Staying at a hotel or resort should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment. However, accidents can happen, turning your peaceful getaway into a stressful situation. If you find yourself injured at a hotel or resort, you should know the appropriate steps to take to protect your health and your rights.
Common hotel and resort injuries
Injuries at hotels and resorts can happen for various reasons. Some of the most common types include:
- Slip and fall accidents: Wet floors, uneven surfaces and poorly maintained walkways can lead to slip and fall injuries.
- Swimming pool accidents: Lack of proper supervision, slippery surfaces, lack of maintenance or inadequate safety measures can result in pool-related injuries.
- Elevator and escalator accidents: Malfunctioning elevators or escalators can cause serious harm.
- Food poisoning: Poor food handling practices can lead to food borne illnesses.
- Assaults or robberies: Inadequate (negligent) security measures can result in personal harm or theft.
Understanding negligence
Negligence is the most common personal injury cause of action. Negligence occurs when a property owner or operator fails to exercise reasonable care to ensure the safety of their guests. In the context of hotels and resorts, negligence might include:
- Failing to maintain safe premises (e.g., not cleaning up spills, neglecting repairs)
- Inadequate security measures (e.g., insufficient lighting, lack of surveillance)
- Poor maintenance of facilities (e.g., malfunctioning elevators, unsafe swimming pools)
- Neglecting to warn guests about potential hazards (e.g., wet floor signs)
To establish negligence, you must demonstrate that the hotel or resort had a duty of care to provide a safe environment, that they breached this duty and that the breach directly caused your injury.
What to do if you’re injured
If you’re injured at a hotel or resort, seek medical attention immediately. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to call emergency services or visit the nearest hospital. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s important to get checked by a medical professional. Some injuries may not manifest symptoms right away but could have long-term effects.
Once your immediate medical needs are addressed, report the incident to the hotel or resort management. Make sure to document the name and position of the person you spoke with and request a written report of the incident. Documentation—including documentation of your injuries, expenses and eyewitness information—can strengthen your case.
Finally, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny to learn more about your legal options. You may be eligible to recover compensation, and working with a skilled attorney is the key to a successful claim.
Discuss your accident claim with an Ohio personal injury lawyer right away
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your accident claim. When you’re the victim of negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
