Is a Hotel Liable for Injury on Their Premises?

If you have recently been injured while staying in a hotel, you could have grounds to initiate a personal injury claim. Hotels can be held liable for injuries sustained on their premises in a variety of scenarios. According to Work Safe BC, approximately six out of every hundred workers suffer from injuries while working at a hotel. Additionally, thousands of people incur injuries while staying at a hotel each year.

At The Henry Law Firm, our experienced personal injury attorney and legal team can guide you in determining if you can hold a hotel liable for the injuries you have sustained. We will work together to carefully evaluate your case, and do our best to obtain compensation on your behalf.

Common Hotel Accident Injuries

It might surprise you, but hotel accidents and injuries occur in many scenarios that you may have never thought possible. Some of the most common hotel injuries occur because of the accidents below:

• Unsanitary conditions like bed bugs
• Food poisoning from hotel food
• Slip and fall accidents in hotel common areas
• Assaults
• Falls down stairs
• Elevator or escalator accidents
• Drownings in hot tubs and pools
• Furniture defects or broken furniture
• Burns from hot water, irons, or fires
• Exposure to toxic materials

When Is a Hotel Liable for Injuries Caused on Its Premises? 

You must prove someone else’s negligence or carelessness in a personal injury claim. If you want to hold a hotel legally responsible for the injuries you sustained on their premises, you will need to establish that the hotel was negligent. 

In technical terms, this means you will need to prove that the hotel breached an owed duty of care, causing you to incur injuries on or around their premises. We can help you file a claim against the hotel that you believe was negligent.

How Common Is Hotel Negligence in the U.S.

Unfortunately, hotel negligence is relatively common in the United States. The Bureau of Justice estimates an average of 7,840 people are injured due to hotel or motel negligence each year. 

Often those injured by a hotel can claim a variety of damages. Injured guests could claim compensation for physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, emotional trauma, property damages, and more.

How to Prove a Hotel Is Liable for Your Injuries

If you want to prove that a hotel was liable for your injuries, you are going to have to verify the establishment was negligent by establishing the following four elements:

• A Duty of Care: The hotel you stayed at owed you a duty of care, and were required to exercise reasonable measures to prevent you from becoming injured on their premises. 
• A Breach of Duty: Should the hotel have failed to inspect their premises or maintain safe hotel conditions, they could have breached the duty of care they owed you. If you want to bring a personal injury claim against a hotel successfully, you will need to present evidence that shows the hotel was clearly in the wrong for the incident that occurred, which led to your injuries. 
• Causation: You will need to prove that the negligent act was the actual and proximate cause of your injuries.
• Damages: You need to prove that you incurred quantifiable losses or damages as a direct result of the hotel’s breach of duty. These damages can include personal injuries and monetary and financial losses.

What Are Some of the Duties a Hotel Owes to Its Guests

As mentioned above, hotels have a general duty to exercise reasonable care to maintain safe premises for their guests. They also have an obligation to exercise proper care when operating the hotel. Some of the duties a hotel owes to its guests include: 

• Maintaining all locks to all hotel rooms
• Training all pool staff to prevent injuries
• Keeping adequate lighting in guest access areas
• Making sure to repair any unsafe and exposed defects
• Controlling insect infestations

Contact an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer To Discuss Your Case

Proving liability for injuries sustained on a hotel’s premises can be challenging. That’s why it might be best to consider speaking with an experienced Ohio personal injury attorney as thorough consulting can strengthen your chances of obtaining compensation. We can help you gather relevant evidence to prove negligence and represent you in court should your case go to trial. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and speak with our experienced attorney.