By:   Jason R. Margulies

Connect With the Nation’s Leading Hilton Hotel Accident Attorneys

hilton-hotelWith over 200 years of combined experience, decades of successful cases, named to “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report since 2016, and 4 attorneys named to “Best Lawyers”®, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is one of America’s leading law firms for people who have been injured as guests at Hilton hotels, resorts, on vacation, or aboard cruise ships. We are proud to serve our clients with our world-renowned and award-winning legal support. With hundreds of appearances on national TV, over $450 million recovered (and counting) for clients, choosing our firm is an easy decision. With more than 50 years in business, and 7 office locations across the nation, you can meet with one of our 16 top-rated Hilton Hotel accident lawyers and fight for the compensation you deserve when Hilton’s negligence or breach in their duty of care causes catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Hilton Hotel defense attorneys recognize our name, and they know that we will fight to recover the compensation our clients rightfully deserve after suffering an injury, accident, crime, or tragedy that the hotel could have prevented.

If you were injured at a Hilton or any other hotel, contact our hotel injury lawyers at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. immediately for a free consultation with one of our award-winning attorneys. Let us put our experience to work for you. Read on to learn more about how our Hilton Hotel accident attorneys will take action to ensure you receive fair compensation for your suffering. Contact our team for a free, no obligation consultation and get started on your insurance and civil claims.

Our Experience Suing Hilton Hotels

Our firm has successfully handled and is currently handling a large number of cases against Hilton Hotels. We recently settled a case for a confidential amount after our client slipped and fell in the lobby of a Hilton hotel. We successfully argued that Hilton was responsible for the water that our client had slipped on, which was caused by condensation dripping from an air conditioning unit overhead.

The manager confirmed that this was an ongoing issue, but management had failed to address the issue or warn guests of the hazard. This failure to warn our client caused an accident that led to permanent injuries to our client’s spine and hand.

Our successful settlement of this Hilton Hotel case is just one of many examples of injury claims and lawsuits we have handled on behalf of clients injured through a wide range of incidents, all of which we aggressively advocated to hold the liable party accountable for and obtain the maximum compensation available under the law for our client.

Types of Accidents at Hotels

A serious injury possibility may seem unimaginable as you are checking into a well-known hotel chain such as Hilton. However, the following examples indicate that there is always a risk of a serious personal injury as a result of a hotel’s failure to keep you safe. While no amount of money will ever undo the pain, suffering, and trauma of this type of situation, nobody should need to take on the financial burdens of the hotel’s failures as a result of an accident. This is why it is so important to partner with an experienced personal injury law firm to fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve.

The following is a list of just a handful of the many different ways that someone can be injured while staying at a Hilton Hotel. Whether or not your injury is mentioned below, contact our law firm right away to connect with a Hilton Hotel accident lawyer to learn all about your legal options for a personal injury lawsuit or claim.

Slip and Fall Accident

A Hilton Hotel slip and fall accident can be caused by a number of issues including wet floors, torn carpeting, dangerous conditions in stairways, and more. At Hilton Hotels, slip and fall victims are at risk of spinal cord injuries and many other issues that will have long-term impacts on their lives.

Swimming Pool Accidents

A swimming pool is a fun attraction for many hotel guests, but it is up to the property owner and hotel staff to maintain safe premises, including the pool conditions. Swimming pools are sources of serious injuries, and drowning injuries may be fatal.

Sexual Assault

The Hilton Hotel Chain is responsible for providing guests with adequate security in order to avoid hotel injuries including sexual assaults and rapes. Oftentimes, these instances are the result of a hotel’s negligence through improper security such as locks on guest rooms and secondary entrances, and monitoring CCTV to identify potential threats.

Gym Equipment Accidents

Guests have access to gym facilities in most Hilton Hotels, and have every right to expect that the hotel has taken the necessary measures to upkeep machinery and ensure that guests won’t suffer hotel injuries due to faulty or dangerous equipment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and many personal injury claims stem from gym injuries.

