Your Hotel is Responsible for Protecting You From Injury or Harm

By Taylor & Ring | June 13, 2017

Your hotel room is supposed to be a safe and secure place to lay your head when away from home. Whether you are traveling for fun or work, you don’t expect to check out of your room with injuries you didn’t have when you checked in. Yet, for many hotel guests, their stays leave them with injuries that change their lives.

Hotel injuries fall under an area of law called premises liability. Property owners have a duty to maintain their properties in a reasonable condition that will not cause injury to visitors on their premises. This duty is even higher for hotel owners who invite people into their hotels for financial gain.

Are you at risk for a hotel or motel injury?

Hotels and motels are filled with potential risks and dangers, especially when they are not maintained in a reasonable manner.  Dilapidated furniture, unsanitary cleaning methods, and unsafe surroundings can all lead to serious injuries. Some of the most common hotel accidents involve:

  • Swimming pools. Hotel swimming pools can be extremely dangerous, particularly when not properly maintained by staff members. Wet areas surrounding the pool can be slippery for hotel guests. Possible dangers also include drowning and other injuries from horseplay or diving into the pool.
  • Falls. Broken floor tiles or uneven carpets can cause guests to trip and fall. Staff members should monitor the condition of flooring closely and fix potential dangers quickly.
  • Bed bugs. Bed bug infestations have become a common problem within the hotel industry. These pests can bite guests during the night, causing small blisters all over the victim’s body. Bed bugs can be extremely hard to eradicate, but hotel owners have a duty to address them and keep their facilities in reasonable condition for visitors.
  • Food injuries. For hotels that offer room service, guests may be at risk of food-related injuries. If the food is not stored properly or cooked thoroughly, guests can become seriously ill. Staff negligence, like failing to adequately wash their hands, can also spread illness and dangerous bacteria. Some food-borne illnesses may even prove fatal.
  • Burns. Most hotel related burns stem from unreasonably hot water in the bathroom faucets and showers. Scalding water can lead to second-degree burns for innocent hotel guests. Burns may also result from faulty irons, hair dryers, or heating sources within the room.
  • Assaults and thefts. Hotel owners have a responsibility to keep the hotel secure for the safety of hotel guests. This includes the duty to keep guests reasonably safe from assault and theft in or around the premises. When guests become victims of assault or theft while staying in a hotel, the owner may be liable for the resulting damages.

The highly skilled Los Angeles personal injury attorneys of Taylor & Ring help injury victims throughout Southern California hold hotels and motels accountable for injuries to guests. We have the resources to thoroughly review the details or your injury and accurately identify the cause. Call our office at 310-776-6390 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

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