Casino Accident Lawyer

Alcohol, music, flashing lights, the promise of easy money--these things are what make casinos fun. But when negligence is involved, what is supposed to be an enjoyable time could become a disaster.

Casino accidents are far more common than you may think. Guests or other casino goers cause some accidents, but most stem from the establishment’s negligence. Regardless of the cause, a casino accident can lead to severe injuries and losses far more significant than what you would lose to a slot machine.

You could be entitled to financial compensation if you were injured on a casino property because of the establishment’s negligence. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our casino injury attorneys help victims of slip and fall accidents, staff abuse, nightclub injuries, violent crime, and other casino mishaps recover fair compensation for their damages.

Contact our premises liability lawyers at (888) 424-5757 for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.

What is Premises Liability?

All property owners are legally obligated to make a reasonable effort to ensure the safety of guests. In a casino, all paying guests are ‘invitees,’ a legal term used for people on the property with the owner’s consent and for the owner’s benefit. Casino owners owe invitees the highest level of care regarding safety and security.

Legally speaking, a casino owner must address all known hazards and potential dangers that they should have known about, including but not limited to:

• Wet floors and spilled liquids
• Uneven and cracked floors
• Faulty handrails and broken staircases
• Poor lighting on walkways
• Old carpeting and rugs curling up at the ends
• Tripping hazards, e.g., loose electrical wiring, debris
• Broken or damaged pavement
• Malfunctioning elevators and escalators
• Faulty electrical sockets
• Damaged game machines
• Broken chairs
• Missing or broken smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
• Unmarked construction
• Cross-contamination in restaurants
• Unfenced or unguarded swimming pools and jacuzzis
• Inebriated guests that pose a danger to themselves and others
• Lack of security

Failure to address dangerous or defective conditions leads to premises liability, which holds the property owner liable for victims’ injuries.

Common Casino Accidents

When you’re in a casino, several incidents can occur, including:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: Slip-and-falls are the most common accidents in premises liability cases. They can occur due to several reasons, such as slippery floors, tripping hazards, overserving of alcohol, etc.

• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: These mishaps usually occur due to malfunctioning elevators and escalators. They involve elevator doors closing in on guests, elevators dropping before guests can step on, escalator steps giving out, etc. Usually, these accidents stem from insufficient maintenance of elevators and escalators.

• Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi Accidents: Like all other properties, casinos must ensure the safety of their guests by securing pools and jacuzzis properly. Lack of proper fencing, security, and lifeguards can lead to devastating injuries and even death.

• Electrocutions: Electric shock can occur when casinos neglect their electrical fixtures, including sockets and gaming machines. This type of accident can also be caused by a lack of signage to keep guests from touching potentially dangerous fixtures. Electrocution injuries can be life-threatening.

• Parking Lot Accidents: Many casino accidents don’t even occur inside the building but rather outside, where guests park their cars. Slip-and-falls are the most common parking lot accidents, typically due to poorly maintained pavement, debris, and poor lighting.

• Food Poisoning: Guests may suffer food-borne illnesses from contaminated food or drinks served in casino restaurants. Failing to serve safe food to guests with allergies also counts as personal injury. Common causes of food poisoning include poorly maintained food storage, inadequate food safety practices, and poor staff training.

• Incidents Caused by Negligent Security: Casino guests may become victims of violent crime if the property does not employ sufficient security. Related incidents may include robbery, physical assault, rape, and murder. Furthermore, casinos may put their guests at risk due to negligent hiring practices, e.g., failing to run background checks on staff members.

• Fires: There is an increased fire risk in casinos because they have higher electric consumption, more flammable elements (e.g., alcohol), increased chances of unruly guest behavior, and other similar factors. If a casino does not follow fire safety regulations, one minor incident can lead to a disastrous outcome.

• Alcohol-Related Incidents: Over-serving refers to serving guests too much alcohol to the point that they become a danger to themselves and others. Negligent casinos may over-serve guests and increase the risk of slip-and-fall injuries, assaults, property damage, etc.

• Falling Object Incidents: Casino accidents may also be caused by falling objects, such as an overhead light or decorative feature. These incidents are rare, but they can be disastrous when they do occur.

Casino Accident Injuries

Our personal injury attorneys have handled countless cases involving a wide variety of casino injuries, including:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur due to a slip and fall accident, a falling object, assault, and any other incident that involves a sudden blow to the head. TBIs include concussions, contusions (brain bruises), hemorrhaging (brain bleeds), and skull fractures. Depending on the severity, a TBI can be life-threatening or lead to permanent brain damage.

• Spinal Cord Injuries: Some accidents are so severe that they cause spinal cord damage, which, in turn, can lead to sensory and mobility issues. Severe spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis.

• Bruises and Lacerations: Many casino incidents cause bruises and cuts, which are usually not severe. Significant bruising or lacerations, on the other hand, may require hospitalization.

• Fractures: Casino slip and fall accidents, elevator or escalator incidents, and violent crimes can lead to broken bones. These injuries range from mild to severe but usually require immediate medical attention.

• Burns: A burn can be caused by fires, harsh chemicals, or electric shock. Depending on the size and severity of the burn, this injury can be potentially life-threatening if not debilitating.

• Drowning: Negligent swimming pool security and maintenance could lead to accidental drowning. Even if the victim survives, they may spend days in the hospital and even suffer permanent brain damage.

