Maison Law represents injury victims in accidents throughout California, including those that happen at Super 8 or other hotels. If you or a loved one have been injured during a stay, our team of California hotel accident lawyers can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your options.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Hotel Accident?
In California, you have the option to handle an accident or injury claim without hiring a lawyer, but doing so might result in a lower settlement from the insurance company or court verdict. The impact of your injuries and damages on your life, whether financial, physical, or mental, underscores the importance of taking action to make sure you get what you need to recover. This is where our team steps in to help you. Here’s how we approach these cases:
- Investigation – We’ll thoroughly investigate your claim to determine liability.
- Evidence – We’ll gather and analyze evidence to strengthen your case.
- Communications – We’ll manage all legal communications and statements to protect your claim.
- Negotiation – We’ll negotiate with insurance companies to secure the best possible outcome for you.
- Court representation – If necessary, we’ll prepare your case for court if the initial settlement offers are insufficient.
Above all, our primary goal is to simplify the process for you. We provide free initial consultations and work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you don’t pay anything upfront if you decide to hire us.
Liability in a Hotel Accident
As you might expect, figuring out liability in a typical accident at Super 8 or any other hotel in California can get tricky. This is because there’s a wide range of different things that can happen to you at a hotel that can cause you injuries. However, because a hotel accident falls under “premises liability”, Super 8’s ownership and management will bear at least some responsibility. This is because of negligence, which is the determining factor of any injury claim. In terms of an accident at a Super 8, negligence refers to:
- The failure of the hotel or its staff to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm or injury to guests or visitors.
This could include a wide range of situations, such as:
- Not keeping the property safe.
- Ignoring dangers that should be easily fixed.
- Not having enough security.
- Staff members not being careful.
While Super 8 will always have some liability in an injury claim that happens at one of their hotels, there’s potentially others who could be involved, like:
- Owners or managers of the property.
- Employers of staff involved.
- Contractors or maintenance companies.
- Manufacturers of faulty products.
- Government bodies.
- Other people at the hotel directly involved.
Figuring out liability is usually the first step in the actual legal process. But from there, it gives you a better idea of how your claim will play out. That said, it’s important to do what you can to protect your health and claim after your accident happens.
What You Need to Do After a Hotel Accident
After you get hurt at a Super 8, what you do–or don’t do–becomes very important. This is true not only for your legal claim, but also your health. As such, Here’s how to make your claim stronger if you get injured at a Howard Johnson’s:
- Get medical care – Your health comes first Even if you feel fine, you might have hidden injuries. Ask the hotel for first aid, then go to a clinic or hospital for a check-up. Keep records of all medical care, like bills and receipts.
- Tell the hotel about the accident – Inform a worker, manager, or supervisor as soon as possible. Ask for a written report or make one yourself, explaining where and when it happened and what caused it.
- Take pictures or videos – Use your phone to take photos or videos of where the accident happened and any hazards that caused it. Remember to note the date, time, and contact details of any witnesses.
- Keep damaged property – Don’t throw away any torn or damaged clothes or shoes from the accident. They could be evidence for your case later on.
Again, it’s difficult to overstate just how important these steps are. In legal terms, Super 8 and its insurance company are going to do anything they can to protect their interests, even if they’re responsible for what happened to you. By taking these steps, it strengthens your claim for damages.
What Damages Are Available in a Claim?
Coping with an injury’s aftermath is tough. When a hotel like Super 8 neglects its duty to keep you safe, it adds to the struggle. But there’s a solution: your legal options. You can pursue damages for your injuries through the legal system via a lawsuit or through an insurance claim against Super 8’s carrier.
While the legal process has its own challenges, you can recover these damages through an injury claim. Even though your damages depend on the extent of your injuries, you can potentially recover the following if your claim is successful:
- Past and future medical expenses – This covers the costs you’ve spent and will spend on doctor visits, medicine, therapy, and any other healthcare needs because of the injury.
- Lost wages due to the accident – If you couldn’t work because of the injury, this includes the pay you missed out on.
- Reduced earning capacity resulting from permanent injury – If the injury makes it harder for you to work in the future, you may get financial considerations to make up for what you could have earned.
- Property damage, covering repair and replacement costs for belongings lost in the incident – If your personal property got damaged or lost in the accident, you could get financial support to fix or replace it.
- Loss of companionship and enjoyment of life – This is about the sadness and frustration you feel because the injury keeps you from doing things you love or spending time with people you care about.
- Physical pain and suffering – This is the hurt and discomfort you feel because of the injury, both right after it happened and for a long time afterward.
- Emotional distress and diminished quality of life – This is about the stress, anxiety, or sadness caused by the injury, and how it affects your happiness and ability to enjoy life.
Damages play a pivotal role in aiding your recovery from the injuries you’ve suffered. With the assistance of our experienced legal team, navigating through these complexities becomes more manageable.
Experienced California Hotel Accident Lawyers
At Maison Law, our experienced California hotel accident lawyers know the profound impact of any accident, especially those that can happen to you or your family at a Super 8. When these hotels fail in their responsibility to keep you and others safe, and you’re left facing mounting financial and medical challenges, we’ll be there to support you. To get started, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
