Hotel Injury Claims in Wayne & Kent Counties

Hotels are supposed to be places of comfort and safety—not danger zones. Whether you’re traveling for work, visiting family, or staying overnight close to home, you have the right to expect that a hotel has taken reasonable steps to protect you from harm.

But hotel injuries happen every day in Wayne County and Kent County. A wet lobby floor. A broken stair rail. Poor lighting in a parking garage. A security failure that puts guests at risk. These incidents can happen in seconds, yet the consequences can last a lifetime.

If you were injured while staying at a hotel, you may have legal options under Michigan law. Medical bills, lost income, pain, and long-term limitations are not things you should be left to handle alone—especially when the injury was preventable.

At Marko Law, we take hotel injury claims seriously. We know how aggressively hotels and their insurers work to deny responsibility. And we don’t let them. We investigate, we confront negligence head-on, and we fight to hold hotels and corporate chains accountable when guest safety is treated as an afterthought.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Hotel Injury?

Hotel Owners and Operators

The owner or operator of the hotel is often the primary party responsible for maintaining safe conditions. This includes guest rooms, common areas, and all publicly accessible spaces.

National Hotel Chains and Franchises

Even when a hotel is locally owned, national chains may still share liability if they:

• Control safety policies or procedures
• Set maintenance standards
• Influence staffing, training, or security decisions

Property Management Companies

Some hotels rely on third-party management companies to oversee daily operations. When management fails to address hazards or enforce safety standards, they may be legally responsible.

Maintenance and Cleaning Contractors

Slip and fall injuries, structural hazards, and unsafe conditions are often traced back to negligent maintenance or cleaning crews. Contractors can be held accountable when their work creates or fails to fix dangerous conditions.

Security Companies

When hotels outsource security, those companies may share liability if inadequate staffing, training, or response contributes to guest injuries—especially in assault or crime-related cases.

Event Operators and Third-Party Vendors

Conferences, weddings, and large events often involve outside vendors. Liability may extend to those entities when unsafe setups, overcrowding, or negligence causes injury.

Michigan Premises Liability Law 

Premises liability law holds property owners and operators responsible for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on their property. This includes hotels and other commercial establishments open to the public.

Hotels as Commercial Property Owners

Hotels are not treated like private residences. As businesses inviting the public onto their property, they are subject to heightened legal responsibilities.

Legal Duty Owed to Hotel Guests

Hotel guests are considered invitees under Michigan law—the category owed the highest level of protection. Hotels must take reasonable steps to:

• Inspect the property for hazards
• Fix dangerous conditions
• Warn guests of risks they know or should know about

The Requirement to Maintain Reasonably Safe Premises

Hotels are not insurers of safety, but they must act reasonably. Cracked flooring, poor lighting, unsecured railings, and unaddressed spills are not acceptable risks.

Duty to Inspect, Repair, and Warn

Failure to inspect regularly, delay repairs, or ignore known dangers can form the basis of a valid hotel injury claim.

Hotel Negligence vs. Accidents

What Legally Qualifies as Hotel Negligence

Hotel negligence occurs when a hotel fails to act with reasonable care to protect its guests. This can include:

• Ignoring known hazards
• Failing to inspect or maintain the property
• Delaying repairs
• Not warning guests of dangerous conditions

Unavoidable Accidents vs. Preventable Hazards

An unavoidable accident might involve a sudden, unforeseeable event. Hotel negligence, on the other hand, involves preventable dangers—conditions that existed long enough for the hotel to fix or warn about.

Common Examples of Hotel Negligence

• Wet floors without warning signs
• Broken handrails or loose stairs
• Poor lighting in parking garages or hallways
• Defective locks or doors
• Unsafe balconies or railings
• Failure to address repeated guest complaints

Negligent Security and Criminal Acts at Hotels

When Hotels May Be Liable for Assaults, Robberies, or Attacks

Hotels can be held accountable when criminal activity is foreseeable and the hotel fails to take reasonable steps to protect guests.

