Hotel room hazards in Las Vegas may include broken furniture, faulty wiring, and mold. Any unsafe hotel room issue can hurt guests severely and require long recoveries. Even minor injuries may cause disruptions to your life. Often, hotels are liable for unsafe conditions, for example, if they did not respond properly to guest concerns about dangers in a room.
A Las Vegas hotel injury lawyer may prove hotel liability for unsafe conditions and get compensation for your injuries. Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at (702) 388-2005.
Common Hazards Found in Las Vegas Hotel Rooms
Nearly 41 million people flocked to Las Vegas in 2023, and hotel occupancy rates averaged 83.5%. With these numbers, it should be no shock that Clark County sees its share of premises liability claims relating to hotel room hazards. Even high-end resorts experience issues with unsafe hotel rooms. Guests may get hurt due to cleaning, maintenance, or management errors.
Here are some of the most common hotel room hazards:
Unsecured Windows or Balconies
In Las Vegas, your hotel room is likely to be on a high floor. Inadequately secured windows or balcony railings are especially dangerous. Falls from height can result in catastrophic injury or death.
Faulty Door Locks or Security Failures
Inadequate locks, malfunctioning key cards, or lack of security personnel can lead to theft or assaults. Since Vegas attracts crowds of people, security issues can take on an even more serious tone.
Slippery or Uneven Floors
Spilled liquids, poorly cleaned bathrooms, or torn carpeting can be serious hotel room hazards with slip-and-fall risks. For example, tile or marble floors in bathrooms and entryways could get dangerously slick when wet.
A hotel may be liable for injuries if it did not mitigate the known risks of these slippery surfaces. Mitigation could take the form of nonslip mats, adequate floor drainage, or other safety features.
Broken Furniture and Fixtures
Loose chair legs, unstable bed frames, or broken lamps can be dangerous. Hotels have a responsibility to inspect and maintain furnishings between guest stays, but this does not always happen.
Electrical Hazards
Electrical issues in unsafe hotel rooms often include faulty outlets, exposed wiring, and nonfunctioning smoke detectors. These problems pose fire risks and can cause electrocution and burns.
Defective Plumbing
Malfunctioning water heaters or poor plumbing maintenance may result in water that is dangerously hot. Guests, especially children and older individuals, are at risk of serious burns.
Pest Infestations and Mold
Bedbugs, cockroaches, or black mold can be more than just nuisances, especially for people with adverse health conditions. They can cause allergic reactions, infections, and long-term respiratory issues.
Poor Lighting and Emergency Signage
These may be issues with a hotel hallway or a hotel in general rather than specific rooms. Dim hallway lighting, broken lightbulbs, or exit signs that are not very visible can make it difficult for guests to find their way to a safe place in an emergency.
Determining Liability for Injuries Caused by Hotel Room Conditions in Las Vegas
If you were injured in an unsafe hotel room, one question is, “Can you sue a hotel for injuries?” The answer depends on your case.
However, many times, resorts may be held liable for your injuries under premises liability law. After all, hotels have a legal duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment. This duty includes regular inspections, prompt repairs, and warnings about hazards. To establish liability, you usually must show the hotel owed a duty of care and breached it by not keeping a room safe or not fixing a known problem. You must show that the breach directly caused the injury and that damages resulted.
When Is a Hotel Liable for Unsafe Conditions?
Hotels in Nevada can be liable for injuries when they:
- Knew (or should have known) about the hazard and did nothing
- Did not undertake reasonable inspections or routine maintenance
- Hired unqualified staff or did not train cleaning and maintenance crews
- Ignored or did not properly respond to guest complaints about unsafe conditions
Suppose a guest notifies the front desk about a leaking bathroom pipe. If the hotel does nothing, it may be liable if another guest later slips and falls due to the water.
When Might a Guest Share Fault?
Nevada uses comparative negligence. If a guest is partially at fault for injuries, for example, not reporting a room safety risk, the guest might still recover damages. However, compensation goes down by the guest’s percentage of fault. In other words, guests could have valid claims even if the guests were somewhat inattentive to hotel room hazards.
How a Hotel Injury Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Compensation
A lawyer may be able to help if you are injured on a trip to Vegas. For example, time is important when it comes to documenting hotel room hazards. Your attorney might be able to collect photographs of the unsafe condition, maintenance records, any surveillance footage, witness statements, and incident reports.
Meanwhile, hotels and their insurers may try to deny responsibility, or they might want to pressure you into a quick, low settlement. Your hotel injury lawyer can negotiate on your behalf and protect your rights.
Attorneys also can evaluate the full extent of your damages, which may include the costs of extended lodging, emotional distress, current and future medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. They can structure your claim to show the hotel’s legal liability for unsafe conditions under Nevada law.
If the hotel or insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer can escalate the matter to a formal lawsuit. The lawyer handles court filings, attends hearings, and represents you in trial if necessary. Contact us today at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices to find out more.
