Booking.com is an online travel agency that handles bookings for accommodations, flights, car rentals, and other travel-related services. As a travel marketplace, the company is an extremely popular option for individuals and businesses all around the world.
The site is easy to use when you’re looking up places to stay and how to get there. But things get complicated when you are injured at a hotel, motel, or resort that you found on Booking.com. In these situations, the company is quick to absolve themselves by saying they are a third party platform that connects people with rental properties. Any lawsuits involving an accident at the location is solely the hotel’s responsibility.
However, there are ways that an online marketplace can play a role in someone’s accident, which would make them a liable party in a lawsuit for monetary damages. In this article, we will discuss how Booking.com can be legally liable for a hotel accident. Additionally, we will answer important questions related to this topic, such as:
- Can I sue Booking.com for injury during hotel stay if I booked a hotel room / motel room through them?
- Are they responsible for accidents or injury in a hotel that’s listed on their website?
- What types of compensation can I demand in a lawsuit against Booking.com?
Remember that this information is for general purposes only, and you must speak to a personal injury lawyer if you have specific questions about your case. Our lawyers are waiting to speak with you, so please give us a call and schedule a free case evaluation.
Types of Accidents at Hotels on Booking.com
There is no shortage of ways that someone can be injured while they’re staying at a motel, hotel, or resort. But the vast majority of accidents are preventable, as long as the hotel keeps up on basic duties like cleaning and maintenance. Regular inspections, for example, can alert staff members to hazards like water leaks, cracked steps, and broken doors / locks.
If reasonable measures are not taken to ensure the safety of the property, one of these accidents is likely to happen:
- Slip and fall
- Falling objects
- Trip and fall
- Broken step / stair injury
- Elevator / escalator accidents
- Electric shock, burns, and fires
- Drowning (hotel pool or hot tub)
- Collapsing ceiling / roof
- Food poisoning
- Bathroom injuries (slipping in the shower, broken toilet seat, etc.)
- Assault and battery
- Robbery / muggings
- Sexual assault
- Car crashes and other parking lot accidents
- Bed bug infestation
- Gym equipment injuries
- Broken chair / furniture injuries
- Broken or leaking AC (heat stroke, refrigerant poisoning)
- Golf cart accidents
The party that’s obviously responsible in these accidents is the hotel, but other entities may share blame if a hotel guest is injured. This is the key element that must be examined in a case involving a property that was reserved through a travel booking site. If you were injured at a hotel that was booked on Booking.com, can you sue them for monetary compensation?
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Are they Liable for Accidents or Injury in a Hotel or Resort?
Generally, it’s the hotel, motel, or resort that would be responsible for an injury on their premises. But if the lodgings were booked on Booking.com, there may be situations where the company shares liability with the hotel. First and foremost, you would have to establish an act of negligence by Booking.com. Then, you would have to prove that their negligence was a contributing factor in your accident.
Here are some examples of travel booking site negligence that can lead to injuries at a hotel:
- Deleting / hiding reviews that include serious allegations about a hotel.
- Posting false or misleading information about properties on their website.
- Refusing to believe or assist travelers that report hazardous conditions on a property.
- Engaging in deliberate cover ups with property owners to bury accusations of negligence and / or criminal activity.
- Failure to terminate partnerships with properties that are in violation of their policies.
Your accident will have its own set of circumstances, which you can discuss with one of our attorneys. It’s essential that you take action right away, as lawsuits involving web-based companies are very complicated. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can recover the damages you deserve.
Can I Sue Booking.com for Injury in Hotels, Motels, and Resorts?
Yes, you can sue Booking.com for a hotel injury if an act of negligence by the company was a factor in your accident. While the accident occurred on the hotel’s property, there are cases of booking sites putting user’s lives in danger in a variety of ways. For example, let’s say Booking.com systematically deleted reviews that included serious safety violations by one of the hotels on their website. If someone books a room at this hotel and they are injured due to one of these safety violations, the victims may be able to sue Booking.com along with the hotel.