This includes incidents such as:

• Assaults in parking lots or garages
• Robberies in hallways or common areas
• Attacks due to unsecured entrances

Foreseeability of Crime in Wayne & Kent Counties

Foreseeability is often established by:

• Prior crimes on the property
• Crime rates in the surrounding area
• Repeated guest complaints or police calls

Failure to Provide Adequate Security Measures

Negligent security often involves:

• Poor or broken lighting
• Malfunctioning locks or keycard systems
• Lack of security personnel
• Unmonitored entrances or stairwells

The Open and Obvious Defense

What “Open and Obvious” Means Under Michigan Law

Hotels frequently argue that a hazard was “open and obvious,” claiming the injured guest should have seen and avoided it.

How Hotels Try to Avoid Liability

This defense is often used to dismiss claims involving:

• Spills
• Uneven flooring
• Ice or water
• Poor lighting

Critical Exceptions That Still Allow Claims

Michigan law recognizes important exceptions:

• Special aspects that make a condition unreasonably dangerous
• Unavoidable hazards where guests had no reasonable alternative path
• Conditions that present a high likelihood of severe injury

Proving a Hotel Injury Claim in Wayne & Kent Counties

The Importance of Reporting the Injury Immediately

Reporting your injury as soon as it happens creates a record that the hotel cannot later deny. Delays give hotels room to argue:

• The injury happened elsewhere
• The condition didn’t exist
• The injury wasn’t serious

Surveillance Footage and Incident Reports

Hotels are filled with cameras—but footage is often overwritten in days or weeks. Incident reports prepared by hotel staff can also quietly disappear. Preserving these records early can make or break a case.

Maintenance Logs and Inspection Records

Maintenance schedules, cleaning logs, and inspection reports often reveal:

• Long-standing hazards
• Missed inspections
• Prior knowledge of unsafe conditions

Witness Statements and Guest Complaints

Other guests, hotel employees, or prior complaints can confirm that:

• The hazard existed before your injury
• The hotel ignored warnings
• The condition was recurring

Medical Documentation and Expert Testimony

Medical records connect the injury to the incident. In serious cases, expert testimony may be used to explain:

• How the injury occurred
• Why it was foreseeable
• The long-term impact on your life

What to Do After Being Injured at a Hotel

Seek Medical Care Immediately

Your health comes first. Prompt treatment also documents the severity and cause of your injuries.

Report the Injury to Hotel Management

Notify the front desk or manager and make sure the incident is formally recorded.

Request a Written Incident Report

Ask for a copy or confirmation that a report was created. This prevents the hotel from later denying knowledge.

Take Photos and Video of the Hazard

Capture:

• The exact condition that caused the injury
• Lighting, signage, and surrounding areas
• Any warning signs—or lack of them

Preserve Clothing and Footwear

Do not wash or discard what you were wearing. These items may later become evidence.

Avoid Recorded Statements to Insurers

Hotel insurers often ask for statements quickly—and use them against you later. You are not required to give one.

Contact an Experienced Hotel Injury Lawyer

Hotels have lawyers and insurers on their side from day one. You deserve the same level of protection.

Damages Available in a Michigan Hotel Injury Claim

Medical Expenses (Past and Future)

• Emergency care
• Hospitalization and surgery
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Future medical treatment

Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity

• Time missed from work
• Loss of future income
• Career limitations caused by the injury

Pain and Suffering

Compensation for physical pain, discomfort, and the daily consequences of the injury.

Emotional Distress

Anxiety, trauma, sleep disruption, and mental health effects caused by the incident.

Disability and Loss of Enjoyment of Life

When injuries limit mobility, independence, or the ability to enjoy normal activities.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Transportation, medications, medical equipment, and other injury-related costs.

Wrongful Death Damages (When Applicable)

When hotel negligence leads to a fatal injury, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death damages under Michigan law.

Hotels Must Be Held Accountable for Unsafe Conditions

Hotel injuries are rarely “just accidents.” They are often the result of ignored hazards, delayed repairs, understaffing, or corporate decisions that put profits ahead of guest safety.

Guests have the right to safe accommodations—whether they’re staying for one night or one month. When a hotel fails to meet its legal obligations and someone gets hurt, Michigan law provides a clear path to justice.

At Marko Law, we don’t let hotels hide behind excuses or insurance tactics. We fight to expose negligence, demand accountability, and pursue justice for injured guests across Wayne and Kent Counties.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

📞 Phone: +1-313-777-7777
📍 Main Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 Website: https://www.markolaw.com/