What is the most common injury in hotels? Slip and fall injuries tend to be the most common, but there are several common types of accidents prompting injuries in hotels.
Hazardous conditions, inferior accommodations, and inadequate security can all contribute to injury-causing accidents. If you have sustained an injury in a hotel, reach out for help from a Las Vegas Hotel Accident Lawyer.
Slip and Fall Injuries are Common in Hotels
Slip, trip, or fall injuries may not sound serious, but they can cause severe injuries. Broken bones, soft-tissue damage, and even traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the possible outcomes. Hotels’ lobby areas, hallways, stairs, and balconies present potential fall hazards if not properly maintained.
Guests want to stay in clean hotels, so seeing floors mopped and scrubbed can be a positive sign. If those slippery areas are not properly marked, alerting visitors to the slick surfaces, an accident can happen. Torn or worn carpeting in hotel hallways or rooms is another trip hazard.
Very serious injuries can result from stair accidents, which are a danger in Las Vegas and elsewhere. Poorly lit stairwells, loose stairs, and rickety railings can all lead to falls, a common injury in hotels. Balcony guardrails must also be firmly secured, with no “play,” and at a height appropriate for preventing guests from tumbling over them.
Faulty Accommodations Cause Injuries
Hotels often have restaurants, cafes, bars, and other food sources. Hotels must maintain proper food handling, cooking, and storage requirements and adhere to standards of cleanliness for workers and kitchens. The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) has established guidelines to prevent outbreaks of norovirus or other gastrointestinal diseases. Failures in compliance can cause illness among consumers.
Guests can experience burns if water temperature from showers or sinks is not regulated or if faucet controls do not work properly. The same risk applies to hot-tub water temperatures. Visitors can also be burned by faulty heating systems or exposed pipes.
Hotels often offer fitness centers. Defective workout machines can cause injury, and hotels are responsible for keeping all equipment maintained and safe for use. Proper warnings and instructions for use should be easily available for workout equipment and saunas.
Elevator and Escalator Accidents Can Lead to Hotel Injuries
Among the most common injuries in hotels are those occurring on elevators or escalators. Getting from one floor to another should not be a dangerous experience, but if an elevator is not working properly, it can be. Doors can open and close improperly. Carts may not be level with the floor upon stopping, creating dangers for those entering or exiting.
If elevators stop unexpectedly, passengers inside may experience jolts, causing damage to the back or neck, or causing them to hit their heads against the walls of the elevator. The hotel must ensure proper inspection and maintenance to avoid any chance of injury.
Hotels are also the site of escalator trip and fall accidents in Las Vegas. Like elevators, these conveyances must be safely maintained. Mechanical failures, design flaws, and a lack of crowd control on escalators can result in serious injury-causing accidents.
Swimming Pools Present Hotel Dangers
Another common injury in hotels relates to on-site pools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 1.45 drowning deaths in Nevada annually. Some of these drowning occurs at hotel pools. If your loved one dies from drowning, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to fight for compensation and justice.
Near-drownings can cause TBIs. The brain is denied oxygen for too long, and victims are left with long-term effects. Other swimming pool accidents include slips or falls on slippery pool grounds or skin or respiratory problems caused by chemical imbalances. If pools are not properly chlorinated, guests can become sick from waterborne illnesses.
Hotels must adhere to safety regulations to prevent accidents and post warnings alerting guests to potential pool dangers. Pools must be appropriately inspected, cleaned, and maintained to prevent accidents and injury.
Injuries Related to Negligent Security
Negligent hotel security can lead to common injuries in hotels. Unruly or intoxicated guests can become antagonistic or violent. Hotels must have security on hand to manage these situations and prevent assaults and attacks.
Hotel rooms must have working locks on doors and windows, protecting guests from break-ins. Areas housing dangerous chemical products or machinery, or intended only for employee access, must be locked and labeled to prevent accidental or intentional guest access.
Fire security is another requirement. Hotels must have operational fire alarms and post clear routes and options for evacuation in the event of a fire or other emergency. Additionally, common areas, such as entrances, lobbies, and parking lots, should have reasonable security measures in place to monitor who is on the premises.
Recourse for Victims of Hotel Injuries
If you sustain an injury at a hotel, you may be entitled to compensation. Call a Las Vegas hotel accident attorney right away. Your lawyer will protect your rights and fight against accusations the hotel may make, claiming you are to blame for the injury.
Hotels often have powerful legal and insurance representation that will try to minimize or discredit your claim. You need an advocate who will stand up for you. We know the laws governing business and premises liability and will fight to hold the negligent party accountable for paying your damages.
When filing an injury claim, time is of the essence. We understand the Nevada Statute of Limitations and what you should know about that legal deadline. By connecting with us early, you protect yourself from saying anything that could be used against you, give us the best chance to collect strong evidence, and ensure your claim is filed within Nevada’s legal timeline.
We Fight to Get You Justice
H&P Law is ready to get you justice if you have been hurt in a hotel. We are more than prepared to stand up to any hotel company’s legal and insurance representatives, and will not be intimidated into settling for less than you deserve.
Connect with us to arrange your free case consultation. Whether you sustain the most common injury in hotels or one less typical, we are ready to get to work today.
