Hotels in California can be sued when their guests are injured in accidents on the premises. However, a hotel guest can only pursue an injury claim against the hotel if the hotel is liable for their accident.
Proving liability
The first step to proving that a hotel is liable for an accident is establishing that the hotel violated its duty of care. In the case of a hotel accident, it’s not too difficult to prove that the hotel had a responsibility to provide a safe environment for its guests.
The next step in a premises liability claim is to prove that the hotel staff knew or should have known about the conditions that led to the accident. For example, if you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident in the hotel lobby, you may show evidence that staff did not clean up a spill that they knew was there. In another type of premises liability case, a hotel may be sued for food poisoning caused by its buffet breakfast.
Proving damages
After a plaintiff proves that the hotel was liable for their accident, they must also show that the accident caused them real damages. This may be proven with evidence of damaged property or by showing medical bills for injuries that were sustained in the accident. Some plaintiffs are also able to pursue compensation for their pain and suffering by testifying about the physical pain and the emotional impact of the hotel accident.
Filing a complaint
If you were injured while staying at a hotel, you may want to look into the details of your case to find out whether the hotel was at fault. If the hotel was legally responsible, you may be able to sue the hotel and seek compensation for the damages that you have incurred.
