If you’ve been injured in a Las Vegas casino, it’s important to carefully consider your next moves. What happens in the moments after such an injury can have consequences both for your health and for any future legal action you decide to take.
One of the most common questions people have is whether they should speak with a casino manager right away. On one hand, reporting the incident seems like common sense. On the other, some people may worry about saying something that will later be used against them.
The truth is that while notifying the casino is an important step, it should be done carefully and strategically. What you say (or fail to say) in that first conversation can affect how the casino and its insurance company handle your claim early on.
At the Cottle Firm, our Las Vegas hotel and casino injury lawyers help our clients seek compensation for casino injuries caused by negligence. We can help you understand how to handle reporting your injury to a casino manager. Contact us today at 866-755-9111 to discuss your case in a free consultation.
Why You Should Report a Casino Injury to a Manager
If you suffer an injury inside a Las Vegas casino, reporting the incident right away is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself.
Casinos have a legal duty to maintain safe premises for guests. Under Nevada premises liability law (NRS 41.130), property owners and operators may be held responsible when negligence contributes to a guest’s injury. But to hold the casino responsible, there must be evidence that the incident occurred on its property and that unsafe conditions existed. Reporting the injury creates a written record that can serve as key evidence later.
In most cases, a casino manager will complete an incident report. This document typically includes the following information:
- The date, time, and location of the incident
- A brief description of what happened
- The name and contact information of the injured guest
- Witness names and statements
- Notes about any hazardous conditions or contributing factors
This report helps establish the basic facts while they’re still fresh. Without it, the casino could later claim that it had no knowledge of the incident or that the injury happened elsewhere.
Preserving Evidence
Reporting the incident also helps ensure that crucial evidence, such as surveillance footage, is preserved. Most casinos use extensive video monitoring systems, but that footage is not stored indefinitely. Many systems automatically overwrite recordings after a short period unless someone asks for them to be preserved. Notifying a manager soon after the accident increases the likelihood that this footage will be preserved.
What You Should Do Before Speaking with a Casino Manager
The moments right after an injury are often confusing. Adrenaline can mask pain, and staff may rush to control the situation. During these moments, you should focus on prioritizing your health and documenting what happened to protect both your well-being and your legal rights.
Prioritize Medical Needs
Your health always comes first. If you are seriously hurt, call for medical assistance immediately. Even if your injury seems minor, it’s wise to be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Some injuries may not show full symptoms until hours later.
Requesting and receiving medical assistance also helps establish a clear record that you were injured on the premises. The paramedic or hospital report will link the injury to the time and location of the incident, which can be valuable evidence if you later pursue a personal injury claim.
Gather Your Own Evidence
If you are physically able, take a few moments to document the scene before it changes. Use your phone to photograph or record:
- The exact location of the accident (including any nearby landmarks)
- The hazardous condition (such as a spilled drink or broken furniture)
- Any visible injuries or damage to your clothing or belongings
Also, ask for the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened. Their statements can help corroborate your version of events later if the casino disputes liability.
What to Say When You Speak to the Casino Manager
Once you’ve received medical attention and gathered preliminary evidence, it’s time to formally report the incident to a casino manager. It’s important to keep your statement short, factual, and neutral. What you say in this conversation can later become part of an insurance investigation or lawsuit.
Stick to the Facts
When describing the incident, provide only the basic, verifiable facts: where it happened, what you were doing at the time, and what caused your injury. Avoid speculating or assigning blame. Statements like “Someone must have spilled a drink” after a slip-and-fall accident can invite unnecessary debate or misinterpretation. Simply state what you directly observed and how you were injured.
Request a Copy of the Incident Report
Politely request a copy of the internal incident report before you leave. Asking for this demonstrates that you’re serious about documenting the event. If they will not release a copy, write down the name and title of the manager or employee who completed it. This record can help your attorney later obtain the report through a legal request or subpoena.
Ask that Surveillance Footage Be Preserved
When you report the incident, clearly ask the manager to make sure the video from the area and time of your injury is saved. Your attorney can later follow up with a written request to confirm that the footage has been retained.
Remain Calm and Polite
Casinos deal with thousands of guests each day, and staff may respond in a hurried or defensive manner. Stay calm and polite to avoid escalating the situation. Remember that anything you say could be recorded in security notes or on body cameras. The goal is to report the incident and secure evidence, not to argue about fault or demand compensation at that moment.
What NOT to Say to a Casino Manager
It’s natural to feel embarrassed, shaken, or apologetic after being injured in a public place. However, the words you use when reporting the incident can have legal consequences later. Casino managers are trained to document guest statements carefully, and those notes may later be reviewed by insurance adjusters or defense attorneys. To protect your rights, it’s best to avoid certain types of comments altogether.
Do Not Apologize or Accept Blame
Some people may instinctively say “I’m sorry” after an accident, even when they did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, such statements can be taken as admissions of fault. Under Nevada’s comparative negligence law (NRS 41.141), an injured person’s compensation can be reduced if they’re found partially responsible for the accident. Even a casual apology might later be interpreted as evidence that you were careless.
Do Not Minimize Your Injury
You might be tempted to downplay your pain or discomfort, such as by saying “I’m fine” or “It’s not that bad.” These statements can weaken your claim if your condition worsens later. Injuries like concussions or soft-tissue damage may take hours or days to become fully apparent.
It’s better to say something neutral and factual, such as “I’m in pain and would like medical attention.” This statement accurately communicates your condition without making assumptions about its severity.
Do Not Speculate About the Cause
Avoid guessing about why the accident occurred or who is responsible. Your job is to report what happened, not to investigate. Your attorney can later gather evidence, review surveillance footage, and determine liability through a proper investigation.
Do Not Sign Anything Without Legal Advice
Be cautious if the casino asks you to sign paperwork after the incident. While it’s normal for a casino to ask you to confirm basic information for an incident report, you should never sign any document that releases the casino from liability or settles your claim on the spot.
Casinos occasionally offer compensation in the form of complimentary rooms, meals, or small cash payments in exchange for signing a waiver. Accepting these offers can limit your right to pursue further compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
If you are asked to sign any documents, it’s best to politely decline and tell the manager that you need to review it with your attorney first.
Do Not Discuss Legal or Insurance Matters
Avoid talking about insurance coverage, personal injury claims, or lawyers during your initial conversation. Mentioning these topics too soon can change how the casino’s staff handles the situation. Your goal is to simply report the injury and ensure that evidence is preserved. Once you leave the premises, you can contact a Las Vegas hotel and casino injury lawyer to discuss your legal options privately.
Discuss Your Case With Our Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Injury Lawyers
Reporting an injury to a casino manager is an important step, but it must be done carefully to protect your rights. Stick to the facts, avoid speculation, and seek legal advice before signing anything. If you’ve been injured in a Las Vegas casino, the Cottle Firm can help you navigate the legal process, preserve important evidence, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our Las Vegas hotel and casino injury lawyers today at 866-755-9111 for a free consultation.
