An injury is the last thing you want to think about when you’re on vacation and enjoying a hotel stay. Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents happen in hotels, and they happen quite frequently, especially in high traffic pool areas or busy hotel restaurants. Aside from taking the fun out of your vacation, they can lead to serious injuries and expenses.
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Slip and falls are the most common accidents in the hospitality industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of these occur on a flat or level surface. This means you’re at risk of falling at virtually any time, whether walking to your room or enjoying a chat in the lobby. Every year, millions of Americans file slip and fall claims. In fact, slip and falls are so common in the hotel industry that the median damage award is roughly $75,329. This number suggests that many hotels could do more to keep their patrons safe and protected from slips and falls.
All property owners must keep their properties safe for guests and employees. Business owners, like hotel owners, carry liability insurance in case an accident occurs. Unfortunately, the goal of most liability insurance companies is to pay as little as possible. Chances are, if you file an accident claim, the insurance company will try to settle out of court for a meager sum. If you suffered serious injuries or significant lost wages, insurance probably won’t cover the full amount of your financial lost, and it definitely won’t compensate you for your pain and suffering. Hence, many people file personal injury claims with an attorney’s help.
An attorney’s job is to help demonstrate that the property owner’s negligence contributed to your accident and your injuries. Essentially, this comes down to proving:
Other factors come into play when proving negligence, but these two concepts are essential. Basically, the property owner had a duty to keep his or her guests and employees safe but failed to do so.
You can recover the costs of your expenses by claiming damages. These account for any expenses incurred because of the accident. Common claims in slip and fall cases include:
In some cases, you can also file punitive damages or wrongful death claims if a loved one experienced a fatal slip and fall accident. An attorney can help you collect essential information to justify damage amounts and recover the most compensation possible.
The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert has experience in slip and fall accident cases and other areas of personal injury law. We have a history of handling slip and fall and other premises liability claims for clients throughout Texas. Based in Dallas, we represent injured people throughout Texas. We provide compassionate, experienced, and effective representation. We offer a free consultation and there is no fee or expense unless you recover. Discuss your case with our skilled team today. If you’re in the San Antonio area reach out to our San Antonio Slip and Fall lawyers.