Parking Lot Accidents

A hotel accident may also take place in a parking lot, and could be caused by other drivers, hotel staff, or other guests. These may be car accidents, or could be incidents like assaults or robberies in dark parking areas with minimal surveillance.

Premises Liability Claims Against a Hilton Worldwide Hotel

Hilton Hotels owe guests a duty of reasonable care to maintain a safe premises in order to avoid slip and fall accidents and other injuries caused by dangerous conditions that staff should have been aware of and taken steps to correct. A slip and fall is the most common type of premises liability-related injury, but there are many others. A shower accident caused by a broken handrail, a victim being bitten by bed bugs, or other issues that the management should have been responsible for addressing are all generally addressed under the category of premises liability law.

Personal injury lawsuits or claims stemming from unsafe conditions on the hotel property will typically be filed against the Hilton Hotel directly. Any such lawsuit will need to clearly define management’s failure to provide a safe condition, as well as the details of the accident and the injuries the victim suffered as a result. This is precisely where our extensive experience and expertise come into play.

The Defendant Hotel (most often through its insurance company) will be on the hook for a range of impacts including any medical costs, lost wages, and a variety of other impacts that a personal injury lawyer will be able to identify and recover. Things like copies of credit card statements, medical invoices, receipts, and other proof of expenses recovered handled with your own money will help your lawyer calculate your damages.

Hilton Worldwide Accident Lawsuit Compensation

After an accident at a Hilton Hotel property, victims often have the right to compensation for a range of damages. These include things like medical expenses and lost wages, but often extend beyond that, even though insurers will avoid acknowledging this fact, and will often push back on paying anything other than the most obvious losses.

Compensatory damages will account for both current medical bills and future expenses, as well as long-term impacts to a victim’s earnings including things like 401k contributions, retirement savings, and more. In addition, they will include the cost of goods or services that a victim requires as they work to recover, such as therapy costs, assistive devices, and anything else that the attorney can prove is connected to the accident.

In addition to these economic damages, there is another set of damages known as “non-economic damages” that seek compensation for impacts that do not have dollar values. These include things like the actual pain and suffering damages that  a victim experiences as a result of their injuries, as well as the emotional impacts of a painful injury and the fear that comes with medical treatment. Things like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are all important damages that must be accounted for.

Recent Accidents that Occurred at Hilton Hotels

The following cases all involve recent accidents that occurred at Hilton properties. Not all of these cases have concluded and some information may not be available to the public at this time.

One Child Drowns and Another Injured At DoubleTree Hotel Pool in Memphis

In late January 2022, an unthinkable tragedy unfolded at the DoubleTree Hotel in East Memphis: a child was left in critical condition but breathing after life-saving CPR from bystanders after drowning in a pool, and another was found by first responders unresponsive at the bottom of an outdoor swimming pool and pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Witnesses stated that a lone individual was tasked with watching roughly 30 children at a pool party when she stepped away momentarily. In this instance, one child began to drown at the pool and bystanders rushed to assist. This child was transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in critical condition.

When first responders arrived to the call, they discovered that another child from the party was unaccounted for, and was found at the bottom of an outside pool away from the area of the original incident. This child, unfortunately, did not survive.

Situations like this are tragic, and working with an experienced legal team to navigate the complicated and often overwhelming process of working through a personal injury or wrongful death case is one of the best decisions that the surviving family can make. When a lawyer is handling your case, you can stay focused on what truly matters the most: healing and supporting each other through this difficult time.

We have successfully handled numerous drowning cases and our relentless advocacy led to many cruise ships companies placing lifeguards at the pools aboard their cruise ships.

7 Injured At Hilton Hawaiian Resort From Falling Tree Branches

Accidental drownings at a pool are alarmingly common tragedies, but injuries from falling trees are rarely on anyone’s mind while sitting poolside in Hawaii.

In September of 2021, 7 guests at the Hilton Hawaiian Village were injured — four critically — when a branch fell near the pool at around 12:15 in the afternoon. The four victims that were seriously injured were transported to a local hospital, while the other three refused treatment after being evaluated at the scene.

