Slipping in a Hotel Shower

I’m Katelyn Holub, an attorney focusing on personal injury law in northwest Indiana.

Welcome to Personal Injury Primer, where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss personal injury law topics.

Today’s question comes from a caller who said that when he stayed at a local hotel, he slipped while using the shower tub in his room and broke an arm. He said the shower floor was not slip-resistant. He wanted to know if he had a case to pursue against the hotel owner.

Where a hotel presents a guest with an unreasonably dangerous condition, it is possible to sue for negligence and seek damages for any injuries suffered. This means that a successful claim against the hotel owner is possible.

But keep in mind that the guest who sues has the burden of proof to establish all the material elements required to present a winning premises liability claim.

That means the guest, likely through expert testimony or other valid evidence, must show that presenting a guest with a shower tub without a slip-resistant surface to stand on was unreasonably dangerous. This evidence is crucial in establishing negligence and supporting a winning premises liability claim.

In other words, the mere fact that someone slipped in a wet shower tub without more evidence does not establish negligence on its own.

To be successful against the hotel, the guest and his attorney will need to be prepared to present evidence of industry standards, safety codes, or other expert testimony.

This expert testimony will need to support the claim that the shower tub was unusually slippery or unsafe, providing a strong foundation for the case.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you are a victim of someone’s carelessness, substandard medical care, product defect, work injury, or another personal injury, please call (219) 736-9700 with your questions. You can also learn more about us by visiting our website at DavidHolubLaw.com. While there, make sure you request a copy of our book “Fighting for Truth.”