File a Hotel Negligence Lawsuit
When you plan a stay at a hotel, you expect the property to be safe for guests. However, this is not always the case, as the negligence of hotel owners or managers can leave you with injuries. A preventable hotel accident could leave you with trauma and expensive out-of-pocket payments.
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you file a hotel negligence lawsuit. Your case could allege that because the hotel’s management didn’t exercise proper care, you suffered injuries and now have damages. Compensation could account for your medical bills, lost income, and other related expenses. To learn more about your next steps, dial (954) 633-8270.
How Our Lawyers Can Pursue Your Hotel Negligence Lawsuit
Here are some of the tasks your hotel accident lawyer will handle on your behalf:
We Investigate Your Accident
We need a comprehensive understanding of how your accident happened to build your case. The more information we have, the more compelling your case could become. Supporting evidence may include:
- The accident report: Many hotels have accident reports that injured people can fill out. These documents offer a firsthand account of the accident’s time, location, date, and other pertinent details. If law enforcement arrived, they may also have filled out a report with additional information.
- Photos and videos: Photos and videos provide evidence of your injuries and the scene of the accident. We recommend that, if possible, you take photos throughout your recovery period. Your hotel accident lawyer can use this information to assert your condition’s severity.
- Testimony from eyewitnesses. Hotel staff, guests, and even your loved ones may have seen your accident happen. Their statements could prove invaluable when negotiating a hotel negligence settlement.
These are just some forms of evidence we use to learn how your accident occurred and who is responsible.
We Determine the At-Fault Parties
The at-fault party caused your accident. For example, if a hotel employee did not clean up a spill in the hallway, they could be held liable. Depending on the details of your case, a hotel owner or manager could be responsible for your accident, as well.
Determining the at-fault and liable parties can get complicated, especially when there are multiple people involved. Yet, our team manages this obligation on your behalf so you can focus on healing. If necessary, we may hold more than one party financially accountable for your losses.
We File Your Insurance Claim
Many hotels carry liability insurance. This means, if a person gets hurt on the premises, they can file a claim and seek compensation through that policy. The hotel’s owner may have no problem filing a claim and resolving your case. Yet, their insurer may think differently.
Some insurance companies are notorious for denying claims even perfectly valid ones. So, filing your claim requires more than submitting paperwork and awaiting the insurer’s response; it involves negotiating a settlement, protecting you from bad-faith insurance practices, and holding the insurer to its word.
We File Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
If the insurance company refuses to settle your claim fairly, we can file a hotel negligence lawsuit to help you seek the compensation you need. When your attorney files your lawsuit, they will:
- Follow courtroom procedure. In court, there’s a set of rules that everyone must follow. These rules govern who can speak, when they can speak, and what information they should share. Our team will follow the correct procedures if your case goes to court. We may be able to settle your lawsuit outside of court.
- File your case within the statute of limitations: Each state has lawsuit filing deadlines you must adhere to. In Florida, for example, you generally have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit, per Florida Statutes § 95.11.
- Present evidence of negligence. In court, we assert your right to damages using evidence. We must also exchange evidence with the other party’s legal team, so we’re all working with the same information.
Pursuing a hotel negligence lawsuit isn’t something you want to manage on your own. Even one-star resorts could have high-powered lawyers protecting them from liability. Now is the time to focus on your family, recovery period, and personal well-being. In the meantime, we can advocate for what you deserve.
We Aim To Make Legal Help Financially Accessible to Everyone
You might be facing significant financial strain after an accident in a hotel. Not only did you have to spend money on your hotel stay and travel expenses, but now, you’re facing medical bills and other related costs. If you can’t work, this could compound matters even further.
We don’t want you to worry about the cost of affording a lawyer. So, we offer help on a contingency-fee basis. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers don’t charge hourly rates or retainers. We don’t charge for each individual service, either. Payment for your lawyer’s insights comes from the funds you secure in your final settlement.
You can learn more about this arrangement during your free, no-obligation case review.
What’s a Free Case Review?
A free case review is your opportunity to learn about your legal rights and options moving ahead. During this no-strings-attached conversation, you can:
- Learn about your legal rights
- Discuss working with our legal team
- Understand how our team could help your case
- Ask questions about our contingency-fee payment arrangement
Above all else, you can get peace of mind, knowing that you have the chance to recover your injury-related losses.
We’ve Recovered Millions for Injured Claimants
We’ve served our clients for decades. In that time, we’ve achieved seven-figure outcomes in countless cases. In one case we managed, our client came to us after suffering injuries from his complex’s negligent security practices.
We asserted that because the apartment didn’t take measures to prevent intruders, our client suffered gunshot wounds in a gang-related incident. Our lawyers recovered $925,000 for his losses.
If we can show that the hotel’s management acted negligently, we may be able to recoup compensation for your losses, just like in the case outlined above.
Our Clients Say Great Things About Partnering With Our Hotel Injury Lawyers
When asked about their experience partnering with our team, our previous clients have shared:
“Words cannot begin to explain the gratitude I have for Vincent and Richard Pravato and their staff. I have taken a long and hard two year journey through recovering from my accident and they were there with me and for me every step of the way. If you can put your faith in anything, put it in this, that this firm did their job and never had me question their ability to do so once.” ––Katherine K.
