injury is food poisoning, which can occur if the hotel serves contaminated food. Thirdly, you could get injured in a hotel room if there is a fire without a clear exit route and lit exit signs. Lastly, you could be the victim of a crime while staying at a hotel, such as assault or robbery.
What are some common defenses that hotels use?
Some common defenses that hotels use in premises liability cases include the argument that the plaintiff was aware of the hazard that caused their injury, but chose to ignore it. For example, if you slipped and fell on a wet floor, the hotel could argue that you should have seen the liquid on the flooring and chosen to avoid it. Additionally, the hotel could argue that the plaintiff’s injuries occurred by inattention rather than by anything on the premises or that the plaintiff assumed the risk of injury by voluntarily entering a dangerous area.
Therefore, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible after sustaining an injury to help you recover physically and create a paper trail documenting your injuries. Secondly, take photos of the accident scene and get the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
Third, save all receipts related to your injuries, such as medical bills and property damage expenses. Generally, it’s essential to take a careful and objective look at the circumstances surrounding your accident to anticipate and counter any possible defenses the hotel may use.