• Food Poisoning and Allergic Reactions: Food-borne illnesses can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and dehydration. Severe cases can lead to hospitalization. On the other hand, allergic reactions include hives, respiratory problems, vomiting, etc. Some people may suffer anaphylactic shock (a severe and potentially fatal reaction to an allergen) if they come in contact with unsafe foods.

• Wrongful Death: Almost all casino injuries can be fatal, but most dangerous incidents usually involve severe impact to the head, drowning, intense bleeding, falls from a great height, direct assault, and other similarly severe incidents.

What to Do if You Get Hurt in a Casino

Whether in a Las Vegas hotel or a local Illinois casino, it helps to know what to do if you get hurt on a business premises. Our casino injury lawyers recommend following these steps:

• Seek Help: If you suffer a significant injury, call a staff member immediately. Ask for a doctor or go to the hospital if you have a head injury. Call the police if a crime has occurred.

• Talk to the Manager: Relay the incident to the casino manager. They should file an incident report of your case.

• Document the Scene: Take pictures and videos of the accident scene, paying close attention to the object or element that caused your accident. Write down the date, time, location of the casino, and the manager’s name. If witnesses or other people are involved in the incident, write down their names and contact information.

• Go to the Hospital: Seek medical treatment, even if you feel fine. Some injuries don’t manifest immediately, and a doctor can determine whether or not you have any.

• Find a Casino Injury Lawyer: Most injured victims need legal assistance to recover fair compensation from large businesses like casinos. Find an experienced personal injury lawyer who can handle your casino accident case.

How to File a Personal Injury Claim Against a Casino

A casino’s negligence can cause serious injuries and significant financial losses to victims. Luckily, you can hold a negligent casino responsible for its actions (or lack thereof) with the help of a casino injury attorney.

First, you must prove the following are true:

• The defendant (casino owner) owed a duty of care to you. Under premises liability law, business owners must ensure the safety of everyone who visits their property. The casino owes you, a paying customer, the highest duty of care and should have addressed all hazards within reasonable expectations.

• The defendant breached this duty of care. You must prove that the casino acted negligently, e.g., failed to secure the gambling hall or protect you from a violent guest.

• You suffered a significant injury. When filing claims, personal injury victims must prove that they have suffered significant harm from the accident, whether physical, emotional, or financial.

• The defendant’s negligence directly led to your damages. You must prove that the accident caused your damages, such as hospital bills, lost income, emotional trauma, etc.

Your Casino Accident Lawyer Will Help You Gather Evidence

Often, the most challenging part of filing a personal injury lawsuit is collecting evidence. Fortunately, our casino accident lawyers will help you gather viable proof for your case, such as:

• Medical records
• Accident reports
• Police reports
• Surveillance footage
• Witness accounts
• Expert testimony

You will learn more about what evidence you need during your free case review.

The Negligent Casino Should Be Held Liable for Your Damages

Our personal injury lawyers will help you recover compensation for your losses, including:

• Medical Expenses: Out-of-pocket expenses for emergency transportation, hospitalization, medication, surgery, therapy, future medical bills, etc.

• Disability: Rehabilitation costs, mobility aids, loss of quality of life, and other related damages if you become injured from the accident.

• Lost Wages: Income, wages, benefits, revenue, and business opportunities lost due to your casino injury.

• Pain and Suffering: Monetary compensation for physical and emotional injuries, including physical pain, emotional trauma, mental anguish, etc.

• Loss of Quality of Life: Compensation for the quality or enjoyment of life lost due to the accident.

• Property Damage: Costs of replacing or repairing damaged or lost personal property.

• Wrongful Death: Funeral and burial expenses, pre-death medical bills, loss of companionship, and other related damages if your loved one dies in a casino accident.

• Punitive Damages: Additional damages awarded to cases involving gross negligence; used to punish defendants for egregious behavior and deter similar incidents in the future.

Settlements for personal injury cases vary. Your claim’s value will depend on several factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• Your age and occupation
• The extent of your damages
• Permanent disability, scarring, and disfigurement
• The defendant’s degree of negligence

Your settlement will also depend on the defendant’s insurer’s level of cooperation. Your casino accident lawyer will ensure you receive maximum compensation by negotiating with the insurance company. To avoid an unfair settlement, do not accept the initial offer, should there be one.

How Our Casino Injury Attorneys Can Help

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we believe every injured guest should receive full and fair compensation for their damages. Let our experienced casino accident attorneys take over your case and handle the following tasks:

• Investigate how and why your accident happened
• Identify all liable parties
• Determine the extent of your damages
• Collect evidence to support your claim
• File a claim with the defendant’s insurer
• Negotiate settlement values
• File your case in civil court, if necessary

Your lawyer will discuss these legal services further during your free consultation.

Seek Legal Assistance from The Best Casino Injury Lawyers Today

If a casino’s negligence injured you or a loved one, you might be able to recover compensation from responsible parties.

The experienced attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help you obtain the justice you deserve. Our law firm handles hundreds of casino injury cases yearly, ensuring all victims receive fair settlements and those negligent facilities are held liable for their actions.

Contact (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form for a free case evaluation with a casino accident lawyer. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.

Our attorneys handle all accepted cases on a contingency fee basis. Under this agreement, you don’t have to pay our legal fees unless we win your case.

Resources:

• About Premises Liability Act | Illinois General Assembly
• Work-Related Falls | CDC