What Should I Do If I Slip and Fall at a Marriott Hotel?

Slip and fall accidents don’t sound dangerous, but they can cause serious harm. If you’ve been injured in a fall at a Marriott hotel due to another’s negligence, your priority should be getting the medical assistance you need. Reporting your injury to the hotel owner or manager and identifying the cause of your fall can also help protect your rights when seeking financial compensation for your losses.

A Fort Lauderdale Marriott hotel slip and fall lawyer can clarify the legal process involved with a personal injury claim. The information you receive can help you make an informed choice for your next step. 

What To Do Immediately After a Fall In a Marriott Hotel

If someone else’s negligent act or failure to act caused you to fall and suffer an injury, you can take the following steps to help build your compensation claim:

Get Medical Care

Even if you think you aren’t seriously injured after a fall, we recommend seeking medical treatment as soon as possible, as some severe injuries don’t show immediate symptoms. If you don’t call an ambulance to take you to the hospital, you should allow a healthcare professional to examine you as soon as possible. 

Your initial medical visit and ongoing care will help document your injury and its relation to your slip and fall accident at the Marriott hotel. 

Report Your Injury

You (or a friend or family member) should find a hotel employee and report your injury. Provide a detailed account of the accident to a manager. Ask them for a copy of their internal accident report.

Collect Evidence

Proving why you fell, how you were injured, and how severe your injury is matters when you’re seeking a compensation settlement or judgment. Forms of evidence you or your personal injury attorney may collect include:

• Photos of the unsafe conditions that caused you to fall, such as a wet floor or icy entryway
• Eyewitnesses’ contact information and statements
• CCTV footage, if you fell in a public area
• Documentation of your medical treatment
• Your personal journal noting what you recall from the day of your slip and fall accident and how your injury impacts your daily life
• Images of your injuries on the day you fell and throughout your recovery
• Copies of police and hotel reports 

Work With a Slip and Fall Attorney

Investigating your own slip and fall case for evidence of negligence and liability that meets Florida’s legal standards can be a daunting task. A  Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident lawyercan lift the legal burden from your shoulders and help you build and file a strong compensation claim with the liable party’s insurance company.

They can communicate on your behalf with all parties involved and negotiate for a full and fair settlement. If the insurance adjuster refuses to negotiate in good faith, a slip and fall lawyer can represent you in court as you pursue a compensation verdict or judgment.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Hotels

According to Florida’s premises liability law (Florida Statutes § 768.0755), you must prove the Marriott hotel management or employees had “actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition” that caused your fall, and they should have fixed the problem or posted a sign to warn hotel guests.

When hotel staff ignore or fail to remedy potentially hazardous conditions, accidents can happen in a Marriott or any other hotel. Potential hazards that can cause slips and falls include:

• Leaks or spills
• Poor lighting
• Broken tiles or ripped carpet
• Loose mats
• Loose handrails
• Debris on the floor
• Slippery floors
• Lack of signage around potential risks

If one of these or another hazard caused you to fall, your Fort Lauderdale Marriott hotel injury lawyer will fight to hold the hotel liable for your damages.

Common Injuries Related to Slip and Fall Accidents

Slipping and falling might result in nothing more than an annoying bruise, but it can also bring on serious injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord damage
• Shoulder, elbow, or wrist injuries
• Sprains
• Lacerations 
• Broken bones
• Ankle and knee injuries
• Neck injuries
• Torn ligaments
• Hip fractures

Compensation You May Recover for Your Losses After a Slip and Fall Accident in a Marriott Hotel

Many factors determine your losses after a fall injury. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can help you recognize the compensable damages unique to your circumstances, but you may generally include the following in a compensation claim:

• Medical bills for hospital stays, ambulance transportation, emergency care, surgery, treatment, and medications
• Physical therapy and rehab
• Property replacement or repair, if your clothing, phone, or other items were damaged in the fall
• Income lost during your recovery
• Loss of future earnings if the severity of your injury prevents your return to work
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish, depression, and anxiety
• Emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life

Florida’s Statute of Limitations to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit

Per Florida Statutes § 95.11, Florida generally allows slip and fall victims two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in a premises liability claim. If you miss the deadline, a judge may bar you from seeking justice through the courts. 

There are some rare exceptions to this rule. If you slipped and fell at a Marriott hotel in Florida, talk with a personal injury attorney experienced in premises liability law about the deadline that may apply to your case.

Contact Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers for Help With Your Marriott Hotel Slip and Fall Claim

Our attorneys have been helping injured Floridians for 30 years. Founding partners Jason and Debi Chalik personally handle every case, with the assistance of a strong legal team. 

Call today for a free consultation and see if our team can help you. If we handle your case, our family will fight hard for you and your family. We are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you can’t come to us, we will travel to you.