Should I Get an Attorney for an Injury Sustained at a Casino or Hotel?

September 28, 2018 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
Should I Get an Attorney for an Injury Sustained at a Casino or Hotel?

You Could be Eligible for Casino or Hotel Injury Compensation

Millions of visitors descend upon Florida every year to try their luck at one of the many casinos, and to stay at one of the state's over 400,000 hotel and motel rooms. Their luck may run out, however, if they suffer an injury, either at their hotel or a casino, due to someone else's negligence. A property owner who fails to maintain a safe environment is at risk of being named a defendant, and potentially being found liable for the injury, in a premises liability lawsuit. If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to a slip-and-fall, or due to negligent security at a hotel or casino, contact the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA today.

Casinos, Hotels, and Premises Liability

When casinos, hotels, and restaurants invite you onto their property, they do so with an implied promise that their property is safe. When a property owner fails to maintain a safe environment, and visitors experience injuries because of the owner's negligence, the injured party may file a premises liability lawsuit, and seek compensation from the negligent owner. Some common reasons for premises liability include:
  • Negligent or inadequate security
  • Inadequate maintenance
  • Dangerous property
Premises liability cases can be especially frustrating, due to the fact that management may have been aware of a safety issue, but failed to repair or warn others about it. In some situations, it may only require a simple fix. For example, a hotel with a history of crime in their parking lot may fail to repair broken lighting, resulting in an injury. The hotel may be found liable due to negligent security, inadequate maintenance, or creating dangerous property, all in regard to the broken lights. Premises liability law permits victims to pursue compensation for injuries they sustained that could have been avoided if the property owner had taken appropriate action.

Comparative Negligence and Your Casino/Hotel Injury Claim

In premises liability law, comparative negligence is an important consideration and may limit recovery. Visitors on someone else's property are expected to maintain a certain duty of care to keep themselves safe. A court may reduce a damages award if it determines that a visitor was at least partially responsible for his or her injuries. In that event, the award would be reduced based on the visitor's percentage of fault. Comparative negligence is just one example of how premises liability cases can become complex and challenging, further underscoring the need to hire a Florida personal injury lawyer.

Common Injuries That Occur at Casinos and Hotels

Many Florida casinos have hotels on their property, and many Florida hotels contain restaurants. Below are a few of the most common injuries that occur at these types of properties:

Casino and Hotel Slips and Falls

According to the Mayo Clinic, slip and falls are the primary causes of traumatic brain injuries. Slip and falls are surprisingly common and can result from seemingly harmless conditions. For example, a leaky roof that creates a wet floor is just one example of a safety hazard that can cause a hard fall, which may lead to a traumatic brain injury.

Casino and Hotel Swimming Pool Injuries

Swimming pool injuries often involve children who are too young to understand potential dangers. As a result, swimming pools are often described as “attractive nuisances“ with regard to children. Individuals with a swimming pool on their property must take reasonable care to prevent “child trespassers”—children who intentionally trespass to reach something enticing, such as a pool. Preventative measures include protective fencing, warning signs, and locked gates.

Casino and Hotel Boating Accidents

Casino cruises are popular among both tourists and locals; gambling on the water can be a unique and fun experience. Under Florida law, boat owners are required to maintain a safe environment on their boats. Handrails along stairs are important features that prevent passengers from falling as the boat moves through the water. Furthermore, staff on board may have limited medical training, which means the ability to reach land and professional medical care quickly is another important consideration. In all three examples above, simple fixes such as repairing the roof, constructing a fence, and installing handrails could help prevent something as devastating as a fall resulting in a traumatic brain injury, a child drowning in a pool, or a tumble down the stairs. The experienced attorneys at the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA believe in holding negligent property owners responsible for injuries that occur on their property. We do our best to secure the financial compensation that our clients deserve.

Examples of Our Success With Casino and Hotel Injury Claims

At the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we're proud of the success we have had representing clients in premises liability lawsuits. While every case is different, and we cannot predict the outcome of your case, the following are two representative examples of our success:

Slip and Fall in a Restaurant Parking Lot

$300,000

Due to improper maintenance of a restaurant parking lot, our client slipped and fell. The defendant attempted to deny liability, but our attorneys negotiated a significant settlement for our client.

Slip and Fall Accident Resulting in Shoulder Injury

$82,000

Our client sustained a shoulder injury as a result of a slip and fall accident. She decided to forego shoulder surgery, despite recommendations from her orthopedic surgeon. The defendant initially denied liability, claiming that if the injury was indeed serious, our client would have had the surgery. The defendant's best offer was for $35,000, but our attorneys secured compensation in the amount of $82,000. These two cases illustrate how defendants frequently attempt to deny liability, and how insurance companies will aggressively pursue low settlement amounts. You can't afford not to hire a highly experienced Florida personal injury lawyer.

St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers

Hotels and casinos should be fun, and visiting them should not result in a serious injury. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury while visiting a Florida casino or hotel, contact the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA today at (727) 472-3909, or online, to schedule a free consultation. Let one of our experienced attorneys focus on your claim, while you focus on your recovery! DOLMAN LAW GROUP – ST. PETERSBURG OFFICE 1663 1st Ave S St. Petersburg, FL 33712 https://www.dolmanlaw.com/st-petersburg-personal-injury-attorney/

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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