Consistent Success
for Over 25 Years
for Over 25 Years
California Hotel Injury Lawyer: Fighting for Injured Hotel Guests
If you or a loved one suffered an injury at a California hotel, motel, or resort, you need an experienced hotel injury lawyer in your corner. Hotels are visited by millions of guests every year — from business travelers and vacationers to locals enjoying a staycation — and when negligent management, poor maintenance, or inadequate security causes a guest to be hurt, the law provides a path to compensation. Attorney Steven M. Sweat has spent over 25 years representing injured victims throughout California as a dedicated hotel accident attorney, recovering full and fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Hotel injury claims are far more complicated than they may appear. Large hotel chains like Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and Sheraton — as well as independent motels and boutique resorts — carry substantial insurance coverage and employ experienced claims adjusters and defense attorneys whose sole job is to minimize what they pay you. Without a skilled hotel injury attorney by your side, you risk settling for far less than your case is truly worth, or having your claim denied altogether. Our firm levels the playing field.
Common Hotel Accidents We Handle
As a hotel accident lawyer practicing in California for decades, Steven M. Sweat has represented clients injured in virtually every type of hotel accident imaginable. Below is an overview of the most common incidents that give rise to hotel injury claims in California.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Hotel lobbies, guest rooms, bathrooms, pool decks, hallways, and parking structures are among the most common sites of slip and fall accidents. Many hotels use marble, ceramic tile, or polished stone flooring that becomes dangerously slick when wet. Spilled liquids, cleaning products, improperly applied wax, and pool water tracked indoors all create hazardous conditions. Tripping hazards — including uneven flooring, loose carpeting, poorly placed furniture, potted plants, and extension cords — are equally common causes of serious falls. A hotel injury lawyer can investigate the scene, obtain maintenance records, and retain forensic engineering experts to establish that the dangerous condition existed and that the hotel knew or should have known about it.
Swimming Pool and Water Feature Accidents
Hotel pools, hot tubs, water slides, and splash areas are a leading source of serious injuries and wrongful deaths. When pools are not properly maintained, fenced, or supervised, guests face risks including drowning, near-drowning, electrocution from faulty pool wiring, and severe head, neck, or spinal injuries from diving or jumping into shallow water. California law imposes strict requirements on hotel pool operators, and a hotel accident attorney can identify every applicable code violation and safety standard that was breached.
Negligent Security and Criminal Assaults
Hotels have a legal duty to provide reasonable security measures to protect guests from foreseeable criminal activity. When a hotel fails to maintain adequate lighting in parking structures, stairwells, and common areas — or fails to employ sufficient security personnel, functioning surveillance cameras, or secure key-card access systems — guests can become victims of robbery, assault, sexual assault, or other violent crimes. If the hotel had prior notice of criminal activity on or near its property and failed to act, a hotel injury lawyer can hold it accountable for the resulting harm.
Parking Lot and Valet Accidents
Many California hotels offer both self-parking and valet services. Poorly designed parking structures, inadequate lighting, failure to maintain pavement, and the negligent driving of valet attendants or hotel shuttle drivers can cause serious vehicle accidents and pedestrian injuries. These incidents may involve both the hotel’s premises liability and the direct negligence of its employees — claims that an experienced hotel accident attorney is well-equipped to pursue simultaneously.
Elevator and Escalator Injuries
Malfunctioning elevators and escalators can cause guests to fall, become trapped, or suffer crushing injuries. Hotels are required to maintain these mechanical systems in safe working order and to conduct regular inspections. When they fail to do so, a hotel injury lawyer can pursue claims against both the hotel and, where applicable, the elevator maintenance company.
Assault and Battery by Hotel Staff
Guests who are assaulted, harassed, or otherwise mistreated by hotel employees — including security personnel, bartenders, and other staff — may have claims not only against the individual employee but against the hotel itself under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers liable for the wrongful acts of employees acting within the scope of their employment.
Food Poisoning and Restaurant Injuries
Hotels that operate restaurants, bars, room service, or catering operations are responsible for the safety of the food and beverages they serve. Foodborne illness outbreaks, contaminated food, and alcohol-related incidents can all give rise to hotel injury claims. A hotel accident lawyer can work with medical experts to establish the causal link between the hotel’s food service and your illness or injury.
