Vacation Accidents

How To Sue A Hotel For Injury

Michael A. Winkleman

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Michael A. Winkleman is one of the nation’s top maritime lawyers. An active trial and appellate attorney, Mr. Winkleman is also a frequent contributing expert on maritime and cruise ship law. He has made more than 100 national television appearances regarding cruise ship law.

Wet Floor By The Pool

The details of your accident may seem vivid and clear in your mind at the time, but your memory will fade and details will become obscured. By gathering concrete and immutable evidence on your own, you will have a body of documentation that you can turn over to your attorneys without second-guessing your own recollections.

Get Eyewitness Contact Information

If anyone witnessed the hotel accident— or the events leading up to or preceding it —it’s important that you get their contact information and/or statements from them about their observations.

Eyewitness statements can be invaluable in court, as they provide an independent source of evidence that can corroborate your story and account for details that may not exist anywhere else. They may also have additional information that you could not have known, such as seeing a hotel staff member acting recklessly or failing to address a hazardous situation before you were involved.

Contact an International Premises Liability Lawyer

Once you’ve gathered all the necessary information and have taken care of your health, contact an experienced lawyer who specializes in international hospitality law to help you assess your options for filing a lawsuit against the hotel owner.

Our team of award-winning attorneys at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. has extensive experience with both maritime and hospitality law, and our history of success is a great indication of the level of support you can expect as our valued client.

Next Steps: Filing Your Lawsuit

Once you are partnered with an attorney, they will help you determine whether to pursue a settlement or move directly to filing a hotel negligence lawsuit.

From there, your attorney will work to quantify the potential damages available in your case. They can also advise you on what steps to take next in order to protect your legal rights and maximize the financial compensation you may be entitled to receive.

Your attorney can help manage all aspects of your case, from filing the lawsuit to ensuring that you are hitting each milestone in your case as you fight to pursue compensation you are rightfully owed.

No matter your circumstances, it is important to remember that you are not alone — our team is here for you every step of the way.

Contact Our Hotel Injuries Lawyers After Being Hurt on a Hotel Property

As a guest at a hotel, you have every right to expect that the hotel will provide a safe environment by providing you with protections like adequate security, safe premises, and a reasonable level of care. Unfortunately, this is not always the level of care that guests receive. If you’ve been injured due to negligence or recklessness on the part of the hotel staff, it may be possible to hire a hotel injury lawyer and sue for financial compensation.

Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is one of the preeminent law firms in the country specializing in maritime and hospitality law, which includes suing hotels and hotel owners for negligent acts both in the United States and internationally. Our award-winning attorneys are highly experienced in the nuances of hospitality law and can provide you with expert advice on how to proceed should injury victims decide to file a hotel negligence lawsuit.

We are honored to have been named to “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report since 2016, with four of our attorneys named to “Best Lawyers”® in America. With over 250 years of combined experience and over $300 million in damages recovered for our clients, victims who are represented by our firm can be confident that their cases are in the hands of experienced professionals.

How to Sue a Hotel for Injury: Steps After an Accident at a Hotel

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a guest due to a hotel’s negligence, it’s important that you take the proper steps to ensure that your health is prioritized, your legal rights are protected, and you are setting yourself up for the best chance of a successful lawsuit.

Hotel Guests Should Alert Hotel Staff

After an accident, it’s essential that you alert the hotel staff immediately. This will first and foremost ensure that you get cared for following your accident. Make sure to get a written report of the incident from a hotel employee, so that you have proof of when it occurred, as well as the specifics of the incident.

Call 911 if You Are in the US

If a crime has occurred, or if you have sustained injuries, it’s important that you call 911 to make sure that the crime scene is secured by a police officer and that you receive medical care from licensed EMTs. After hotel injuries, many people feel uncomfortable calling 911, and perhaps feel like they are overreacting, but the reality is that the only parties that benefit from not calling emergency services are the liable parties.

Seek Medical Attention

The next step is to seek out medical attention for your injury as soon as possible — whether from the hotel staff, EMTs, or both. This will ensure that you are receiving the proper medical treatment, but it also serves as a key piece of evidence for your hotel injury case. Make sure to keep copies of all medical records and medical bills related to your injury, as this will be invaluable in court.

If EMTs believe that you should be transported to a hospital due to physical injuries, it is in your best interest to follow their advice. Failure to do so may lead to complications and will be used as evidence in court that your injuries were either not as serious as you claim, that they did not stem from the hotel accident, or that you failed to mitigate your damages by denying recommended medical care. A defense team will use any potential evidence against you in court to avoid liability and diminish your personal injury case.  Please be aware that medical care abroad varies widely and you will want to obtain advice from a law firm or the United States State Department regarding the best equipped and qualified hospitals and medical centers available to you in close proximity to where you are injured.

Document Evidence of the Hotel Injury Claim

If possible, try to document any evidence from the hotel accident. Photographs or videos will be extremely helpful for your attorney as they work to piece together the details of your personal injury claim, and by gathering your own details about the case, you won’t need to rely solely on the hotel’s accident report which, unfortunately, may attempt to revise or omit incriminating details.

If you have been injured due to hotel negligence or recklessness on the part of a hotel, contact Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. today for a free consultation, and let us review your case and advise you on how we can help. We will fight for your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

Our firm has been named to “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report since 2016, and four of our attorneys have been named “Best Lawyers”® in America. Our firm is home to a team of leading litigation lawyers with deep knowledge of the complexities of maritime law, hospitality law, as well as the Jones Act and FELA, and we’re here to put our expertise to work for you.

If you or a loved one has been hurt as a hotel guest due to negligence on behalf of the facility or company, contact us right away or call 877–233–1238 to speak with an experienced attorney for a free and confidential consultation.

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