The casinos and hotels of Las Vegas are among the most visited tourist destinations in the United States, as the city receives tens of millions of tourists each year. Of course, the city’s casinos are also frequented by countless Vegas locals every day.
With so many people moving through Las Vegas properties virtually 24/7/365, the owners of these hotels and casinos have a legal duty to make sure their premises are consistently safe. But unfortunately, sometimes foreseeable hazards and dangerous conditions lead to accidents and preventable injuries in Las Vegas hotels and casinos. When someone is injured due to negligence by the property owner or employees, that injured party may have grounds for a lawsuit against the hotel or casino.
If you were seriously injured on a Las Vegas hotel or casino property and believe that your injuries were caused by negligence, the team of experienced Las Vegas hotel and casino injury attorneys at the Cottle Firm is here to help. Contact us today at 702-722-6111 to learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation.
When Can Hotels and Casinos Be Held Liable For Injuries?
Hotel and casino injury lawsuits fall under the legal purview of premises liability. According to this legal doctrine, all types of property owners are legally obligated to do everything in their power to keep their properties safe. This includes regularly checking for and addressing any dangerous conditions that may arise.
Not all hotel and casino injuries result in liability for the property owner. The injured party only has grounds for a lawsuit if they can prove that the property owner acted negligently and that this negligence directly caused their accident and subsequent injuries.
Components of Premises Liability in Nevada
Nevada premises liability law requires the injured party to prove the following conditions:
- The property had a dangerous condition.
- The property owner was aware of or reasonably should have been aware of the condition.
- An accident happened due to the dangerous property condition
- The plaintiff suffered injuries and damages as a result of the accident.
If the plaintiff and their attorney can provide sufficient evidence to prove these four criteria, the property owner may be considered negligent and held liable for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other economic and non-economic damages.
Comparative Negligence in Nevada
Nevada uses a comparative negligence rule to evaluate fault in personal injury cases, as established in Nevada Revised Statute 41.141. Each party involved is assigned a percentage of fault for the role they played in the accident. People who suffer injuries in hotels and casinos may still file a lawsuit if they were partially at fault, as long as their percentage of fault was 50 percent or lower.
Common Accidents in Las Vegas Hotels and Casinos
At the Cottle Firm, our Las Vegas hotel and casino injury attorneys have handled cases involving a wide range of accidents. Here are some of the most common types of accidents we see.
Slip and Fall
Slips and falls are among the most common accidents in hotels, casinos, and all other types of properties. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), around 8 million people go to the hospital for falls each year, and around 1 million of these visits are for slip and fall accidents.
Many slip-and-fall accidents are preventable and occur due to hazardous property conditions. Some of the most common causes of slips and falls in Las Vegas hotels and casinos include:
- Wet floors without caution signs
- Uncleaned liquid spills
- Uneven flooring and torn carpet
- Trips caused by obstructions in walking paths
- Parking lot falls caused by holes or cracked pavement
- Poolside slips and falls on slick surfaces
Shuttle Bus Injuries
Most of the popular Strip casinos offer shuttle bus transportation between the airport, hotels, and casinos. Injuries can happen if the driver gets into an accident. In addition, passengers may be vulnerable to slip and fall accidents if there is debris, spills, or luggage in the aisles.
If passengers are injured due to negligence, such as a traffic accident caused by the driver or an unaddressed slip and fall hazard, the casino could be held liable for damages.
Food Poisoning
Casino guests have their choice of a wide variety of food options, including restaurants, buffets, fast food options, and room service. If food is not prepared according to sanitary guidelines and guests end up getting food poisoning as a result, those affected could have grounds for legal action.
Assault
Casinos are obligated to provide strong security measures that keep guests safe from the risk of violent crime. If a casino visitor is injured in an assault due to negligent or insufficient security, the casino could potentially be held liable in a premises liability lawsuit.
Falls From Chairs
Chairs at slot machines, table games, and poker tables are used virtually 24/7, which results in a good bit of wear and tear. Casinos are obligated to regularly inspect chairs and other equipment to ensure that they are safe for use, and to replace chairs that have broken down. If a casino patron falls due to a defective chair and suffers serious injuries, they could have grounds for a premises liability claim.
Swimming Pool Accidents
Pool parties are one of the most popular Vegas activities during the summer. Hotels with swimming pools are obligated to ensure safe conditions for guests and visitors.
Several types of hazards could put these guests and visitors at risk of swimming pool injuries:
- Negligent lifeguards putting guests at risk of drowning
- Slippery tiles
- Defective pool equipment
- Overcrowding
- Unbalanced swimming pool chemicals
Elevator and Escalator Accidents
When escalators or elevators malfunction, hotel and casino guests can suffer serious or even fatal injuries. This makes regular maintenance key. Many hotels and casinos rely on elevator manufacturers or third-party maintenance companies for this maintenance.
If an elevator or escalator malfunctions and guests are injured, those guests could have grounds for legal action. A personal injury claim could be filed against one or more parties, depending on whose negligence contributed to the accident. These parties could include the hotel, the manufacturer, the maintenance company, or a combination of these parties.
How Can a Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Injury Attorney Help?
Hotel and casino guests who have been injured due to negligence may have grounds for a premises liability claim against the property owner. Most people in this situation hire an experienced hotel and casino injury attorney for legal guidance.
An attorney can provide invaluable legal counsel throughout the process of filing a lawsuit. Some of the main duties of a hotel and casino injury attorney include:
- Gather video surveillance footage of the accident
- Obtain a copy of the casino’s accident report after filing a lawsuit
- Deal with hotel and casino risk management teams
- Negotiate settlements with hotels and insurance companies
- Consult with a healthcare professional for a review of medical records
- Acquire hotel and casino records to search for similar accidents
Learn More From Our Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Injury Attorneys
Were you injured in an accident at a Las Vegas hotel or casino? If the accident occurred due to negligence, such as an unaddressed property hazard, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
At the Cottle Firm, our dedicated Las Vegas hotel and casino injury attorneys help our clients fight for the damages they deserve after injuries caused by negligence. Contact us today at 702-722-6111 to tell us more about your case in a free consultation.