Keep in mind that is a simplistic example, and many cases of booking site liability are much more complicated. To discuss Booking.com’s responsibility in your own accident, contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
Steps You Should take after a Hotel Accident Injury
Even if you have strong evidence to support your clam, there are certain steps you should take to ensure that your rights are protected. Here are the actions we recommend if you’ve been injured on the premises of a hotel or resort:
- See a doctor, even if your injuries are not life-threatening. This can help prevent complications, like infections and traumatic brain injury, which are not obvious right away. A medical report will also be necessary to file an injury claim or lawsuit against the liable entities.
- Call 911 for an ambulance if you have serious injuries. You should also call 911 if you’ve been sexually assaulted, beaten up, or suffered some other type of criminal action. Filing a police report is essential, whether you are seeking criminal prosecution or monetary damages.
- Use your phone or camera to take pictures / video of your injuries. Take pictures of the accident scene as well, and look around for surveillance cameras that may have captured your incident. You should also obtain witness statements, or get their contact information so you can ask for statements later.
- Make sure to file an accident report with someone in charge, like the manager of the hotel. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you can do this right before or after you seek medical attention. Ask for a copy of the report before you leave, but don’t sign anything until you’ve consulted an attorney.
- Report the accident to Booking.com by calling 1 (888) 850-3958, which is their customer service line. This way, the company cannot question your credibility by saying you never told them about the accident.
- Talk to an experienced hotel injury lawsuit attorney as soon as you can.
Our lawyers will take immediate and aggressive action your case, and we will not rest until you achieve the resolution you are entitled to. Just give us a call and take some time to speak with one of our attorneys.
How can I File a Lawsuit against Booking.com?
Suing an online platform is a relatively new area of law, so these legal actions are undeniably complicated. To ensure the best possible outcome, you should work with an attorney that’s experienced in third party liability claims. Our lawyers have decades of experience in this area, as well as personal injury and wrongful death claims involving hotel accidents. When you choose Normandie, we’ll conduct a detailed investigation and obtain the necessary evidence to build a strong case. Then, we will determine a fair settlement to ask for and ensure that you are fully compensated by the hotel, Booking.com, and any other responsible party.
To learn more about the actions we can take on your behalf, please reach out to us at our office.
What can I Recover from a Booking.com Lawsuit?
The damages you can recover in a lawsuit against Booking.com will depend on the extent of your injuries and what those injuries have taken away from your life. If you are the injured victim, your compensation package may include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitative services / assisted care costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages / lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Legal fees
- Punitive damages
As a family member or loved one of someone who passed away in a hotel accident, you may be eligible to receive wrongful death compensation. This type of claim covers the following losses:
- Medical bills up to the date of death
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of expected wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of benefits and gifts
- Loss of consortium
- Legal fees
It’s essential to understand each of these damages and how they apply to your situation. Our lawyers will calculate a fair amount of funds to ask for, based on the extent of what you and your family have suffered. To get started on a claim for a hotel accident injury, contact our office and schedule a free consultation.
Legal Advice from the Lawyers of Normandie
Legal representation is the single most important factor when you’ve been injured by another party’s negligence or misconduct. The compensation process is difficult to navigate when multiple parties are involved, which may be the case if you were harmed at a hotel, motel, or resort that was booked through Booking.com.
The truth is, many victims are aware of the need for an experienced attorney, which is precisely what you will find at our law firm. But they are reluctant to ask for help due to the costs that are associated with hiring a lawyer. We’re happy to provide you peace of mind with our Zero fee guarantee, which makes all our services free. Our expenses are paid by the parties you are suing, which means we get paid at the same time you do. If we don’t win your case, we eat the costs, since we operate under the principle of “No recovery, no payment.”
We look forward to speaking with you and fighting for the settlement you deserve. Please give us a call and speak to a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit attorney.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
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