Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC represents injury victims in hotel accidents throughout Louisville. One of the most common chains in the city–and throughout the country–is Hampton Inn, which is owned by Hilton. When you or a loved one get hurt at one of these hotels, our Louisville hotel injury lawyers can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your options.
Do You Even Need a Lawyer?
In Kentucky, you’re not required to hire a lawyer for any accident or injury claim. However, going it alone might result in a settlement from the insurance company that’s lower than what you truly deserve. Your injuries and other damages could be significantly impacting your life, whether financially, physically, or emotionally. That’s why it’s crucial to take action to ensure you receive a fair settlement offer. This is where our team comes in. Here’s how we can help you:
- We’ll meticulously investigate your claim to determine who may be liable.
- We’ll gather and analyze evidence to bolster your claim’s strength.
- We’ll manage all legal communications and interviews to safeguard your case.
- We’ll take the lead on negotiating with insurance companies to get the best possible offer for you.
- If the insurance offers fall short, we’ll prepare your case for court.
- We can also connect you with suitable medical professionals to address your needs.
Our primary goal is to simplify the process for you. We provide free initial consultations and work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront if you decide to work with us. At the same time, the legal process in these cases can be complex. So, it becomes important to understand what can happen to you at these hotels.
Accidents and Injuries at a Hampton Inn
Obviously, checking in for a stay at a Hampton Inn in Louisville is about relaxation and comfort. But unfortunately, there’s plenty of things that can go wrong–leaving you or a loved one facing serious injuries. Every situation is different, but some of the more common types of accidents and injuries at these hotels include:
- Slip and fall accidents – These can happen due to wet floors in the lobby, spills in dining areas, or poorly maintained walkways around the hotel premises.
- Elevator or escalator accidents – Malfunctions, mechanical failures, or user errors could lead to injuries while using elevators or escalators within the hotel.
- Pool or spa accidents – Injuries might occur from slips and falls around the pool area, diving accidents, or chemical exposure if the pool is not properly maintained.
- Gym or fitness center injuries – You might sustain injuries while using exercise equipment if it’s faulty or not properly maintained.
- Burns or scalds – These could result from hot water taps, coffee machines, or other hot surfaces within the hotel rooms or dining areas.
- Food-related illnesses – Guests might suffer from food poisoning or allergic reactions due to improperly prepared or stored food in the hotel restaurant or during room service.
- Assaults or thefts – Unfortunately, incidents of theft or assault could occur within the hotel premises, particularly in poorly lit or secluded areas like parking lots or stairwells.
- Bed-related injuries – These could include falls from poorly installed or maintained bunk beds, or injuries from defective mattresses or bed frames.
These are just some examples, and the specific types of accidents and injuries can vary. That’s why it becomes important to do a few things after the accident happens to protect yourself, like:
- Get medical care and report the accident to the hotel staff or management
- Take pictures or videos of the scene, including any injuries and what caused the accident
- Swap insurance or contact information, and make sure the hotel makes an incident report
Liability and Damages in a Hotel Accident
In any accident, including those that happen at a Louisville Hampton Inn, there’s two main things you have to prove: liability and damages. Liability is the legal term for who’s responsible for the accident and your resulting injuries. Damages, in turn, refers to the losses you experience because of your injuries.
The starting point of any legal claim is figuring out liability, which is determined by negligence. In a hotel accident, this means showing:
- The hotel, its employees, or people on its property breached their duty of care to keep you and other guests safe.
As you might expect, this is heavily dependent on the circumstances of what happened. However, liability in these types of accidents is going to usually fall on the following:
- Hotel’s owner or management – The company (Hilton) in charge of the hotel is responsible for guest care and may be liable for accidents on the property.
- Hotel staff or employees – Workers at the hotel may be accountable for accidents caused by their actions or negligence, such as not promptly cleaning spills.
- Maintenance or security workers – Contractors hired by the hotel are expected to maintain safety standards, and if they fail in their duties, they could be responsible for accidents, like improperly installing handrails.
- Other guests or individuals – Guests staying at the hotel may share responsibility if their actions harm others, such as throwing objects from balconies or people that commit an assault or robbery.
- Product or food makers – Companies responsible for producing faulty products or food that causes harm may be held accountable for resulting injuries or illnesses.
Damages
Determining liability among these parties is crucial for the progress and outcome of a claim. But the overall goal of filing an injury claim is to recover damages. You do this by either filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, sometimes both. It’s your job to show the extent of your damages, but a successful claim could see you recover:
- Medical expenses – Covers the costs of your medical treatment, including ongoing care needs.
- Lost wages – This is meant for income or future earning potential lost due to the accident.
- Permanent injuries – Financial support if the injury affects your ability to work in the future.
- Property damage – Financial assistance for repairing or replacing personal belongings damaged or lost in the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment and companionship – These damages relate to the emotional toll of being unable to participate in activities or spend time with loved ones due to the injury.
- Physical pain and suffering – Damages for the discomfort and anguish experienced as a result of the injury, both immediately and in the long term.
- Emotional distress and lower quality of life – Support for the psychological impact, such as stress, anxiety, or sadness, stemming from the injury and its effect on your overall happiness.
It’s crucial to act quickly when deciding to file a claim. This is due to the statute of limitations in Kentucky, which sets the deadline at one year from the date of the accident to file. Missing this deadline means you can’t file a claim or recover damages.
Turn to Kaufman & Stigger After a Louisville Hampton Inn Accident
You don’t have to face the prospect of injuries after an accident at a Louisville Hampton Inn alone. Instead, turn to our team of experienced hotel injury lawyers at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC. We can explain the process and what you need to do to recover the damages you’re rightfully owed from these accidents. To get started, contact us today for a free consultation.
