When you hit the casino or check into a hotel, you probably expect to have a good time, not to wind up getting hurt. Unfortunately, some people who visit businesses get hurt while on the company’s premises. Both casinos and hotels have environments that can easily lead to dangerous slip-and-fall incidents for visitors.
Many people coming in and out during bad weather might mean that there are puddles of water in the lobby that lead to losing traction when checking into the hotel. Someone with a few too many drinks in their system might spill their martini on the floor next to their slot machine, resulting in taking a tumble while strolling through the casino.
What happens to a customer or tourist when they get hurt after a slip-and-fall incident somewhere along the gulf coast?
People who get injured have rights in certain circumstances
Slip-and-fall incidents can cause severe injuries. Broken bones, dislocated joints and brain injuries are all possible when someone falls unexpectedly. A serious injury usually means serious medical bills.
Especially for someone on vacation, the care they need might be out-of-network for their medical insurance policy, meaning they need compensation to cover those costs. They could even wind up stranded far from home and needing to book another flight later at additional personal expense.
Thankfully, people who get hurt in businesses usually have certain rights. Provided that the business was negligent, an injured person might be able to file a premises liability insurance claim or even file a civil lawsuit against the company.
What is the standard for seeking compensation?
Slip-and-fall incidents generally belong to the realm of premises liability. Any claim that a person has stems from the liability a business incurs by allowing the public into their facility. Visitors should be able to expect clear and dry floors inside a hotel, for example.
Businesses maintain reasonably safe facilities and clear floors. Failing to meet that standard by not removing standing water, not clearing spills or not maintaining the building or appliances in a way that lead to slip risks might all constitute adequate negligence for a civil claim.
Those hurt in a slip-and-fall could potentially seek compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages, as well as any property damage they suffer if they can show that the business was negligent in their cleaning, maintenance or lack of signage.