Las Vegas attracts over 40 million visitors each year, and with the non-stop activity in casinos, hotels, and entertainment venues, property owners sometimes fail to keep their premises safe. Maybe you slipped on a wet casino floor, fell because of poor lighting in a hotel hallway, or were hurt at a pool party. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, it’s time to call a Las Vegas premises liability lawyer.
What Is Premises Liability?
Most premises liability cases are negligence torts, which means causing harm by failing to provide “reasonable care.” For a successful claim under Las Vegas premises liability law, you’ll need to show that the property owner knew about (or should have known about) a dangerous condition, they failed to fix it or warn you about it, this failure directly caused your injury, and you suffered actual damages as a result.
Types of Premises Liability Cases
Las Vegas premises liability attorneys see many types of cases, from casino accidents to hotel mishaps, but they often fall into one of several categories. Each type of premises liability has its own challenges when seeking compensation.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are the most common premises liability cases in Las Vegas. They happen in casinos when drinks get spilled on marble floors, in hotels when bathroom floors are left wet, or in restaurants when food debris isn’t cleaned up promptly. Property owners need to have regular cleaning schedules and warning signs for wet areas.
Las Vegas building codes also require certain safety features like proper handrails on stairs and adequate lighting in walkways. If these are missing or broken, and you fall as a result, you might have a strong case. Many casinos have surveillance cameras that can help prove how long a hazard was present before your accident.
Swimming Pool Accidents
With Las Vegas’s hot climate, pools are everywhere. Unfortunately, they’re also sites of serious accidents and drownings. Hotel pools on the Strip often host crowded pool parties where alcohol is served, creating dangerous conditions if not properly monitored.
For private pools, Nevada law requires barriers at least 4 feet high around residential pools to prevent children from accessing them unsupervised. If a child is injured in a pool that wasn’t properly secured, the homeowner could be held responsible. Even adult visitors may have a claim if proper safety equipment wasn’t available or if the pool area had dangerous features like broken tiles or inadequate lighting.
Inadequate Security
Las Vegas properties, especially those where large amounts of cash change hands, have a duty to provide reasonable security. This includes casinos, hotels, parking garages, and nightclubs. If you were assaulted or robbed in a poorly lit parking garage, a hotel hallway without security cameras, or at an event with insufficient security personnel, the property owner might be liable.
Security issues aren’t limited to violent crime. Proper security also helps prevent theft from hotel rooms and can deter fights in nightclubs and bars, which are common in Las Vegas’s 24-hour party atmosphere. Many Las Vegas security negligence cases involve inadequate training of security staff or failure to respond to previous similar incidents in the same location.
Falling Objects
With the constant construction and renovation on the Strip, falling objects pose a serious risk to both workers and passersby. Construction sites must be properly secured to prevent tools, materials, or debris from falling onto sidewalks or neighboring properties. Inside hotels and casinos, items like light fixtures, ceiling tiles, or decorative elements can cause injuries if not properly installed and maintained.
Other Dangerous Property Conditions
Beyond these common scenarios, Las Vegas properties might have other dangerous conditions that lead to injuries. Exposed electrical wiring in older buildings, escalator and elevator malfunctions, toxic chemical exposure in hotel pools or spas, and burn hazards from hot water systems can all cause serious injuries. Food poisoning from hotel buffets or restaurants is another common issue in Las Vegas’s massive food service industry.
<h2>Injuries Sustained in Premises Liability Cases</h2>
Premises liability accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor cuts to life-changing trauma. The type and severity of your injury will affect how much compensation you might receive. A Las Vegas premises liability lawyer can tell you more about the following types of injuries.
Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations often happen when people fall onto sharp edges or broken glass, or from dog bites at properties where dangerous animals weren’t properly controlled. In Las Vegas hotels, broken glass near pools or in bathrooms can cause serious cuts. Even seemingly minor cuts can lead to infections or scarring.
Burns
Burns can occur from hot water in hotel showers, malfunctioning coffee makers in rooms, kitchen accidents in restaurants, or even pyrotechnic effects at Las Vegas shows. Third-degree burns often require extensive treatment, including skin grafts and hospitalization, and can leave permanent scarring.
Broken Bones
Broken bones commonly result from slip and falls, especially in the busy casinos and hotels of Las Vegas where marble floors become extremely slippery when wet. Wrist and ankle fractures often happen when people try to catch themselves during a fall. Even a simple fracture can lead to medical costs, physical therapy, and lost wages while you recover, while more complex injuries can leave you with permanent mobility issues.
Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most serious premises liability injuries and can occur when someone falls and hits their head on a hard casino floor or is struck by a falling object at a construction site. TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe injuries causing permanent disability. If your medical costs are high or you need specialized trauma care, you’ll want an experienced Las Vegas premises liability accident lawyer.
Knee and Ankle Injuries
Knee and ankle injuries are especially common in slip and fall cases. Las Vegas visitors often walk miles each day exploring the Strip, making a leg injury particularly problematic. Torn ligaments, sprains, or dislocations can require surgery and extensive physical therapy. If your injury prevents you from working, additional compensation for lost wages may be available, including workers’ compensation if it happened on the job.
Facial Injuries
Facial injuries can occur when someone falls forward, suffers a burn, or is hit by an object, causing both physical pain and emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life due to visible scarring or disfigurement. It’s important to have a good Las Vegas premises liability lawyer to help you calculate pain and suffering.
Premises Liability Lawsuits: How Do They Work?
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, a premises liability lawyer in Las Vegas can help you prepare for what’s ahead. Here’s what typically happens in a premises liability case:
- Before anything else, take care of your health. This also creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident.
- You’ll want to take photos of the dangerous condition that caused your injury, get contact information from witnesses, and keep records of all medical bills and lost wages.
- Talk to a lawyer. Las Vegas premises liability law can be complex, and properties often have experienced legal teams. A free consultation with a lawyer can help you understand if you have a case.
- Your lawyer will gather evidence, like security camera footage (which most businesses have plenty of), maintenance records, and witness statements.
- Your lawyer will determine liability. Multiple parties may be responsible, especially in Las Vegas.
- Next, calculate damages. Your compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and sometimes punitive damages if the negligence was extreme.
- Your lawyer will file a demand letter and then file a lawsuit if necessary.
- Your lawyer will negotiate with the parties involved. Most cases settle before trial. Las Vegas casinos and hotels often prefer to settle quietly rather than go to court.
- If a fair settlement can’t be reached, your case may go to trial, though this is rare.
One tricky aspect of premises liability in Las Vegas is that many victims were visiting from out of state when they were injured. A Las Vegas premises liability lawyer can handle your case even after you’ve returned home.
Why Choose Blackburn Wirth Premises Liability Law Firm?
After an injury on someone else’s property in Las Vegas, you need a premises liability law firm that understands both the local legal landscape and the unique aspects of these types of cases. At Blackburn Wirth:
- We’ve helped countless visitors and locals get fair compensation after being injured at casinos, hotels, restaurants, and other properties throughout Las Vegas.
- We know the tactics that big casinos and hotels use to minimize payouts, and we’re not intimidated by their corporate legal teams.
- We provide personal attention to every client, understanding that an injury can be especially stressful if you were visiting Las Vegas.
- We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case.
- We offer free initial consultations to evaluate your case and explain your options.
- We have deep knowledge of Nevada premises liability laws and how they apply to Las Vegas’s unique entertainment and hospitality environment.
Don’t try to handle a premises liability claim on your own—the property owner’s insurance company will try to settle for as little as possible. Call one of our experienced Las Vegas premises liability lawyers today at 702-464-5000 or fill out the form online for a free case evaluation, and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.
Common Questions for Premises Liability Attorneys in Las Vegas
Who can be held responsible for a premises liability injury?
In Las Vegas, liability can extend to several parties depending on the circumstances of your accident. The property owner, like a casino corporation, is often primarily responsible, but liability may also fall on business operators, property management companies, or maintenance contractors. Las Vegas premises liability lawyers are familiar with the complexity of the city’s establishments.
What should I do if I’m injured on someone else’s property?
If you’re injured on someone else’s property in Las Vegas, you should report the incident to management immediately and ask for an incident report. Take photos of the dangerous condition and your injuries if possible, and collect contact information from any witnesses. Seek medical attention right away, even for seemingly minor injuries, as some problems may not be immediately apparent.
How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Nevada?
In Nevada, you typically have two years from the date of your injury to file a premises liability lawsuit. This legal deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Failing to file within this timeframe typically means losing your right to seek compensation. Don’t delay speaking with an attorney, as gathering evidence is easier when done promptly after the incident.
How much do Las Vegas premises liability attorneys cost?
Most Las Vegas premises liability attorneys, including our team at Blackburn Wirth, work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs or hourly fees, and we only get paid if we win your case or secure a settlement. This arrangement makes legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation, and aligns the lawyer’s interests with getting you the maximum possible compensation.
