What You Should Do After Your Hotel or Resort Accident

The last thing that you think of when you are planning your vacation is what to do if you are injured in an accident. You are lost in your dreams of relaxation and making great memories. But accidents do happen and people get hurt. Sometimes, the accident was avoidable and should have never happened. When that occurs, you need to take action and help yourself. One way to do that is to call the best hotel accident lawyer in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or West Pam Beach that you can find to help you get the compensation and justice that you deserve.

Before you call the attorney, there are certain steps you can take to help yourself. At Wolfson & Leon, our South Florida hotel accident lawyers have represented and assisted people from South Florida and all over the world who were injured in hotel accidents in South Florida. You can call us for your free consultation right now at (954) 530-3918.

There are some universal steps that every hotel accident victim should take following any type of hotel or resort accident. All too often valuable time and evidence is lost when folks assume that the responsible resort or hotel will do the right thing. That assumption is logical based on the customer service that most hotel guests are accustomed to and expect.

When you are guest, the hotel or resort staff go out of their way to make sure that you enjoy your visit and that you have a most memorable experience. But it is important to keep in mind that the hotels and resorts are in the business of making money. Most resorts and hotels are successful and they did not become successful by giving away money to everyone who claims they were injured on their premises. At best, you can expect that the resort or hotel will require you to prove your case. At worst, a South Florida hotel or resort can hide or destroy evidence.

In the first few moments following any type of hotel or resort accident in South Florida you really need to rely upon yourself to make sure that your potential claim is not destroyed or diluted. The following are a list of things that you should keep in mind if you or a family member are injured at a resort or hotel in South Florida.

Accidents can take all forms at a hotel or resort. Even though our Miami hotel accident lawyers have helped personal injury victims since 1963, we continue to see new ways folks can get injured at South Florida hotels and resorts.

One example is the rising popularity of Uber and Lyft which have become a preferred method of transportation for many guests. The Uber accident lawyers and Lyft accident attorneys at Wolfson & Leon have represented numerous hotel and resort guests for their personal injury claims. They know what to do and are available to help you too. Just call them at (855) 982-2067 for your free and confidential consultation.

So, what should you do if you are injured at a hotel or resort in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami or anywhere in Florida? Here are some essential steps to keep in mind:

• Get medical care - if necessary call 911 or at least ask for medical assistance. We all know that most people will just brush it off or even be embarrassed after a slip and fall. But you should not assume that everything will be okay. At a minimum, let a medical professional check you out and tell you that you will be fine. If you are injured, then listen to your doctors and follow their instructions. Collect your paperwork so that you may share that with your hotel accident attorney later.
• Ask for the manager or security and make a report. Understand that hotels or resorts are not under any legal duty to make a report following any type of accident or incident. However in reality, nearly all motels, hotels and resorts will make a report once they are notified of any type of incident or accident especially where someone is claiming to be injured. Most insurance companies require the hotel or resort to have safety procedures as well as risk management policies which almost always include the taking of a report. So, insist on speaking with a manager or at least security and tell them that you want to make a report following your hotel accident.
• When you make the incident, report stick to the facts. The purpose of filing an incident report is to make a record of the fact that you were injured at the hotel or resort. It is not time for any admissions, excuses or explanations. Understand that any concessions or admissions that you make to a hotel manager or security might end up being used against you at some point later in the claim process or litigation and trial procedure. Therefore, it is extremely important that you report the incident or accident and what happened to you and where you are hurt. Any discussion of cause or fault or liability can take place at a later date.
• Ask for a copy of the incident report. Again, hotels and resorts are not required by law to provide you with a copy of an incident report. Some will and some won’t. But it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you do get a copy, make sure that you secure it so that you can provide it to your hotel accident lawyer. If the hotel or resort manager refuses to give you a copy, make yourself a note of who you spoke with and when you asked for the report and what their response was. Otherwise be polite and respectful. Following an accident where you are injured at a hotel or resort is not the time to raise your voice, express anger or otherwise act in an aggressive or belligerent manner. Know that following any type of hotel accident, not only your actions but your demeanor and the words that you speak may be used in an adverse way port you in settlement negotiations or even at trial.
• Locate and identify any potential witnesses. Perhaps the people you are with saw what happened. Maybe other guests or hotel employees observed what happened to you. Anything you can do to identify potential witnesses may be of great value to your case at a later date. If you do identify potential witnesses, politely asked for their names and contact information so that your hotel accident lawyer and investigator can contact them in the future. It could be as simple as exchanging text messages at the scene. Our hotel accident lawyers always remind our clients, their family and their friends that sometimes we rely on the kindness of witnesses and that we should also keep that in mind if we witness other people who get injured in any type of accident. We hope that people will step forward for us and likewise, we should not hesitate to step forward for others.
• Look for surveillance cameras. If you have the opportunity, look to see if there are any surveillance cameras in or around the area where you are injured. Hotels and resorts employee surveillance cameras for a variety of uses including loss prevention, fraud and criminal act prevention. Be sure to discuss this with your hotel accident lawyer at your first meeting.
• Photographs and/or video can be very valuable. Most of us have incredible cell phones in our possession which can capture incredibly accurate photographs and videotape after your hotel or resort accident and injury. Friends and family might also be of assistance. You should never assume that the hotel or resort will preserve evidence. In fact, in most cases the hotel or resort will likely fix, repair or clean the area and/or condition which caused your injury. It is always better to be safe and collect all the photographs and videotape that you can following your hotel accident and injury.

At Wolfson & Leon, our hotel accident attorneys are ready, willing and able to help you following any type of hotel or resort accident. You can speak to us right now by calling (855) 982-2067. We can also come to you at your hotel, emergency room, the hospital or anywhere that is convenient for you. All you need to do is reach out to us and let us help you get the compensation and justice that you deserve.

Our South Florida injury lawyers are proud to help tourists from all over the world as well as all local residents who visit or vacation at South Florida hotels or resorts. We are available to assist anyone injured at a resort or hotel in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Weston, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Aventura, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Wilton Manors, Wynwood, Doral and the Florida Keys.