“I would highly recommend Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato. The whole team was highly professional and helpful. They kept me informed every step of the way. That actually make you realize you are not just a number but a member of their family that they care what happens with your case. Thank You Richard Pravato and Betsy for all you have done to make this as painless as possible.” ––Dawn T.
We know that at the conclusion of your hotel negligence case, you’ll have similar positive sentiments about our team.
How To File a Hotel Negligence Lawsuit
To pursue damages through a lawsuit, your lawyer must prove negligence, which means showing:
- The liable party had a duty of care to keep you safe.
- For whatever reason, the hotel didn’t address a hazard or warn others of the danger, breaching their duty of care.
- You suffered an injury that was caused by the hotel’s negligence.
- You suffered damages resulting from the incident.
As noted, your Fort Lauderdale hotel accident lawyer needs evidence to support your case. Their investigation will yield the much-needed information to establish negligence and recover your damages.
These Measures Could Bolster Your Hotel Negligence Lawsuit
In the aftermath of your accident, certain actions could benefit your case. You should:
Seek Medical Attention
Medical documentation serves as the basis of your case. To get this information, you must seek medical attention. Your doctor can furnish copies of your x-rays and lab test results. Then, your lawyer can use these items during negotiations, demonstrating the severity of your condition to the at-fault party’s team.
Complete Your Treatment Plan
Visiting a healthcare provider is one thing. Completing your treatment plan is another. You want to reach maximum medical improvement so you can move forward with your life. You also want to show the at-fault party that you’re invested in making a full recovery.
Consider Your Legal Options
Hotels are in business to make money. They’re armed with lawyers who may want to downplay liability and avoid paying compensation. You may want to level the playing field with a representative of your own. We can go head-to-head with any party that attempts to downplay your case, all while you focus on healing.
Begin Your Free Case Review With the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato
Don’t wait to get started with your hotel negligence lawsuit. Call (954) 633-8270. You can talk to a representative from our team from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato who can answer your questions and explain your next steps.
FAQs About Hotel Negligence Lawsuits
You may have these questions as you consider legal help:
1. What Are Some Examples of Hotel Negligence?
Hazards that could constitute negligence on a hotel’s property include:
- Poorly lit areas
- Stairwells without rails
- Malfunctioning elevators or escalators
- Wet floors without proper warning signage
- Unattended swimming pools or hot tubs
- Negligent security practices, such as non-functional alarm systems
- Non-functioning door locks
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
These kinds of negligence can cause hotel guests to suffer serious injuries. For example, if you slipped and fell on a wet floor, you could suffer a hip fracture or brain injury per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our team stands ready to manage your case, even if you don’t see your specific incident listed here.
2. What Damages Are Covered in a Hotel Negligence Lawsuit?
Your lawsuit has one primary goal: to hold the at-fault party financially accountable for your injury-related expenses. Examples of compensable losses in your case may include:
- Medical bills. Your healthcare expenses may comprise medications, surgeries, and doctor’s appointment co-pays. Your settlement may also include reimbursement for future healthcare expenses.
- Lost income. Lost income goes beyond your hourly rates. It can also include lost tips, bonuses, commissions, and contracts. If your injuries will affect your earning ability, you could request compensation for loss of future earning capacity.
- Out-of-pocket expenses. Your accident may have prompted you to spend money out of pocket. For instance, if you hired someone to supervise your children, you could seek reimbursement for childcare costs. You could also seek compensation for buying gas to get to and from long-distance appointments.
- Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include losses that don’t have a direct financial value. Examples include pain and suffering, disability, scarring, and disfigurement.
These are just some damages you can pursue through a personal injury lawsuit in Fort Lauderdale. Our team can assess your condition’s severity, estimated recovery period, and lost work to learn about your case’s value.
3. What Is the Average Hotel Injury Settlement Amount for Negligence?
There isn’t an average hotel injury settlement amount for negligence. The outcomes of these cases are usually confidential, and only known by the involved parties. How much you can seek for your particular case depends on your situation, including:
- The condition you suffered
- The circumstances of your accident
- Whether you contributed to the incident
- The medical treatment you required
- The hotel’s insurance policy
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- Your day-to-day function, including your mobility
Our lawyers aim to recover everything you need to account for your losses. We believe that another party’s negligence shouldn’t cost you anything out of pocket.
4. How Is a Settlement Value Calculated in a Hotel Negligence Case?
As noted, your lawyer will consider various aspects of your case when determining your covered losses. Specifically, to determine your financial damages, they will add up your injury-related billing statements, invoices, receipts, and other documentation. To determine your non-financial losses, like pain and suffering, they’ll consider your overall situation. Your attorney may speak to your family or healthcare providers to gain an understanding of how your injuries have impacted your life.
5. Can You Sue a Hotel for Negligent Security?
You can sue a hotel for negligent security. In this case, you would allege that because the hotel didn’t have proper security measures in place, you suffered injuries. For instance, imagine you arrived at the hotel late at night. While you unpacked your car in the parking lot, an assailant assaulted you. Here, you could assert that because the hotel didn’t have safety protocols in place (like alarm systems, panic buttons, or cameras), another party injured you on the premises.
