No one ever plans on getting injured while on vacation, but unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think. Hotel injuries can occur in a variety of ways, from slips and fall to fires and even drownings.
If you’re planning on traveling soon, it’s important to be aware of the most common causes of hotel accidents so that you can take steps to avoid them.
And if you’ve been injured by an occurrence that happened due to someone else’s negligence, you’re entitled to fair compensation.
A hotel and casino injury lawyer can help determine if you’re entitled to compensation to cater to your injuries.
1. Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common types of accidents at hotels. They’re also some of the easiest to prevent.
The hotel management can help prevent these accidents by routinely cleaning wet floors, removing hazardous items from walkways (e.g., raised thresholds), using nonslip mats in entryways, and placing floor mats by entrances and exits.
If you’ve slipped, fallen, and sustained an injury, contact an experienced lawyer to evaluate your situation and determine whether you have a case.
2. Broken Furniture
Perhaps you’ve been staying in a hotel for a while when suddenly your bed frame gives out, the chair collapses underneath you, or even the entire desk falls apart.
These types of accidents can cause severe injuries to guests.
Most hotels are responsible for making sure that their furniture is safe and that it won’t break under normal use.
If they fail to do so and you get injured, they can be held liable for your injuries.
3. Fire
Hotel fires are serious business. If you’re not careful, it’s all too easy to accidentally start a fire or become trapped in one since many guests don’t know the evacuation routes.
The most common cause of fires in hotels is unattended candles, but fires can also be caused by faulty wiring, faulty air conditioning units, and dryers.
If you notice any signs of fire (smoke alarms going off, the smell of smoke), contact the front desk immediately and evacuate the premises as soon as possible.
4. Electrical Shocks
Electrical shock accidents are often due to defective wiring.
If you touch a defective outlet, cord, or switch and get an electrical shock, the hotel is liable for your injuries if they failed to repair faulty wiring in time to prevent accidents.
Additionally, watch out for water around electrical devices since this can lead to electrocution as well.
5. Drowning
Drowning is a very common cause of hotel injury and death.
This can happen when a guest is taking a bath in their room and accidentally slips under the water, or guests may also drown in pools, spas, and hot tubs.
Most hotels have lifeguards on duty to help prevent these types of accidents from happening, but not all do.
6. Elevator and Other Equipment Malfunctions
If you’re staying in a high-rise hotel, then be particularly aware of malfunctions on elevators and other equipment.
Being trapped in an elevator can cause suffocation, panic attacks, and even death.
Some people may be able to pry open the doors of malfunctioning elevators; however, if this fails, the only way out may be to break through the elevator roof, which may only be accessible in some elevators.
Why Hire a Hotel and Casino Injury Lawyer?
It’s crucial to work with a hotel and casino injury lawyer if you’ve been injured by an occurrence that was someone else’s fault.
It’s the only way to ensure that your rights are protected and your injuries are fairly compensated under the law.
A hotel and casino lawyer can help determine whether the injury was caused by negligence on part of another party, and if so, then compensation can then be sought for the injuries sustained.
Hotel owners and operators are responsible for providing a safe environment for their guests regardless of whether they’re staying there overnight or just stopping in for lunch.
If you’ve been injured in a hotel in Las Vegas due to someone else’s negligence, then call an experienced hotel and casino lawyer to help you understand your rights and the best way to seek recovery.