Summer is vacation season for a lot of people – and that means staying in a hotel.
Every hotel stay should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Most are. When things go wrong, however, it can lead to serious injuries, and you may find it necessary to pursue a claim against a hotel for your losses. Here are two potential reasons why:
1. Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are among the most common reasons guests end up taking legal action against hotels. Property owners and managers have a responsibility to make certain that their premises are reasonably safe for their guests. Common ways hotels fail include:
- Wet floors: If the lobby, bathrooms, or other areas are not promptly cleaned or if warning signs are not placed to alert guests of wet floors a slip-and-fall accident can occur.
- Poor lighting: Dim or inadequate lighting in hallways, stairwells or parking lots can lead to trips and falls.
- Uneven surfaces: Cracked sidewalks, uneven flooring or poorly maintained staircases can cause guests to trip and injure themselves.
- Missing or defective hand rails: A missing handrail in a bathroom, walking ramp or stairwell can easily lead to disaster – and things can be even worse if the rail is there but comes loose in someone’s hand.
While not every slip, trip or fall is preventable, many are – and victims can end up with back, head, hip and neck injuries that are life-altering.
2. Negligent security
Hotels are supposed to be conscious of their guest’s safety, and that includes making sure their security is sufficient. Negligent security can lead to thefts, assaults and other criminal activities. Negligent security can include:
- Lack of surveillance: Inadequate or non-functioning security cameras in common areas, entrances or parking lots can be a serious problem.
- Insufficient or untrained staff: Not having enough security personnel on duty, especially during high-traffic times or in known problem areas is a sign of trouble. Untrained staff can also be fooled into giving bad actors access to a guest’s room.
- Poorly maintained locks: Faulty or inadequate locks on guest room doors or windows can allow unauthorized access.
If you’ve been harmed in an incident at a hotel, protect your interests. Learning about your legal option could help you.