In-Room Hazards and Defective Conditions
Beyond the common slip and fall, hotel rooms themselves can harbor numerous dangers. Defective furniture (such as collapsing chairs or dressers), faulty wiring in lamps and appliances, broken bathroom fixtures, and malfunctioning smoke detectors can all lead to serious injuries. A hotel accident attorney can investigate these in-room accidents to determine if they were caused by the hotel’s failure to properly maintain, inspect, or replace dangerous items provided to guests.
Sporting Equipment and Recreational Activity Injuries
Many California resorts offer recreational amenities such as jet ski rentals, boat rentals, water skiing, scuba diving, fitness centers, and horseback riding. When these activities are not properly managed, staffed, or maintained, serious injuries can result, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and drowning. A hotel injury attorney can investigate whether the hotel met its duty of care in operating these facilities.
Construction Zone Accidents
Hotels that conduct renovation or construction projects while remaining open to guests create significant hazards. Exposed rebar, open excavations, heavy equipment, falling debris, and inadequate barriers can injure guests who are unaware of the dangers. A hotel accident lawyer can pursue claims against both the hotel and any contractors whose negligence contributed to the accident.
Animal-Related Injuries
Many California hotels and resorts are pet-friendly or offer equestrian activities. Dog bites, horse-related falls, and other animal-related injuries on hotel property can give rise to premises liability claims. California’s strict liability dog bite statute may also apply, depending on the circumstances.
California Law: What Hotel Owners Owe Their Guests
Under California law, hotels, motels, and resorts are classified as “innkeepers” — a status that carries a heightened duty of care toward guests. Like all commercial property owners, hotel operators are required to use reasonable care to discover unsafe conditions and to repair, replace, or provide adequate warning of any condition that could cause harm. This standard is codified in California Civil Jury Instruction (CACI) No. 1001.
The following table summarizes the key legal duties that California hotels owe to their guests:
| Legal Duty | What It Means for Guests |
| Duty to Inspect | Hotels must regularly inspect for hazards. |
| Duty to Repair or Warn | Hazards must be promptly fixed or warned about. |
| Vicarious Liability | Hotels are liable for employee negligence. |
| Presumed Notice | If an employee creates a hazard, the hotel is legally on notice. |
| Reasonable Security | Hotels must protect guests from foreseeable crime. |
| Controlled Property | The duty of care extends to all property the hotel controls. |
A hotel injury lawyer familiar with California premises liability law can identify every applicable duty, determine whether it was breached, and build a compelling case for full compensation.
What Compensation Can a Hotel Accident Attorney Recover for You?
When a hotel’s negligence causes injury, California law entitles the victim to recover a broad range of damages. An experienced hotel injury attorney will work to maximize every category of compensation available to you, which may include:
- Medical Expenses: All past and future costs of treatment, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and assistive devices.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Compensation for income lost during recovery, as well as any reduction in your future earning capacity if your injuries are permanent or long-lasting.
- Pain and Suffering: Monetary compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages for the ways in which your injuries have prevented you from enjoying activities and experiences you valued before the accident.
- Emotional Distress: Compensation for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological harm resulting from the accident.
- Wrongful Death Damages: If a loved one was killed in a hotel accident, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
Why Hire Steven M. Sweat as Your Hotel Injury Attorney?
Choosing the right hotel accident lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will make after being injured. Here is why injured Californians trust Steven M. Sweat:
Over 25 Years of Proven Results. Steven M. Sweat has been representing personal injury victims in California for more than a quarter century. His track record of successful settlements and verdicts against hotels, resorts, and their insurance companies speaks for itself.
Deep Knowledge of Hotel Premises Liability Law. Not every personal injury attorney understands the specific legal duties that California imposes on innkeepers. Steven M. Sweat has spent decades developing expertise in hotel and resort liability claims, including the applicable building codes, safety standards, and inspection requirements that govern these properties.
