Hotels and guest houses have a responsibility to their patrons to ensure they and their belongings are safe while on their premises. When guest facilities fail that responsibility and a patron is injured, the facility may be held liable for those injuries and resulting losses.
Property Owner Responsibilities
Under Puerto Rico’s premises liability laws, hotel and guest house owners have a high duty to ensure their properties are safe from foreseeable dangers. This means that basic safety precautions must be taken, such as making sure that the property is free from:
- Falling object dangers
- Slip, trip, and fall hazards
- Dangers from improper maintenance
- Ineffective or negligent security
- Defective product dangers
- Lack of hazard warning signs
- Inadequate lighting dangers
- Elevator/escalator hazards
But even if these dangers are present and you suffer injury, you must prove several elements to bring a case. This is why evidence collection is of the utmost importance. Many times, when a guest is injured, they end up dealing with an insurance adjuster or attorney hired by the establishment instead of the manager or owner of the business. Because of this, it is always in your best interest to have an experienced and skilled attorney on your side.
Proving Guest House or Hotel Injury Claims
While premises liability lawsuits may seem straightforward, these types of cases can be anything but cut-n-dry. To bring a case, you will have to prove four elements:
- You were owed a duty by the guest house or hotel
- You suffered an injury on the premises
- Guesthouse or hotel breached their duty
- The breach was the proximate cause of your injuries
To make your case stronger, you will need to collect evidence:
- Take photographs of the scene of the accident, being sure to capture what caused the accident clearly
- Report the accident and known injuries to the hotel owner or manager and be sure to write down the name and title of employees you speak with.
- Get the names and contact information of any witnesses that saw your accident.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries even if you don’t think your injuries are serious. Your medical records may be used in your case.
- Call us as soon as you are able, so we can begin investigating your claim and building your case.
Be aware that you may be contacted by an insurance adjuster or attorney who offers a settlement for your injuries or asks you to sign paperwork regarding the accident. Do not accept any agreement or sign any paperwork before talking to your attorney.
If You’ve Been Injured, We Can Help
If you or a family member were staying at a hotel or guest house in Puerto Rico and you sustained an injury on the premises that you believe were the result of someone else’s negligence, contact us today. For more than two decades we have fought for the rights of the injured, and we will fight for you to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available by law for your injuries and losses. Contact us now to learn more about premises law, your rights, and whether you are eligible for the financial recovery of damages.
