With the holidays right around the corner, you may have travel plans already lined up. Some of these holiday plans may include hotel stays. While staying in a hotel should be enjoyable, it can come with a few risks. You rely on the hotel staff to properly maintain the hotel so that it’s safe for you and your family. When they fail to do this and an injury occurs, it’s important to know which steps to take after a hotel injury.
What is a Hotel Injury?
A hotel injury is any injury sustained while staying at or visiting a hotel. Some common hotel injuries may include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Pool injuries
- Fire and smoke inhalation
- Defective equipment in fitness centers
Hotels are expected to make prompt repairs and keep up with hotel maintenance to ensure all guests are safe. However, even with care, hotel accidents can happen.
When Should You File a Hotel Lawsuit?
Some hotel injuries are minor and may require only a few days of rest. Other hotel injuries, however, may require medical care and time off from work. If you incur a significant amount of expenses from a hotel injury, then it may be worth it to consider filing a lawsuit against the hotel. The primary purpose of a hotel lawsuit is to collect the funds you need to deal with the injury.
Important Steps to Take Following a Hotel Accident and Injury
There are a few things you should do following a hotel injury, regardless of whether you plan to file a lawsuit or not. First, always notify the hotel staff. This allows them to create a formal report of the injury. It may also give them the opportunity to take care of the dangerous situation, which can prevent other guests from being injured.
If possible, take photographs or videos of the scene of the accident before the hotel staff removes any important evidence. For example, if staff left puddles of water on the ground, which led you to slip and fall, you’ll want to get photographs of the dangerous situation before they mop it up. You should also consider any medical care that you may need.
If your injuries are severe, consider asking the staff to call for help. If you don’t need emergency care, you should still follow up with a medical professional. Some hotel injury symptoms may not show up until later, and being checked out early can help receive treatment for them faster. If your injuries are severe, it may be worth it to talk with a personal injury lawyer.
Who’s Responsible When a Hotel Accident Occurs?
Filing a personal injury case will usually require that you prove fault. Who’s responsible following a hotel accident varies and depends on the details of the accident. For example, if it’s a maintenance issue, like loose floorboards or uneven carpeting, it may be the responsibility of the maintenance team or the property owners.
If one of the staff members fails to clean up spills in a timely manner or doesn’t notify guests of the slippery floors, they may be to blame. It’s not always easy to tell who’s at fault initially, especially when it comes to repairs. This is another reason that it can be beneficial to work with a personal injury lawyer on your case.
Contact an Atlantic City Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Hotel Injury Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries during a hotel visit in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The Law Offices of Richard A. Stoloff represent clients injured because of a personal injury in Atlantic City, Hammonton, Somers Point, Ventnor City, and throughout New Jersey. Call (609) 601-2233 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 605 New Road, 1st Floor, Linwood, NJ 08221, as well as an office located in Philadelphia, PA.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.