Did you know travelers have access to nearly 52,000 hotels and 5 million rooms in the US? Yes, you read it right! No matter where you go for a vacation or weekend getaway, you will find hotels or hostels easily. Perhaps, it won’t be wrong to say that a comfortable lodge is just a few clicks away from you.
Due to the high level of competition, most hotel owners and managers try to provide high-quality hospitality service to their guests. Some hotels also offer additional discounts or complementary services to improve their business’s reputation. But regardless of quality hospitality services, managers can not avoid accidents.
More specifically, if you get injured in a hotel due to negligence on their part, you have the right to make a personal injury claim. But before we get into the details of making a claim, let’s learn about the common hotel accidents and injuries.
Common Hotel Accidents And Injuries
Typically, it is the responsibility of the hotel or resorts to provide you with a clean and safe environment in and around the accommodation. Failure to do so often results in accidents and injuries that may be mild or severe. The common hotel accidents and injuries are as follows:
- Slip And Fall: These are the most common type of accidents reported in hotels and resorts, often resulting in severe injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, fractures, and more. The cause of slip and fall could be spilled beverages, uneven flooring, worn carpeting, or mere negligence of the resort staff.
- Broken Furniture: In-house repairs of furniture helps resorts in saving money. However, if not repaired properly, especially old and overused furniture, it is likely to cause harm to the guests.
- Bed Bugs: These are the small insects infested mattresses, pillows, light switches, and furniture. These insects often cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and itching.
- Burns: Defective in-room appliances or poor bathroom plumbing can cause skin burns. In rare cases, it may also lead to short-circuit or fire. Therefore, practicing utmost caution is necessary to stay safe.
- Food Poisoning: It is essential for hotels to follow food safety standards. Non-compliance with the guidelines and serving poor quality food to guests can result in food poisoning and other foodborne illnesses.
These accidents or injuries can get hotels in legal trouble. Learning about your legal rights becomes critical if you or anyone you know has experienced any of these injuries or damages.
What Are Your Legal Rights In A Hotel?
People often assume that their legal rights in a hotel or resort are limited to the safety and security of their room. However, a reputed personal injury attorney explains that the hotel’s obligations are limited to this. It is their duty to keep the entire premises safe for the guests and take necessary steps to prevent foreseen accidents mentioned above.
If you get injured by hotel management’s failure to keep the premises safe, you have the legal right to make a personal injury claim.
Making A Claim For Personal Injury
In order to file for monetary compensation of your injury, you need to hire a personal injury attorney. As the laws vary from state to state, having a lawyer by your side will ensure that you make appropriate claims from the hotel or their insurance provider. Lawyers can also help prove the hotel’s negligence by collecting the burden of proof. It may include:
- The hotel failed to comply with its duty of care to protect guests from harm.
- Breach of management duties leading to your injury.
- Injuries are visible and caused by hotel premises or negligence. (For instance, burn due to a malfunctioning coffee maker.)
Additionally, you and your lawyer must collect the necessary evidence to prove your claim. Collect pictures or video evidence to prove the recklessness of management. Collect contact details and names of staff members. You can also use your medical reports as evidence to get financial compensation.
If there were any witnesses, you must also collect their contact details and report to strengthen your case. CCTV footage of the accident can also be used to show negligence on the part of the resort.
Nevertheless, it would be wise to stay cautious to avoid any possible injury. And if you do observe any fault in the premises or room, you must inform the management immediately.
Wrapping It All Up
Nobody actually thinks about getting injured during their vacation. However, life is filled with uncertainty, so it is better to stay prepared. Learning about your legal rights and seeking guidance from an attorney will ensure that you exercise your rights.
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