California is a tourist state with endless options for hotels. Families, couples, and even solo adventurers visit California to explore the many attractions and beautiful scenery. When people check into a hotel, they expect to find a comfortable space where they can relax after a long day of activities. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and a fun trip can quickly spiral because of an injury.
If you are injured because of a hotel’s unsafe conditions or negligence, you may be unsure of your rights or what to do next. Fortunately, you have legal protection. Hotels have a high duty of care and legal obligation to ensure their facilities are safe for guests. Legally, when you visit a hotel, you are considered a guest, meaning that you are entitled to protection against any reasonably foreseeable damage and are entitled to file a hotel negligence claim in the event of an injury.
Common Accidents That Occur in California Hotels
Hotel management is legally required to do everything reasonably possible to protect their guest against any injury or risk they can anticipate. Preventable risks in hotels may include:
- Swimming pool accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Broken furniture injuries
- Bed bugs
- Elevator or escalator injuries
- Gym injuries caused poor condition equipment
- Parking lot accidents
While hotels are expected to maintain their property safe, that is not always the case. Poor maintenance, faulty equipment, broken furniture, or other hazardous conditions place their guests at risk, and they should be held responsible for their inaction.
What to Do If You Are Injured at a California Hotel
If you are injured in a California hotel, your first step should be to seek medical attention immediately. If possible, you should take photos and videos of the injury scene. Once you have ensured your health and safety, you need to notify the owner or manager of the hotel. Keep records of all conversions relating to your accident and medical records regarding the injury sustained at the hotel.
As a guest, you are entitled to fair compensation for any damages or loss you may have suffered because of your injury. However, being entitled to compensation does not mean the hotel’s owners or insurance company will be eager to provide you with the compensation you are owed. They will likely attempt to offer low-ball settlements or dismiss your claim entirely. To recover the damages owed you, you and your attorney will need to prove that:
- The hotel’s property owners did not fulfill their legal obligation to take action to keep their premises reasonably safe.
- There were potentially dangerous situations on the premises, and you were not sufficiently informed about the dangers.
- You sustained a personal injury or injuries because of negligence at the hotel.
- The negligence of the hotel’s property owner contributed directly to your injuries.
A California premises liability attorney can help investigate your claim, gather evidence, question witnesses, and work tirelessly to ensure you are not robbed of the full value of your claim. Furthermore, there is a statute of limitations in California of three years that begin on the date of your injury. When you suffer an injury, you are likely to focus on your health first and legal matters later. However, it’s not advisable to wait three years to file a claim. Not only do you risk losing your right to fair compensation, but the hotel’s negligence goes unpunished. Hiring an experienced California premises liability lawyer allows you to focus on your health while they pursue justice on your behalf.
Contact Setareh Law’s California Premises Liability Lawyers
Nothing’s more important than your health and future. When a hotel’s negligence leads to injuries, they risk both. At Setareh Law, we are dedicated to protecting our clients against other parties’ negligence and insurance companies’ tactics that try to dismiss injured victims’ claims. We work tirelessly to gather the evidence and file the paperwork to ensure our clients receive full and fair compensation. Schedule a consultation with us through our contact form or call (310) 659-1826. We also speak Spanish.