Hotels should provide a great place to relax after extensive travel. They should be well-maintained, clean, safe, and comfortable.
But hotels see a lot of traffic, especially during peak travel times. Summer and winter holidays are especially high-traffic periods for hotels. During these busy times, the strain on hotel staff and management may lead to hurried maintenance practices, perhaps leaving critical areas like hotel pools, kitchen, stairs, and others in less-than-reliable shape. Even hotel furniture can be left needing repair.
In times like these, injuries on hotel premises become much more likely. Thankfully, a personal injury lawyer will be familiar with handling premise liability cases should anything unfortunate occur while you’re staying at a hotel. Today, the team at Tolbert Beadle, LLC discusses the areas of a hotel that present the most potential for hazards.
What are Common Hotel Injuries?
Hotel Showers
Hotel showers present a problem mostly because they are unfamiliar spaces. Hotel ventilation does not always ensure that tiled floors just outside the shower will remain dry during a steamy shower, either. These factors make slip and fall incidents somewhat common in hotels, and they can be especially dangerous when you consider the protruding metal of the faucet or the hard edge of a tub.
These things could cause real damage on impact if the worst were to happen, such as fractured or broken bones. In the event of a fall in a hotel shower, be sure to take photos of the area and document your account of the event. Notify hotel staff, and consider placing a call to a personal injury lawyer.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools present many of the same potential hazards as the hotel shower. The significant difference is that they are used by others and may be more crowded. Typically, as more people get in and out of the pool, the surrounding concrete will be wetter. Pool steps may not always be marked or have strips to improve grip, and this is where falls often occur. As with the shower, be sure to document the event, and use your phone to snap pictures of the area. These things will help explain your case to a personal injury lawyer.
Bed Bugs
When hotels take improper care of their bedding, bed bugs may start inhabiting the linens and mattress. This is not only disgusting, but it can cost a lot of money and time to get rid of the bed bugs should you be unfortunate enough to transport them home with you in your suitcase or on your body. Should this happen, you could be looking at a premise liability case. Call a personal injury lawyer to discuss the details.
What Steps Should You Take After a Hotel Injury?
When an accident happens during your hotel stay, knowing what to do in those crucial first moments can make all the difference for both your recovery and any potential legal claim. The aftermath of a hotel injury can be overwhelming, but taking the right steps will protect your health and preserve your legal rights.
Your Health Comes First
The most important thing after any hotel injury is getting proper medical care. Even if your injuries seem minor at first, adrenaline can mask serious problems that may not become apparent until hours or days later. Whether you visit the hotel’s recommended urgent care, the nearest emergency room, or your own doctor once you return home, make sure you get a thorough medical evaluation.
Keep detailed records of all your medical treatment, including doctor visits, diagnostic tests, medications, and any follow-up care. These medical records will serve as crucial evidence if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim against the hotel.
Report the Incident Immediately
As soon as you’re able, notify the hotel management about your injury. This creates an official record of the incident and starts the documentation process. Ask the front desk or manager to file an incident report, and don’t leave without requesting your own copy. Hotels are required to document accidents on their property, and this report will be an important piece of evidence for your personal injury lawyer.
Document Everything You Can
Your smartphone can be your best tool for preserving evidence after a hotel injury. Take photos and videos of the exact location where you were hurt, focusing on any hazardous conditions that may have contributed to your accident. This might include wet floors without warning signs, broken tiles, poor lighting, or damaged furniture.
If there were witnesses to your accident, get their contact information while they’re still at the scene. Other hotel guests or staff members who saw what happened can provide valuable testimony later. Also, look around for security cameras that might have captured your accident – this footage could be crucial evidence that your personal injury lawyer can request.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Hotels have a legal responsibility to maintain safe premises for their guests. When they fail in this duty and you get hurt as a result, they should be held accountable for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
A personal injury lawyer who specializes in premises liability cases will understand the specific laws that apply to hotel injuries and can help you navigate the complex claims process. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better they can protect your rights and preserve important evidence.
Don’t Let a Hotel Injury Ruin More Than Your Vacation
Being injured at a hotel can turn what should have been a relaxing getaway into a nightmare of medical bills and lost time from work. If the hotel’s negligence caused your injury, you shouldn’t have to bear these costs alone. Contact Tolbert Beadle, LLC to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury lawyer who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. You can reach Tolbert Beadle, LLC 24-hours a day by calling 1-800-887-4030.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do I have to report an injury to hotel management?
You should report your injury to hotel management immediately, ideally within hours of the incident. While there’s no specific legal deadline for reporting to the hotel, prompt notification creates a stronger paper trail and helps preserve evidence. Delays in reporting can make it harder to prove your case later, as the hotel might claim the injury happened elsewhere or wasn’t serious.
Q: What if the hotel tries to downplay my injury or refuses to file an incident report?
Don’t let the hotel minimize your injury or avoid creating documentation. Politely but firmly insist that they file an official incident report, and ask to speak with a manager if the front desk staff is uncooperative. If they still refuse, document this refusal and consider it a red flag that you’ll need legal representation to protect your rights.
Q: Can I still pursue a claim if I didn’t seek medical attention right away?
Yes, but seeking immediate medical care strengthens your case significantly. If you didn’t get medical attention right away, see a doctor as soon as possible and be honest about when your symptoms started and why you delayed treatment. Your personal injury lawyer can help explain any gaps in medical care to insurance companies or courts.
Q: What types of hotel injuries are most common?
The most frequent hotel injuries include slip and fall accidents in bathrooms, around pools, or on wet lobby floors; injuries from broken or poorly maintained furniture; cuts from broken glass or fixtures; and problems like bed bug infestations. Any injury caused by the hotel’s failure to maintain safe conditions could potentially be grounds for a premises liability claim.
Do I really need a lawyer for a hotel injury?
While you’re not legally required to have a lawyer, hotels and their insurance companies have experienced legal teams working to minimize what they pay out. Having your own personal injury lawyer levels the playing field and ensures someone is fighting for your best interests. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless they win your case.
Q: What should I do if the hotel’s insurance company contacts me?
Be polite but don’t give a recorded statement or accept any settlement offers without first consulting with a personal injury lawyer. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and anything you say could be used against you later. It’s perfectly acceptable to tell them you’re considering legal representation and will have your lawyer contact them.
Q: How long does a hotel injury lawsuit typically take?
The timeline varies significantly depending on the complexity of your case, the severity of your injuries, and whether the hotel’s insurance company is willing to negotiate fairly. Some cases settle within a few months, while others may take a year or more if they go to trial. Your personal injury lawyer can give you a better estimate based on the specifics of your situation.