In this situation, the four who were transported to the hospital chose a prudent option for a number of reasons: primarily, because they will be able to get prompt and comprehensive medical care; secondly, because they will generate substantial documentation about the nature and extent of their injuries, which will be very helpful as they try to seek compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

This is another example of a situation where hotel guests were enjoying their stay and engaging in seemingly-safe activities, only to suffer significant injuries as a result of a maintenance failure. Whether you are injured in an elevator or escalator, suffer from food poisoning, or even something as surprising as being crushed by a falling tree limb, working with an experienced attorney is essential to be certain that you are fighting for all of the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Elevator Technician Falls Down a Shaft in Chicago DoubleTree by Hilton

December 13, 2010 – This incident involved a 42-year-old elevator technician who worked for the Anderson Elevator Company, which was hired by the hotel to perform routine maintenance. While in the shaft, the repairman lost his footing and fell approximately 15 feet. He was transported to the hospital where his condition was listed as severe. The accident victim broke his foot. Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, this incident should have been covered under Anderson Elevator’s policy, which would cover the technician’s medical bills and lost wages. In workers’ comp cases, the victim can generally recover damages even if they’re at fault.  Importantly, there may also be additional tort liability attached to the hotel owner.  These types of cases are often referred to as third party cases, where a worker who is injured is suing someone other than their employer.  We have successfully countless similar third party cases.  And we are currently handling a catastrophic injury case involving an elevator fall to an employee who was working aboard an MSC cruise ship.

DoubleTree by Hilton Employee Accused of Raping Guest in Hotel Room in Berkeley

June 5, 2020 – An unidentified victim reported that 64-year-old Isaac Amiga, a restaurant supervisor at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Berkeley, CA, approached her and paid for her meal and a glass of wine. The victim described feeling “weird” and said she blacked out. When she later regained consciousness, she was being sexually assaulted in her hotel room by Amiga. He was later arrested on  suspicion of rape. The police stated that DNA evidence tied him to the rape. The DoubleTree placed Amiga on administrative leave and subsequently terminated him.  Hotels must take every possible reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of their guests, and this can include vicarious liability for the wrongful or criminal acts of its employees.  We are intimately familiar with handling rape and sexual assault cases against cruise lines and hotel owners and we are currently handling such cases against most or all of the major cruise lines.

Man Threatens 12-Year-Old Girl at Boca Beach Club in Boca Raton

July 26, 2016 – The family of a 12-year-old girl sued the Boca Beach Club, which is a Waldorf-Astoria Resort owned by Hilton Worldwide, over an incident where a 22-year-old man, Scott Louis Samaha, who was drinking alcohol allegedly made threats to the victim and physically touched her. In a redacted lawsuit filing, the family claimed that touching was done in a harmful and offensive manner without the consent of the minor. The family  sued the resort for failure to provide adequate security. The family’s case was strengthened because the alleged assailant Samaha was previously banned from the premises because of prior violent acts and/or acts of intoxication, according to the lawsuit. As is the case with the Berkeley, CA assault described above, the resort has an obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for its  guests.  Unfortunately, in our 50 years of experience, we have repeatedly seen clear breaches of this duty of care.  Fortunately, we have also repeatedly been successful in holding hotels, cruise lines and vessel owners liable for this negligence.

Jefferson City DoubleTree by Hilton Named in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

2014-2015 – In this case, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission filed a lawsuit on behalf of a housekeeper who claimed to have been verbally and physically harassed by a room inspector. The housekeeper reported an incident when the male room inspector threw her on the bed, stuck her in the arm, and made lewd comments. The defendants in this lawsuit  allegedly jointly operated the DoubleTree where the alleged harassment occurred. The EEOC claimed  they were aware of the harassment and failed to take appropriate action. The suit was filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under Missouri law, sexual harassment exists when “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct … creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.   We are intimately familiar with workplace harassment cases, whether on land, or at sea, and we have the experience and resources to hold all such bad actors, and their employers, liable for workplace harassment.

