By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 13th June 2024. Welcome to our guide on hotel accident claims. Whenever anyone is injured in an accident, it can be incredibly distressing. This is even more so the case if you are injured while on holiday.
If you have been injured in a hotel, no matter whether you were a holidaymaker or working for the hotel, we can assist at Legal Expert. You can reach us on 0800 073 8804. However, before you do, make sure you read our hotel accident claims guide below.
Select A Section
- How much could I claim for a hotel injury?
- Who could make a hotel accident claim?
- Who can you make a hotel accident or injury claim against?
- What should you do if you are injured or made sick by a hotel?
- No Win No Fee hotel accident and injury claims
- Useful links
How much could I claim for a hotel injury?
Compensation amounts for successful hotel injury claims are determined on a case-by-case basis. If you make your own successful claim, then the amount of compensation you’ll receive will largely depend on how severe your injuries are deemed to be and how they are impacting on your day-to-day life.
As part of your claim you can receive general damages, which compensates you for whatever pain and suffering your hotel injuries have caused. You can view the table below which features compensation figures found in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Those valuing hotel injury compensation claims may consult this document, which lists numerous types of injuries alongside different compensation guideline brackets. You can view the table just below as a guide. Take note, however, that the first entry is not included in the JCG.
| Type of injury | Severity of injury | Compensation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries Plus Special Damages | Serious | Up to £500,000+ |
| Back Injury | Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Back Injury | Moderate (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Neck Injury | Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Neck Injury | Moderate (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Knee Injury | Severe (i) | £85,100 to £117,410 |
| Leg Injury | Serious | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Leg Injury | Moderate | £33,880 to £47,840 |
| Arm Injury | Less Severe Injury | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Arm Injury | Fractures Of The Forearm | Up to £23,430 |
Compensation for a hotel injury claim can potentially also include special damages, which compensate for financial losses or expenses that are directly related to the injuries you’re claiming for. Examples can include:
- Loss of earnings that have occurred because, for instance, you’ve needed to take unpaid time off work.
- The cost of certain medical treatments or medicines.
- Travel costs for attending important medical appointments, such as taxi fares or train tickets.
Certain documents will need to be provided as evidence to claim special damages. These could include bank statements, wage slips or invoices. Get in touch with our advisors for free today if you would like to ask any questions about compensation amounts for a personal injury hotel claim.
Who could make a hotel accident claim?
If you sustained injuries in a hotel accident, you may wonder if you are eligible to claim compensation. There are certain criteria you must meet in order to have a valid personal injury claim.
When you visit a public place, such as a hotel, the individual or organisation in charge of that space (known as the ‘occupier’) owes you a duty of care. This is a legal obligation to ensure your reasonable safety while you are a guest at a hotel or using its facilities. It is set under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
In order to have good grounds to launch a personal injury claim for a hotel accident, you must be able to prove that:
- The hotel owed you a duty of care.
- This duty was breached. For example, the hotel failed to inspect the stairs and as a result did not notice a broken railing.
- You sustained injuries because of this breach. For example, due to the broken railing, you fell down the stairs and sustained a back injury.
Direct any questions about hotel accident claims and eligibility to a member of our advisory team.
Who can you make a hotel accident or injury claim against?
In the vast majority of cases, your claim is going to be against the owner of the hotel. After all, the owner of the hotel has a duty to make sure you are not injured if you are a guest of a hotel, no matter whether you are visiting on business, holiday or for any other reason. You will also be making a claim against the owner of the hotel if you have been injured while working there.
Hotel accident abroad compensation claims
Here at Legal Expert, we help people to make claims for all types of injuries, illnesses, and accidents. This includes hotel accident claims involving trips abroad too.
Read on to discover more about some of the most common hotel accident injury claims we have covered.
Negligence leading to slips, trips, and falls at a hotel
Not cleaning or maintaining floors properly can lead to people falling over and being injured. Similarly, leaving walkways and corridors cluttered or with trip hazards like trailing wires could lead to people suffering avoidable harm. In such cases, hotel accident claims may well be justified if you’ve come to harm.
This is just one example of how negligence can lead to a personal injury claim for slips, trips or falls.
Hygiene issues and food poisoning at a hotel
You can also make a claim for hotel food poisoning. Food poisoning is an illness that usually passes within a day or two. However, this is not always the case, and there have been incidents whereby people have sustained life-threatening symptoms because of food poisoning. No matter what the severity of your illness is, you will be able to claim if the accident was not your fault.
Negligent security leading to assaults, theft or damage to your property
A lack of security can lead to people being assaulted on the hotel property, have items stolen from a hotel room, or otherwise suffering damage to your personal property. If this has happened to you, you will be able to claim compensation.
Bed bug infestations
As well as being very irritating in the moment whilst on holiday, they can get into your clothing and on your person and be carried home with you. No one should be subject to this while they are on holiday. However, if there are poor levels of hygiene, it can be the case. Give us a call for more information on hotel accident claims involving bed bug infestations.
