It is clear how Legionella spreads in Las Vegas hotels, with a major cause being stagnant water in poorly maintained systems. This lack of mystery does not mean hotels always do what they should to keep guests safe. Many hotels offer pools, spas, tubs, decorative fountains, air conditioning, and other amenities, yet do not manage the risks of Legionnaires’ properly.
If you or a loved one got Legionnaires’ disease after a hotel stay, the hotel may be liable for your medical costs, lost income, and suffering. Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at (702) 388-2005 to discuss your options.
Common Ways Legionella Bacteria Spread in Hotel Water Systems
Las Vegas is home to about 164,000 hotel rooms and the largest U.S. hospitality market. Guests visit the area for various reasons, with many people increasingly interested in wellness experiences. That makes it even more ironic that some travelers are at increased risk of becoming sick with Legionella bacteria.
Area hotels typically have large plumbing systems. Guests can get Legionnaires’ disease from air conditioners, showers, hot tubs, or fountains when they inhale tiny water droplets or mists containing Legionella bacteria. Hotel outbreaks can lead to lawsuits, hospitalizations, and deaths. In fact, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, about one in every 10 people with the disease dies due to complications from the illness.
Many hotels’ water systems are older, making them harder to maintain. The high rate of guest turnover can also stress water maintenance schedules, with necessary safety protocols getting skipped. The desert climate in Vegas also means more reliance on water-based cooling techniques, which can create more stagnant water.
Cooling Towers and HVAC Systems
Casinos, resorts, and hotels in Las Vegas use cooling towers to remove heat from air conditioning systems. If hotels are not careful, these cooling towers can be the perfect breeding grounds for Legionella. When these cooling towers release mist, people may breathe in contaminated water.
Hot Tubs and Spas
High temperatures and constant aerosolization are common with whirlpools and spas. If they do not undergo regular disinfection and maintenance, the bacteria can multiply rapidly.
Showers and Faucets
Legionella can lurk in the sediment or biofilm of plumbing systems. When hotel guests turn on a shower or sink, they may inhale vaporized droplets with the bacteria.
Decorative Fountains and Water Features
Many hotels feature impressive fountains and water displays. Without regular cleaning and chlorination, they can put people at increased risk of getting sick.
Poor Water Management
Improperly stored water, infrequent flushing, and a lack of temperature control can lead to Legionella colonization. This is especially dangerous in hotels with low occupancy or during renovations when water systems are not in full use.
Legal Standards Hotels Must Follow to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease
Although hotels must follow water management plans to minimize the risk of Legionella contamination, this does not always happen.
Water Management Programs
One important preventative measure is a water safety plan. The plan should include identifying areas where Legionella could grow, implementing routine testing and temperature monitoring, using biocides or disinfectants to kill bacteria, and documenting all maintenance activities. Hotels that do not develop and follow such plans are negligent and legally vulnerable if people sue for Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
ASHRAE Standard 188
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created Standard 188. It guides Legionella risk management in water systems. The standard is voluntary, technically, but is an industry best practice. When courts assess negligence, they typically look at ASHRAE standards.
Health Department Reporting
With a suspected Las Vegas hotel water contamination, hotels must cooperate with health departments, conduct testing right away, and notify potentially exposed people. Not doing these increases the risk of additional cases and opens the hotel up to liability lawsuits.
Duty of Care and Premises Liability
Hotels have a duty of care to maintain safe premises. If a hotel was negligent or did not act to fix known issues, victims may have grounds to sue for a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak under premises liability theory.
Identifying the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease early is important. Watch for:
- High fever
- Chills
- Cough (possibly with mucus or blood)
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches
- Headache
Fatigue is another symptom. If you are sick, seek medical care right away and let your doctor know about your possible exposure to Legionnaires’.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Sue a Las Vegas Hotel?
It is in your best interest to consult with a Legionnaire’s disease lawyer as soon as possible. Legionnaires’ cases are complex, and hotels have legal teams that work to quickly clamp down on liability.
Negligence
To win a Legionella lawsuit, you need to prove that the hotel was responsible for maintaining the contaminated water system, the hotel knew or should have known about the danger, and that you got sick because of exposure at that hotel. Proving all this is complicated, requiring in-depth investigations, medical records, environmental testing, and expert witnesses. A Legionnaires’ disease lawyer in Las Vegas should know how to handle these cases.
Deadlines
In Nevada, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits usually gives you two years from the date of illness to sue. Waiting also makes it harder to collect evidence such as hotel maintenance logs and test results.
Recoverable Damages
You could get compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, long-term health complications, or wrongful death (if a loved one died from Legionnaires’ disease). Some victims of Las Vegas hotel water contamination require intensive care and experience long-term lung issues. The costs can be massive, and compensation helps cover these ongoing needs.
Look for lawyers with experience handling Legionella outbreaks and hotel lawsuits. These lawyers understand the science behind Legionella, the safety standards, and how to investigate water systems for contamination. Contact us today at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices.
