Hotel and Resort Liability

South Florida is known worldwide as an idyllic destination for tourists. Many people visit throughout the year to enjoy a relaxing vacation at prominent hotels and resorts. Unfortunately, sometimes these businesses fail to meet proper standards regarding the safety of their guests, and victims can suffer serious injuries as a result of hazardous conditions. The premises liability attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can advise people in the Miami area who have been hurt as a result of a hotel’s failure to maintain a safe environment for its guests.

Accidents that occur when a guest visits a hotel or resort can take many forms and happen in a variety of areas on the property. Hotels are responsible for keeping guests safe not only in their rooms and dining areas but also in their lobbies, stairwells, pools, parking lots, bathrooms, and anywhere else that could potentially contain hazards. Common accidents that can lead to serious injuries for a hotel or resort guest include:

• Trip and fall accidents due to frayed carpet or another uneven surface;
• Drowning or slip and fall accidents at unsupervised or inadequately maintained swimming pools;
• Slip and fall accidents due to unsafe showers or uncleaned spills;
• Falls due to unsafe stairwells or railings; or
• Poorly lit areas or a lack of proper security leading to a theft or assault.

If a hotel or resort does not have proper safety measures in place or fails to fix unsafe conditions on its property, guests who sustain serious injuries may try to hold it legally accountable by pursuing a premises liability claim.

Businesses such as those in the hospitality industry are required to take reasonable care in maintaining a safe environment for their guests. Generally, patrons of hotels are classified as invitees, since they visit the premises to engage in a business purpose, such as eating at a hotel’s restaurant or spending the night in a room. Hotel and resort owners owe business invitees the highest degree of care, meaning that they must maintain their premises in a reasonably safe way as well as providing warnings to guests regarding potential dangers.

To show that a property owner fell below this standard, an injured guest must establish that the condition that caused the accident was known or should have been known to the owner in the exercise of reasonable care. The guest also must show that adequate measures were not taken to fix or warn of the hazard. For instance, a guest who trips and falls due to carpet that is in disrepair may show unreasonableness on the part of a hotel if that carpet has not been replaced or inspected in an excessively long period. Damages recoverable for victims injured on hotel premises often include past and future medical expenses, lost income or earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Visitors to Miami who have been harmed on hotel property there can explore their options with the slip and falls at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon. We are dedicated to providing compassionate and knowledgeable legal advocacy throughout the duration of your premises liability claim. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free, no-obligation consultation about your case. Our South Florida attorneys represent accident victims in Miami and throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.