Hotel gyms and fitness centers are popular amenities for travelers who want to stay active on the road. Guests often assume these spaces are safe and well-maintained, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Malfunctioning equipment, hazards like slippery floors, and safety lapses can sometimes lead to serious injuries in hotel gyms.

If you’ve been injured while using a hotel gym, you may wonder whether the hotel could be held responsible for your injuries. Like many legal questions, the answer depends on the specific details of the case. If your injury was caused by negligence, you could have grounds for a personal injury claim against the hotel or a negligent third party, such as an equipment manufacturer.

At the Cottle Firm, our dedicated Las Vegas hotel injury lawyers help our clients seek fair compensation for all types of hotel injuries caused by negligence, including hotel gym injuries. We’re prepared to evaluate your case and help you take legal action if negligence played a role in your injuries. Call the Cottle Firm today at 702-834-8000 to learn more in a free consultation.

Can You Sue a Hotel for Getting Hurt in the Gym?

Yes, in many cases, you can sue a hotel if you’re injured while using its gym or fitness center, but it depends on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Hotels are legally obligated to provide a reasonably safe environment for their guests, which includes all parts of the property. This responsibility includes maintaining fitness equipment, promptly addressing hazards, and ensuring that the area is safe. 

When a hotel fails to meet these obligations and someone gets hurt, the property may be liable. To bring a personal injury claim against a hotel, you must prove that the hotel was negligent. This means showing that the hotel either created a dangerous condition or failed to fix or warn about a hazard it knew or should have known, about. For example, if a treadmill had been malfunctioning for weeks and hotel staff ignored complaints, the hotel may be liable for injuries caused by that machine.

It’s also important to note that not all injuries are grounds for a lawsuit. If someone uses equipment improperly or gets hurt while engaging in risky behavior without any fault on the hotel’s part, there may be no legal case. However, you may still have grounds for a claim even if your own negligence was a factor, as long as you are deemed no more than 50 percent at fault under Nevada’s comparative negligence statute (NRS 41.141).

Common Causes of Gym Injuries in Hotels

Hotel gyms should be safe for guests to use. Unfortunately, injuries can and do happen, often because of preventable issues. Here are some of the most common causes of hotel gym injuries in Las Vegas.

Poorly Maintained or Faulty Equipment

Broken or defective equipment is one of the most frequent culprits behind hotel gym injuries. Some examples include treadmills that stop abruptly, elliptical machines with worn-out foot pedals, and weight machines with frayed cables. When a hotel fails to regularly inspect and maintain its fitness equipment, it puts guests at risk and may be held liable for any injuries caused by that neglect.

Wet or Slippery Floors

Floors around water stations, saunas, or locker rooms can become dangerously slick. Hotels should have staff members regularly monitor and address any slip-and-fall hazards before guests are put at risk. Guests can suffer serious injuries if they slip and fall, such as sprains, broken bones, and even traumatic brain injuries. Hotels have a legal duty to keep floors dry or post clear warning signs if a hazard is present.

Lack of Supervision or Improper Signage

Hotel gyms are often left unattended. While supervision isn’t always required, hotels should still provide adequate signage to instruct guests on safe equipment use and to warn of potential dangers. Without these warnings, guests may misuse equipment or unknowingly walk into unsafe conditions and get hurt.

Inadequate Lighting or Ventilation

Poor lighting can make it difficult for guests to safely use equipment or read machine instructions. Insufficient ventilation can cause overheating, dehydration, or fainting, especially in hot climates or small, enclosed gym spaces. These conditions may increase the risk of injury and could be considered negligence.

Overcrowded or Poorly Designed Spaces

In some hotels, gyms are cramped or overcrowded with equipment, which can increase the risk of bumping into machines or other people. Narrow walkways, poorly placed free weights, or limited space around heavy machinery can all lead to accidents. Hotels should design their gym layouts with safety and ease of use in mind.