Access to Leading Expert Witnesses. Winning a hotel injury case often requires testimony from forensic engineers, safety experts, medical professionals, and accident reconstruction specialists. Our firm has established relationships with top experts throughout California who can provide the evidence needed to prove your case.
Aggressive Negotiation and Litigation. Insurance companies know which attorneys will fight and which will fold. Steven M. Sweat is known as a tenacious advocate who is fully prepared to take a case to trial if the hotel’s insurer refuses to offer fair compensation.
No Fee Unless We Win. Our firm handles all hotel injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless and until we recover compensation for you. There is no financial risk in calling us.
Statewide Coverage. With offices in Los Angeles, Glendale, West Covina, Ontario, Palmdale, Huntington Beach, Chula Vista, Torrance, and Santa Fe Springs, our firm is positioned to serve hotel accident victims throughout California.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hotel Injury Claims in California
How long do I have to file a hotel injury claim in California?
In most cases, California’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, certain circumstances — such as injuries to minors, claims involving government-owned properties, or delayed discovery of injuries — can affect this deadline. It is critical to consult a hotel injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are preserved.
What should I do immediately after a hotel accident?
If you are injured at a hotel, take the following steps if you are physically able to do so: (1) Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor; (2) Report the accident to hotel management and request a written incident report; (3) Photograph the scene, the hazard that caused your injury, and any visible injuries; (4) Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses; (5) Do not give a recorded statement to the hotel’s insurance company without first speaking to a hotel accident attorney.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes. California follows a system of pure comparative fault, which means that even if you were partially responsible for your accident, you can still recover compensation. Your damages will simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. A hotel injury attorney can help minimize any finding of comparative fault and maximize your recovery.
What if the hotel offers me a quick settlement?
Be very cautious about accepting any settlement offer from a hotel or its insurance company before consulting a hotel accident lawyer. Early settlement offers are almost always far below the true value of the claim. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you typically cannot pursue additional compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than initially believed.
Does it cost anything to speak with a hotel injury attorney?
No. Steven M. Sweat offers free consultations to all hotel accident victims. There is no obligation and no charge for the initial consultation. If we take your case, we work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you owe us nothing unless we win.
Can I sue a hotel for a crime committed on its property?
Yes, in many circumstances. If the hotel failed to provide adequate security measures and a guest was injured as a result of a foreseeable criminal act, the hotel may be held liable. A hotel injury lawyer can evaluate the specific facts of your case to determine whether the hotel’s security failures contributed to the crime.
The Importance of Acting Quickly After a Hotel Accident
Time is critical in hotel injury cases. Evidence can disappear quickly — surveillance footage is routinely overwritten within days, witnesses become harder to locate, and physical conditions at the scene are repaired or altered. A hotel accident attorney who is retained promptly can take immediate steps to preserve evidence, including sending a litigation hold letter to the hotel demanding that all relevant records, footage, and documentation be preserved.
Additionally, the longer you wait to seek legal representation, the more time the hotel’s insurance company has to build a defense against your claim. Contacting a hotel injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident gives your case the best possible chance of success.
Serving Hotel Accident Victims Throughout California
Our firm represents hotel injury victims in communities throughout California, including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale, Pasadena, West Covina, Ontario, Riverside, San Bernardino, Palmdale, Lancaster, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, San Diego, Chula Vista, Torrance, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs, and the surrounding areas.
Whether you were injured at a luxury resort in Beverly Hills, a budget motel along Interstate 5, or a beachfront hotel in Santa Monica, a hotel accident lawyer at our firm is ready to evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact a California Hotel Injury Lawyer Today — Free Consultation
Do not face the hotel’s insurance company alone. If you or a loved one was injured in a hotel accident anywhere in California, contact Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced hotel injury attorney.
- Toll Free: 866-966-5240
- Los Angeles: 310-592-0445
- West Covina: 626-296-3555
- Se Habla Español
- No Fee Until We Win Your Case
Our hotel accident attorneys are available to take your call and are ready to begin investigating your case immediately. You have nothing to lose — and everything to gain — by reaching out today.
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please contact our office directly to discuss the specific facts of your case.