Injured at a Hotel? Here’s What to Do

Whether traveling for business or leisure, guests expect a safe, clean, and comfortable experience when staying at a hotel. Unfortunately, however, hazardous conditions on the premises can sometimes result in injuries. At hotels and resorts in Florida, the most common incidents causing guest injuries range from slip-and-falls and water-related accidents around the swimming pool to assaults committed by other guests or third parties on the property. When these situations occur, the injured victims may sometimes be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the hotel.

If you have been injured while staying at a hotel, here are a few important steps to take:
1. • Take photographs and/or video of the scene. If you believe than an unsafe condition contributed to your injury, take photos or videos of it as soon as possible. The hotel will likely move swiftly to rectify the condition when they become aware of your accident—and they might even erase surveillance footage—so your own photos may become very valuable evidence if you choose to pursue a lawsuit.
   • Notify hotel management. Most insurance companies require hotels to file a report whenever they become aware of an accident or incident on the premises. If your injuries do not require immediate medical attention, ask to speak to a hotel manager. Tell them about your condition and the circumstances that led to it, being careful to stick to the facts and avoid making any admissions or accusations.
   • Visit the emergency room or a local doctor to seek medical attention. If your injuries are potentially life-threatening, call 911 immediately. However, even if your injuries do not seem serious at first, it’s important to seek medical attention and gather documentation of the incident from a healthcare professional.
   • Contact a personal injury attorney. If the hotel was negligent in failing to fix or warn of the unsafe condition that led to your injuries, they could potentially be held liable. A qualified attorney with experience handling “resort torts”—or personal injury cases that arise from a resort, vacation, travel, or recreational setting—will be able to assess your situation, advise you on the proper steps to take, and advocate on your behalf if you decide to pursue legal action.

At Leighton Panoff Law, we have represented numerous clients who have been injured at hotels and resorts across Florida, and our team offers in-depth expertise with resort torts—which is necessary to stand up to the state’s powerful resort and vacation lobby. Visit https://leightonlaw.com/resort-torts/ to learn more, or call us at 888.988.1774 to schedule a consultation!