Not All Torts Involve an Accident or Physical Injury

These cases serve as a reminder that the legal definition for “injuries” is often different from the way it is used colloquially. While falling down an elevator shaft is bound to lead to physical injuries, being verbally threatened at a resort may not. Both types of incidents, however, are legally actionable.  We so often hear from potential clients who tell us their stories.  They often think we cannot help or they do not have a case, but they are far too often wrong.  We are lucky to live in a country like the USA where there is a thriving, independent legal system.  Do not ever assume you do not have a case.  If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right.  So  speak with an experienced attorney to determine if you have a viable case.  Remember, our consultations are completely confidential and absolutely free.

hilton-hotel-and-resorts

About Hilton Worldwide Holdings

Hilton Worldwide owns 971,000 rooms on 6,300 properties in 118 countries. Hilton Honors has 103 million members and the hotel chains employ 173,000 workers. With the sheer volume of guests and workers, the potential for negligent misconduct is enormous. The law is well settled that hotels like Hilton have a duty of reasonable care under the circumstances.  This means they must  take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety and well being of their guests.

Hilton Hotel and Resorts Subsidiaries

  • Waldorf Astoria
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  • Canopy
  • Curio
  • DoubleTree
  • Embassy Suites
  • Garden Inn
  • Hampton
  • Homewood Suites
  • Home2 Suites

Our Hilton Accident Lawyers Are Ready To Take Cases To Trial

The attorneys of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. have the experience and legal acumen to determine the viability of your case.  Whether you’re a guest or an employee, if you’ve been injured on a Hilton property or at some other hotel or resort, you may be entitled to significant damages.

Our law firm has the distinct honor of being named in “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report since 2016, which is no surprise considering that 4 of our attorneys have been named to “Best Lawyers”®, as well. With over 200 years of combined experience taking on major cruise liners, international hotel chains, and others, we are ready to fight for the money you deserve after suffering an accident due to someone else’s failure to keep you safe.

Call us at 877-233-1238 or use the contact form for a free legal consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Sue Hilton for an Accident?

Yes, you can. If you have been hurt while staying at a Hilton location as a guest, and you believe that management is responsible for your injury, then you may have the right to sue Hilton for an accident you have been involved in.

Hotel workers may try to handle the case directly, and may even ask you to sign a waiver while they compile an incident report — do not sign anything. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, and contact our firm right away to learn more about your legal options as a victim of hotel negligence.

Can I Sue Hilton for an Injury?

Yes you can. If you have been injured in an accident at Hilton, and you believe that the hotel is at fault for your injury through negligent or reckless care, then you may be able to file a lawsuit and seek a personal injury settlement compensation for the damages you have suffered. The best way to learn about whether or not you have a legal case is to contact our team today.

How to File a Personal Injury Claim Against Hilton

After suffering from a personal injury at Hilton, it can be intimidating to determine the best course of action to seek compensation for the many damages you have suffered. There are many instances where a victim may be able to file an insurance claim, and the process is simple enough — but getting the money you deserve is not.

The best way to file a personal injury claim is to partner with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help build your case and guide you through this complicated process. Contact the team at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman P.A. today to request a free consultation and learn more about the support we are able to provide you during this confusing time.

Fight for the Compensation You Deserve with America’s Top-Rated Hilton Hotel Accident Attorneys Advocating for Your Rights

Our law firm has been named to “Best Law Firms” ® by US News & World Report since 2016, and we are proud that they have named several of our attorneys as “Best Lawyers” ® in America. If you or a loved one has been injured at a Hilton Hotel, we are ready to help you get the care and support you deserve. When you are working with an experienced Hilton Hotel accident lawyer like those at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman P.A., your attorney will help you explore your options and determine when to keep pushing for a higher settlement and when to accept it and close your case.

Hotel defendants, insurance companies, and defense attorneys will often make settlement offers early into the claims process, and unfortunately, many victims accept that first settlement offer before realizing how much they are actually entitled to. In some instances, there may be no ability to reach an agreement, at which time your lawyer may decide to take your case to court and prepare for a trial. When you or someone you love has suffered debilitating injuries due to Hilton Hotel’s negligence, you can make them pay. call our office at 877-233-1238 or fill out our online contact form to get in touch with a reputable personal injury attorney and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.