If you have been injured at a hotel, consider contacting an experienced hotel accident lawyer Dekalb County GA residents trust to find out what legal options you may have against the hotel owners. Attorney Andrew Lynch has extensive legal experience handling personal injury cases. Premises liability cases, such as when a guest is injured at a hotel, can be complex and require a skilled Dekalb County hotel accident lawyer like Attorney Lynch.
Is a hotel liable for an injury on their premises? A Hotel Accident Lawyer Explains
If you were injured while staying at a hotel, depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim against the establishment. A hotel accident lawyer from The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch can review the details of your case and offer an opinion as to whether or not you have grounds to pursue compensation for your damages. The initial consultation is free and may provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about how to proceed.
Duty of Care
The law says that, just like any other business, hotels have a duty of care to keep their premises safe for guests and visitors and to prevent accidents whenever it is possible. This means they have a legal obligation to do so. The law actually extends that duty to include not only the hotel building itself, but also to the parking lot and even shuttle buses the hotel may provide for their guests.
The law is specific in that it covers foreseeable and reasonable harm. A foreseeable harm is defined as one that hotel owners and/or management should know could possibly occur if they do not take actions to eliminate that harm. Failure to eliminate a foreseeable harm then makes the hotel negligent if a guest is injured. When this happens, the hotel is liable for financial damages for the guest’s injuries.
If you have been injured at a hotel, consider contacting an experienced hotel accident lawyer Dekalb County GA clients recommend, even if you’re not sure if the hotel was negligent.
In more broad terms, the hotel should inspect the following on a regular basis to maintain their property and keep it safe:
· Stairways and emergency access corridors to make sure they are safe, accessible, and properly lit as well as marked with fire department required signage.
· Carpets, steps, walkways should be free of torn carpeting, dangerous edges, broken or cracked areas, etc.
· Surfaces such as floors should be dry and not slippery.
· Electrical outlets, appliances, switches and other electrical nomenclature should be properly wired and grounded.
· Bed bugs should not be present in bedding, carpet, outlets or in any other areas on the premises.
· Sufficient security should be in place whether that consists of cameras, on-premises guards, staff, or a combination.
· The hotel’s pool should be adequately secured, kept safe around its perimeter, and inaccessible to unaccompanied children.
· Hotel rooms must have adequate and working door locks.
Proof of Negligence
For your personal injury claim to be successful, you and your hotel accident lawyer must prove that the hotel was negligent and that their negligence directly caused your injury. Furthermore, you must show that the injury significantly damaged you in one or more ways. For example, if you suffered a minor scratch or broke a nail, your claim will likely be denied. However, if you suffered a broken hip and needed surgery as a result, you can claim all of your damages related to your injury. In some cases, this might also include pain and suffering.
What qualifies as negligence?
A hotel has a responsibility to provide safe accommodations for their guests. In legal terms, this is known as their “duty of care.” When they do not uphold their responsibility, this is referred to as a “breach of duty.” This scenario falls under premises liability law. When they breach their duty by acting negligently, they can be held liable for the injuries their behavior caused. When a victim hires a hotel accident lawyer, they can pursue compensation from the hotel to pay for their injury damages.
How Does a Hotel Accident Lawyer Dekalb County GA Victims Recommend Prepare a Case?
If you have been injured in a hotel accident, it is important to contact a lawyer immediately. The sooner your lawyer can begin collecting evidence and preparing your case, the better your chances are of collecting full compensation to which you may be entitled. It also lessens the chance that the hotel has time to destroy evidence that might prove their negligence.
Your attorney may examine the location of the accident, interview witnesses, and obtain photographs and/or video of the location. They may also investigate to see if the hotel has a history of guests getting injured at the hotel, particularly in the same location you were injured.
When it comes to filing your claim and dealing with the hotel management and their insurance company, your attorney can also handle all those details. It is better for your case if you avoid speaking with anyone from the hotel or any insurance representatives because they may try to use your statements against you in order to deny your claim.
If the insurance company will not negotiate in good faith or if they deny your claim, your attorney can then file a personal injury lawsuit and a jury will decide liability for your injuries.
Let a Hotel Accident Lawyer Dekalb County GA Trusts Help
If you would like to discuss your circumstances with a hotel accident lawyer in Dekalb County GA, contact Attorney Lynch today. Attorney Lynch has received an AV Preeminent rating and has been recognized multiple times by Georgia’s Top Rated Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers.
Contact a hotel accident lawyer Dekalb County GA provides today at (404) 373-7735 for a free case evaluation.
