If you have come to the city of Las Vegas for business, you expect to come home feeling recharged and with new business contacts you gathered from your meetings. Likewise, if you are in Las Vegas for your vacation, you would expect to have great memories and enjoy world-class food, drinks, and hospitality. Indeed, there is a reason why Las Vegas is known for the world’s greatest entertainment capital. While in Las Vegas, the last thing you would expect is suffering an injury in the hotel where you are staying. Unfortunately, this does happen. Depending on the facts surrounding your accident and the seriousness of your injuries, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for harm suffered.
What You Should Know
If you are hurt in a Las Vegas hotel, it is important to understand that obtaining monetary compensation for harm suffered will not come easy. This can be, in part, because hotels do not want to be known as being an easy target for slip and fall cases. That being said, Nevada law requires that property owners and operators keep the premises in a safe manner for guests.
In order to succeed in a premises liability lawsuit—which is essentially a personal injury case that involves the victim becoming injured on another’s property—the plaintiff must show that the:
- Accident and resulting injury happened on hotel property;
- Owner and/or operator knew, or should have known, about the unsafe condition and failed to correct that condition;
- Actions or failure to act by the owner and/or operator were the actual and legal cause of the accident; and
- Accident victim suffered injuries that resulted in harm.
Examples of unsafe conditions that may result in harm and a valid Nevada premises liability case include broken furniture, falling objects, poor lighting, damaged handrails and/or steps, lack of security, uneven walkways, wet or slippery floors, and unmarked construction areas.
What You Should do
If you or someone you know is hurt in a Las Vegas hotel, there are several steps you can take to protect your rights under the law. First, if you are able to, take photos and video footage of the accident scene. This should be done immediately after the accident or as soon as possible to preserve evidence and capture the conditions under which the accident happened. Second, immediately report the accident and the unsafe condition to hotel management. Be sure, however, not to sign any document or make any statement—verbally or in writing. Third, seek medical attention right away for your injuries no matter how minor they may seem at the time. It is not uncommon for symptoms to appear days, weeks, or even months after an accident. Medical bills and a doctor’s diagnosis will be critical to any future personal injury claim. Finally, contact an experienced Nevada personal injury attorney to discuss the merits of your claim.
Matt Pfau Law Group
Premises liability is a complicated area of personal injury law. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a Las Vegas hotel, you will need the expertise of the attorneys at Matt Pfau Law Group. With years of experience handling personal injury claims across Nevada, we will get a fair and equitable settlement from the Las Vegas hotel. Contact us today.
