It Could Happen to You
Famous or not, even grand hotels can have accidents. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be strange for someone to trip over torn or ragged carpet or have another type of accident caused by an employee's negligence.
If you were injured either in the hotel or the casino, you should certainly consider legal action as long as you are not at fault. A full and fair settlement can go a long way to helping you pay any bills and cover losses due to the injuries at the hotel or casino.
Components of a Personal Injury Lawsuit
There are several different amounts that could be claimed if you have had an injury at the MGM Grand, or any other hotel or casino. Your attorney can help you decide on the exact amounts and which are allowed under Nevada law.
- The priority payment is usually the cost of medical treatment. This must be calculated accurately and include all expenses related to recovery. Make sure that every receipt has been collected and stored so that they are ready for inspection during the claims process. Don’t forget to include any future costs, if there are any.
- Lost earnings can mount up quickly, especially if your employer will not pay you while you are not working. Again, the amount must take future lost earnings into consideration.
- Punitive damages are sometimes awarded in the event that the court decides that gross negligence or recklessness was involved. For example, if you were hit by a hotel vehicle while walking in the hotel grounds and it was discovered that the driver was drunk while working, this may be justification for awarding punitive damages.
- Property damage may have occurred during the accident. If a casino employee drops a glass of red wine all over you while you are watching a game of baccarat, you may be claiming for cuts from the glass as well as a replacement tuxedo.
The Claims Process After an Injury
There may be a chance for you to make a claim after a slip and fall, especially if you are confident you have proof that someone working for the resort complex was to blame for the accident you were involved in and the subsequent injuries.
Claims of this nature can be quite challenging, especially if you are not well-versed in legal procedures. It is unlikely that either the hotel, casino or their insurers will be amenable to a quick settlement. It is advisable to use an experienced attorney to help you prepare a claim and then pursue the negotiations on your behalf.
Slip and Fall Injuries at a Hotel or Casino
People often go to Las Vegas for vacations and to have fun. If you are visiting the MGM Grand Las Vegas, or any other hotel or casino, and you suffer a slip and fall, you may suffer serious injuries.
The hotel or casino has the responsibility to keep its premises safe and to make sure that there aren’t any obstacles for visitors. While there are literally dozens of ways you could suffer injury in a hotel or casino, a facility has the responsibility to make sure the facilities are clean and that they are free from spills and debris that could cause injuries and contribute to falls.
How You Could Fall at a Casino
When you go into a casino and hotel, you could trip over a rug that isn’t properly attached to the floor or that has folded corners. You could slip on a spilled drink in the casino area, or you may fall because of food, such as nacho cheese or fries, dropped in the lobby or the lounge.
Tokens or coins dropped on a tile floor can be slippery and contribute to a fall. Also, you may trip because of poorly maintained grounds, such as loose floor tiles, cracked pavement, or uneven sidewalks.
Like any hotel and casino, MGM Grand and its managers have a responsibility to make sure that the premises are fee from obstacles and that any needed repairs are properly addressed. Any spills or dangers on the floors should be promptly cleaned up. Wet floors should be indicated as such with a wet floor sign, and any areas that need attention should be roped off so that they aren’t accessed by customers and visitors who may suffer injury on the grounds.
Injuries from a slip and fall at the casino or hotel can be serious. Some of these injuries may cause long-term or lifelong disabilities and pain. As an example, a slip and fall could lead to broken arms, broken wrists, broken legs, and a variety of broken bones.
You could suffer a back injury, a neck injury, or soft tissue injury, such as whiplash. If you strike your head when you fall, or if you fall several feet, you could suffer a serious injury such as a blow to the head. This could cause a spinal injury or a traumatic brain injury.
Gathering Supporting Evidence
When you suffer injuries in a slip and fall, you will need to gather supporting evidence and documentation. You will need to show that the injuries you suffered were directly the result of the slip and fall.
To do this, you will need to report the accident to an employee right away. They will need to complete an accident report that details what happened and how it happened.
If you are physically able to do so, get photos of the accident scene. If there is someone with you, ask them to do that for you. These photos will help show how you fell, where you fell, and why you fell.
Documentation is essential. Get the names of any witnesses and ask them for contact details. Ask all witnesses to provide written statements so you can use them to support your claim and to prove what happened.
There are four elements of negligence, and for your claim to be successful you will need to prove that all four elements of negligence are applicable to your slip and fall accident. Your slip and fall attorney will be able to gather up all the evidence and documentation and will take those things to build a claim, showing that your accident was preventable and that your injuries were the result of the casino and hotel’s negligence.
How To Address Your Injuries
Some injuries are worse than they initially appear. You will need to prove that the injuries you suffered were a direct result of the slip and fall at the hotel and casino. To do this, you must establish medical care right away.
This means you will need to seek treatment from a nearby medical facility. If you delay treatment, the hotel and casino and their insurance company may try to claim that your injuries didn’t occur during the slip and fall at the hotel and casino.
When you seek medical care, be sure to talk about your slip and fall in detail. Your physician will need to include this in the medical notes in your records. You will need to maintain copies of your medical records and get copies of your medical bills.
Keep receipts for prescriptions, medical devices, and any other medical care that your injury requires. Medical bills include physician visits, hospital treatment, prescriptions, medical devices, physical therapy, and any other care related to treatment of the injury.
Filing Your Claim
You will want to file your claim right away. There is a statute of limitations, and if you wait too long, you cannot recover compensation for your damages. You will want to send a demand letter to the hotel or casino to let them know that you suffered injuries and damages and that you are holding them responsible for your fall.
You will need to provide supporting documentation, such as copies of medical bills and medical records, proof of missed work and lost wages, witness statements, and photographs. The more supporting evidence that you can provide, the more helpful it will be to your claim.
Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered injuries because of a slip and fall and you believe that your fall was caused by the negligence of the hotel and casino and its employees, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer who handles slip and fall cases in your state.
A slip and fall attorney is familiar with the laws in your state, and will be able to gather supporting evidence and documentation for your claim. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share the details of your case.
*Disclaimer
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against MGM Grand, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
