Chicago Hotel Accident Lawyer

Chicago is a spectacular getaway at which to visit family and friends or simply experience fast-paced life in the largest city in the Midwest and the third-largest city in the entire United States. To accommodate the vast number of regular visitors, Chicago has numerous hotels across the city, which can be swank and stylish, luxurious, historic, or relatively simple. Whether you are staying in a high-rise hotel overlooking Lake Shore Drive downtown or in a smaller, simpler hotel in the suburbs, it is important to realize that there is always the chance of being injured during your stay.At the law firm of Abels & Annes, P.C., we represent clients injured in all types of locations, including work, home, school, on the road, and in hotels. If you have been in a hotel accident and suffered serious injuries, please do not wait to call our office to discuss your legal rights and options.Common Accidents and Injuries in HotelsHotels work to have many amenities to attract customers and keep them coming back. Vacationers often want constant activity, so hotels work to include spas, pools, exercise rooms, restaurants and bars, and much more. Some hotels may feel more like resorts—one hotel near Chicago even includes a full indoor water park.While amenities may make a stay more enjoyable for most guests, others have their vacations disrupted due to injuries caused by hazards on the hotel premises. The following are only some examples of accidents that can occur during a hotel stay.Swimming Pool AccidentsMany families select hotels because they have swimming pools or hot tubs for their kids to enjoy. However, hotel pools and hot tubs also present the opportunity for serious and even fatal injuries, especially for children. Accidents that may occur in the pool area include:

 
• Children wandering unaccompanied into the pool area and falling in
 
• People slipping and falling into the pool
 
• Swimmers getting sucked into a pool or spa's drain
 
• Skin injuries from improper use of chemicals
 
• Cuts or injuries from sharp surfaces inside the pool
 
• Falls from malfunctioning diving boards
 
• Diving into shallow water because there are no depth markers or warning signs

Hotels with pools and hot tubs have the duty to comply with all federal and state safety regulations and to keep pool areas in safe conditions. If the hotel fails to do so, patrons may be injured or may even drown.Elevator AccidentsAlmost every hotel with multiple floors has an elevator so that guests may easily haul their luggage up and down. However, like any complicated device, elevators required regular inspection, maintenance, and repair to ensure their safety. If a hotel fails to maintain an elevator, it can malfunction while hotel guests are onboard. This can cause many types of injuries, from guests falling, becoming trapped, getting shut in the doors, and more.FallsThere are many opportunities to fall while staying at a hotel. Whether it is a slip or trip on even ground or a fall from heights, you may suffer serious injuries. Like any type of business, the owner and management of a hotel have the duty to keep the property free from dangerous hazards or conditions that can cause guests to fall down. Hazards that may lead to fall-related injuries include:

 
• Slippery, overly worn, or overly polished floor surfaces
 
• Liquid spills or debris on floors that are not cleaned up in a timely manner
 
• Dimly lit stairwells or walkways
 
• Broken railings or stairs
 
• Rugs or mats that can shift or slip
 
• Electrical cords in walkways
 
• Small steps or ramps without warning

Premises Liability Claims in IllinoisPremises liability is a type of personal injury claim that arises when you are injured on another party’s property or business. Such property owners have the legal duty to keep their premises in reasonably safe conditions for all visitors—especially patrons. When they breach this duty and visitors get injured, injured people may hold property owners negligent and liable for their losses.In addition to the above accidents, premises liability claims against hotels can involve:

 
• Fires
 
• Inadequate security
 
• Failure to remove snow or ice
 
• Water leaks
 
• Chemical exposure or toxic fumes

If a hotel is found negligent, a premises liability claim can result in compensation to the injured party for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, permanent disabilities, and more.Hotel Transportation AccidentsTransportation accidents are another category of accidents that may stem from hotel stays. Many hotels have shuttles that transport guests to and from the airport or other locations around the city. When a hotel transports people from one place to another on a regular basis, it can be held to a “common carrier” standard, which is higher than the standard of care for regular drivers. This means that shuttle drivers have a greater duty to keep passengers safe.Unfortunately, hotel shuttle accidents do occur—and hotel guests are injured in the process. If the accident was the fault of the driver, guests can hold the hotel that owns the shuttle liable for their injuries and losses. If the accident was the fault of another driver or a third party, compensation will need to be sought from the negligent party. Hotel transportation cases can get quite complicated, and it is important to have an attorney representing you with experience handling complex injury cases.Find out How Our Chicago Hotel Accident Lawyers Can Help YouAfter a hotel injury, a qualified personal injury law firm can help you in many ways. The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C., in Chicago, can handle the process of negotiating with claims adjusters. We advise clients to reject lowball offers initially received by our law office and let us advocate for fair settlement amounts. If adjusters ask us to allow you to give a written or recorded statement about your claim, we do not comply with these requests prior to the commencement of a lawsuit—these statements can be used against you and used to reduce your compensation amount.Abels & Annes can handle any insurance claims for you or file a personal injury claim on your behalf in court. We work for maximum compensation for our clients so that you can focus on recovery from your injuries. Please call (312) 924-7575 or contact us online for a free consultation today.