Ordinary Negligence vs. Faulty Equipment

The underlying cause of hotel gym injuries generally falls into one of two categories: ordinary negligence or faulty equipment. Understanding the difference is key to determining who may be liable for your injury and what type of legal claim you might pursue.

Ordinary negligence involves a hotel’s failure to take reasonable steps to ensure guest safety. For example, if the hotel staff knew that a weight machine had loose pins or missing parts and didn’t repair it or take it out of service, that could be considered ordinary negligence. The key factor is whether the hotel knew or should have known about the danger and failed to act.

Faulty equipment points to issues with the equipment itself that may be due to design flaws, manufacturing defects, or improper installation. In these cases, the equipment manufacturer may be held liable in a product liability claim.

For example, if a treadmill has a manufacturing defect that causes it to stop abruptly, even with proper maintenance, the equipment manufacturer could be deemed liable based on Nevada product liability law (NRS 695E.090). However, if the equipment was defective and the hotel failed to remove or repair it, the hotel could also share liability.

Understanding whether your injury stems from ordinary negligence, faulty equipment, or both, can help your lawyer build a strong case and pursue compensation from the appropriate parties.

Responsibility of Hotels to Maintain Safe Premises

Hotels and all other types of commercial properties have a legal obligation known as the duty of care, which requires them to maintain reasonably safe conditions for their guests. This duty applies to all areas of the property, including gyms and fitness centers. When you’re injured in a hotel gym, one of the first questions to ask is whether the hotel upheld this legal duty.

Hotels are expected to routinely check for hazards, maintain equipment, clean up spills, and respond promptly to complaints or reports of danger. If they fall short in any of these areas and a guest gets hurt, they can be held liable under premises liability law.

The law recognizes guests as “invitees”, which gives them the highest level of protection under premises liability. That means hotel operators must actively look for potential hazards and fix them quickly, or warn guests if the danger cannot be immediately addressed. For example, if water has pooled in a hotel locker room, a wet floor sign should be placed there and a staff member should clean up the water as soon as possible.

The hotel may also be responsible for the actions, or inactions, of its employees. If a staff member sees a dangerous condition and fails to report it or take action, the hotel itself can still be held accountable for any resulting injuries.

Steps to Take Following a Hotel Gym Injury

If you’re injured in a hotel gym, it’s important to take the right steps to protect your health and legal rights in the moments and days following the incident.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Treating your injury should always be the first step. This can help ensure that you recover from the injury with minimal complications. It also helps your legal case, as medical records are one of the most important forms of evidence in a personal injury claim.

Report the Incident to Hotel Management

Notify the hotel staff or manager as soon as possible. Ask to fill out an incident report and request a copy for your records. This report can be an important piece of evidence that shows you took the injury seriously and made the hotel aware of the situation.

Take Photos and Gather Evidence

If you’re able, take photos or videos of the scene before anything is cleaned up or changed. This should include the equipment involved, the surrounding area, any visible hazards (such as a frayed cable or wet floor), and your injuries. Also, try to get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened.

Avoid Making Assumptions or Admissions

Be cautious about what you say to hotel staff and others immediately after the incident. Avoid downplaying the injury or admitting fault, even casually. Statements like “I must not have been paying attention” can be used against you later, even if they were said in a moment of stress or confusion.

Keep Any Related Documents

Keep copies of everything, including the incident report, your medical records, any correspondence with the hotel, and receipts for expenses related to the injury. These documents can be valuable for your case.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Before accepting any settlement offer or communicating with the hotel and its insurer, it’s best to speak with an experienced Las Vegas hotel injury lawyer. A lawyer can help assess the strength of your claim, deal with insurance companies on your behalf, and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the claims process.

Learn More From a Las Vegas Hotel Injury Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a hotel gym or fitness center, it’s important to be aware of your legal rights. Hotels and equipment manufacturers can be held liable for injuries caused by their negligence. Contact the experienced Las Vegas hotel injury lawyers of the Cottle Firm today at 702-834-8000 to discuss your legal options in a free consultation.