Maison Law represents injury victims throughout California, including those that have been hurt at a La Quinta Inn hotel. Given that you could experience many different types of injuries at these hotels, it becomes clear that you may need the legal support of our team. To learn more about your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
One of the first questions you probably have is whether or not you even need a lawyer. What separates an accident at a La Quinta Inn or any other hotel in California is that the hotel’s management has a duty to keep you safe while you’re there. As such, when there’s an accident, it was probably preventable, which means that you have legal rights to cover your injuries. At the same time, if your accident was minor, you probably don’t need to worry about taking legal action.
But if your injuries are more severe, our team can help. We’ll investigate what happened, explain your options, then support you throughout the claims process. Overall, we want to make things easier for you, all the while holding La Quinta Inn and anybody else involved accountable.
Is La Quinta Inn Liable?
In terms of liability for an accident at a La Quinta Inn, the hotel itself is typically going to share at least a portion of the responsibility for your injuries. This is because, as a business, the hotel has a legal duty to keep you and other guests safe while on the property.
However, other potentially responsible parties could be involved depending on the specific circumstances of your accident. Typically, these include:
- Hotel staff
- Maintenance or security contractors
- Other guests or visitors
- Product or food manufacturers
Circumstances of Typical Hotel Accidents
So, when there’s an accident, it probably happened because La Quinta Inn failed to address known hazards or didn’t do something they were supposed to do, like:
- Slip and falls – Wet or uneven floors, poorly maintained carpets, or lack of signage warning of hazards can lead to slips, trips, and falls.
- Faulty equipment – Malfunctioning elevators, broken door locks, faulty wiring leading to electrical hazards, or poorly maintained gym equipment can result in accidents.
- Improper maintenance – Failure to regularly inspect and maintain facilities, such as pools, spas, or staircases, can lead to accidents.
- Unsafe areas – Inadequate lighting, cluttered hallways, or lack of handrails on stairs can increase the risk of accidents.
- Fire hazards – Lack of smoke detectors, fire exits, or fire extinguishers, as well as improper storage of flammable materials, can lead to fire-related accidents.
- Improper food handling – Improper food handling, inadequate storage of perishable items, or unclean kitchen conditions can result in guests contracting foodborne illnesses.
- Security breaches – Insufficient security measures can lead to theft, assault, or other safety concerns for guests and staff.
- Structural failures – Weak construction, aging infrastructure, or lack of adherence to building codes can result in structural failures leading to accidents.
- Human error – Mistakes made by staff members, such as delivering incorrect room service orders or mishandling luggage, can sometimes lead to accidents or injuries.
As you can tell, there’s a huge variety of accidents and injuries that can happen to you during a typical stay at a La Quinta Inn. But what’s important in these situations is protecting your health–and potential legal claim.
Strengthening Your Legal Claim
Again, every accident that happens at a La Quinta Inn is unique. With that said, there’s a general outline of things you’ll need to do in the immediate aftermath to protect your health and legal claim. So, when you’ve been hurt, make sure to do the following to strengthen your claim:
- Seek medical attention right away – Whether it’s for yourself or others involved, getting medical help right away is crucial. Even seemingly minor injuries should be assessed by a doctor to ensure proper treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask the hotel staff for first aid assistance.
- Report the accident to the hotel – Notify the hotel staff or management about the incident as soon as possible. Request that they document the details and provide you with a copy of the report. Clearly explain how the accident occurred and if there were any injuries sustained.
- Gather visual evidence – Use your phone or camera to take photos of the accident scene and any contributing factors, such as spills or damaged items. Additionally, gather contact information from any potential witnesses who may have seen what happened.
- Preserve records and reports – Keep all relevant documents, including medical bills, receipts for related expenses, and any correspondence from the hotel or insurance company. Organize emails and letters pertaining to the incident for future reference.
Claims Process After a Hotel Accident
Depending on your situation, the amount of damages you could get for damages varies. It depends on how badly you were hurt, how much responsibility La Quinta Inn and others have, and if you played a part in the accident (comparative negligence.)
But your claim for damages follows a similar process. You can try to get financial considerations back either through an insurance claim or by suing the responsible parties in court. Both ways let you ask for payment for different things like:
- Medical expenses, which cover the costs of getting treated for your injuries, including things like going to the hospital, surgeries, medicines, rehab, and therapy.
- Lost wages, which take into account what wages or income couldn’t earn because of the accident and your injuries, including what you might have made in the future if you can’t work like before.
- Pain and suffering, covering the physical pain, emotional stress, and mental pain from the accident and your injuries.
- Property damage, which provides repair or replacement costs related to property of yours that was damaged or lost in the accident, like clothes, electronics, or other things you own.
- Disability or disfigurement damages cover any lasting problems, changes in how you look, or things you can’t do anymore because of the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life or companionship, which relate to not being able to do things you liked doing before because of your injuries, as well as any impact on your personal relationships.
In some cases, you can also get extra financial considerations called “punitive damages” that might be given if the hotel owner or management was really careless. It’s meant to punish them and stop them from doing it again.
You have to remember that you usually have two years from the accident to file a claim. If you wait too long, you might not be able to get any damages, no matter how strong your claim is.
Experienced California Hotel Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Nobody checks into a La Quinta Inn expecting to be hurt in an accident. Unfortunately, though, this is a common occurrence throughout California. When you or a loved one get hurt in one of these accidents, you can rely on our experience at Maison Law. We’ll guide you through the legal process and help you get the financial benefits and support you need to recover. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.