Injuries caused by or suffered in a lift or escalator at a hotel
There are a number of different ways people can suffer injuries or harm in a lift, or on an escalator. Whilst these types of accidents and injuries are uncommon, they can and do happen. On occasion, they have been fatal. If you have been injured because you have been trapped in a lift for an extended period of time or an escalator has malfunctioned, call us today for more information.
Accidents in swimming pools, spa and leisure facilities at a hotel
You can also claim if you have been injured in leisure and spa facilities in a hotel. This could be in or around swimming pools that are not monitored or cleaned properly. This could also happen if you have been using exercise equipment that is broken or not maintained properly. In such cases, it is always a good idea to get a photograph of the broken equipment or defective area if possible. You can also claim if you have been injured while visiting the spa because a procedure has been carried out incorrectly or you have had an allergic reaction.
To learn more about hotel accident claims involving swimming pools, get in touch with our specialist team of personal injury advisers.
Burns and scalds
Burns and scalds can happen due to foods or drinks being served too hot or being spilt on people. They can happen to members of staff involved in food preparation. They can also happen if the water in a shower is far too hot due to an error on the hotel’s part. This is a mere handful of examples. No matter how the incident has gone down, if it was not your fault, you can claim.
Accidents and injuries caused by old furniture and fittings
Old furniture or fittings (such as a seat or railing) can break and cause people potentially serious injuries. If this has happened, you will have the basis for a claim. Again, it is always a good idea if you can take a photograph of the damage because this will serve as good proof. You should also report it to the hotel so there is an official record to use for hotel accident claims.
What should you do if you are injured or made sick by a hotel?
Here are the steps you should follow immediately after the incident…
- See a doctor – There is only one place to start; you need to see a doctor. Of course, this may be a necessity if you have sustained a serious injury. However, a lot of people suffer minor injuries, and they bypass this step. You will find it impossible to locate any accident lawyers that will take on your claim if you have not seen a medical professional. The report they provide is the most crucial piece of evidence when it comes to making a claim. It will state your injuries and the recommended course of treatment, which determines how much compensation you will be entitled to.
- Report the incident – You should report the incident to the hotel, and you need to call your insurance company too.
- Contact Legal Expert – We are one of the leading companies of our kind here in the UK. There is no one better to help make sure you get the money you are entitled to. We have many years of experience, and all of our solicitors work on a No Win, No Fee basis.
- Keep proof of expenses – Last but not least, make sure you keep proof of any expenses you have incurred because of your injuries, as you will be able to claim for them. This can be anything from loss of income to medical expenses, to travel costs.
Following these steps can help boost the prospect of success of a case. To learn what else you can do to help support hotel accident claims, get in touch with us today.
No Win No Fee hotel accident and injury claims
When it comes to making an accident claim, one of the big decisions you need to make is what solicitor to employ. Read on to discover the reasons why it is beneficial to use the services of a No Win No Fee solicitor when you make a claim…
You don’t need any money to begin your claim
This is one of the main benefits associated with using a No Win, No Fee personal injury solicitor for an accident claim. A lot of people do not have the money available to pay the consultation fees and such like that are associated with a traditional service. You don’t have to worry about this with a No Win, No Fee service.
Financial risk is reduced dramatically
Let’s say you hire a traditional personal injury lawyer. You spend tons and tons of money on their service only for your case to be unsuccessful. This would be hugely damaging. Luckily, with a No Win, No Fee service, the payment structure is entirely different, and therefore, such risk is diminished. This also ensures that a No Win, No Fee solicitor will only take on your case if they genuinely believe you have a strong chance of getting compensation.
Better quality service
Last but not least, you are much more likely to benefit from a high-quality service if you hire a No Win, No Fee solicitor. Since the professional is also going to be impacted by the outcome of your case, you can be sure it will receive the level of attention it requires.
Here at Legal Expert, all of the experienced hotel solicitors we can provide you work on a No Win, No Fee, so you can be sure of all of the benefits that have been mentioned above.
If you are ready to make a claim, there are many different ways you can get in touch with Legal Expert. The most popular way is to give our team a call on 0800 073 8804. This number is accessible seven days a week. There are plenty of other ways to contact us, so please head to the contact page so you can see all of these details in full. You will also notice that we have a live chatbox on our website too. Feel free to use whatever method you like to get in contact with the team – we’re always willing to help.
Useful Links
We hope you have found this guide useful in your quest for more information about hotel accident claims. However, if you need more details, the links below may help.
Allergic reaction claim guide – If you’ve suffered an allergic reaction, whether abroad or in the UK, this guide can help you in claiming the compensation you’re entitled to.
Accidents that happen on holidays – What you need to know – This link takes you to our general guide on holiday accident claims. Find out everything you need to know!
Trips, falls and the injuries they can cause – When it comes to common injuries, these are some of the most often seen. Here, the guide linked provides more in-depth information.
First Aid – NHS – If you’re looking for help with first aid after a hotel accident, here’s the NHS’s page.
Travel insurance guide– Government advice around travel insurance
NHS guide to travel vaccinations– details about vaccines you may need when travelling abroad
Thank you for reading our guide on hotel accident claims.
