Steps to Take After a Wrongful Death in a Hotel

When you check into a hotel, you expect a safe and peaceful place to rest. You trust the hotel to look out for your safety. But wrongful death in hotels happens more often than most of us realize.

When that trust is broken—and someone you love dies as a result of a hotel’s negligence—it can lead to a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you’ve lost a loved one due to something that happened in a hotel, it’s important to understand your legal rights. Not every accident is considered wrongful death, but if the hotel failed to provide reasonable care and that failure caused someone’s death, they may be held responsible.

How Can a Hotel Be Liable for Wrongful Death?

Hotels have a legal duty to keep their guests safe. That means they have to maintain the property, provide adequate security, and respond quickly to dangers. When they don’t do these things, people can get seriously hurt, or worse.

Here are some common situations where a hotel might be responsible for a wrongful death:

Negligent Security

If a hotel fails to provide proper security and a guest is attacked or killed, the hotel may be liable. This might include maintaining working locks, security cameras, and trained staff.

Some hotels have been held responsible for violent activity on their premises. While this can’t always be prevented, hotels are expected to take action if they suspect someone violent, illegally armed, or otherwise threatening enters their property.

Unsafe Conditions

Broken staircases, faulty elevators, fire code violations, or poor lighting can all lead to deadly accidents. If the hotel knew about the hazard (or should have known) and didn’t fix it, they can be held responsible.

This is the same as with any business or home – you have the duty to keep your property safe.

Pool Accidents

Drownings can happen when pools are poorly maintained, unguarded, or lack proper signage. Just like any homeowner, hotels have a duty to make pool areas as safe as possible, especially for children.

While no one can perfectly protect a pool area from accidents, we’ve written before about basic pool safety measures you can take.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Faulty heaters or poor ventilation systems can cause carbon monoxide leaks, which can be deadly. Hotels are supposed to regularly inspect and maintain their systems to prevent this.

Delayed Emergency Response

If hotel staff fail to call 911 or delay in responding to a medical emergency, their inaction could make things worse and even lead to a preventable death.

What You Can Recover in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If you’ve lost someone because of a hotel’s negligence, a wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover damages. These can include:

  • Medical bills (if your loved one received treatment before passing)
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost income and support
  • Pain and suffering (yours and your loved one’s)

Every case is different, and what you’re able to recover will depend on the facts and circumstances.

What to Do If You Suspect a Wrongful Death in a Hotel

Losing someone suddenly—especially in a place where they should have been safe—is incredibly painful. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own. If you suspect that your loved one’s death was preventable, here’s what you can do:

  • Get copies of all reports from the hotel, police, and medical professionals.
  • Take photos of the scene, if possible.
  • Write down everything you remember, including what the hotel told you.
  • Talk to a wrongful death lawyer as soon as you can.

A good lawyer will investigate what really happened, gather evidence, and help you hold the hotel accountable if they failed in their duty of care.

Darrell CastleYou Deserve Answers: Legal Help for Wrongful Death in Hotels

No hotel stay should end in tragedy. If you believe negligence played a role in your loved one’s death, you have every right to ask questions and seek justice.

A wrongful death lawsuit isn’t just about money—it’s about making sure the people responsible are held accountable and helping to prevent future deaths.

That’s what we do every day at our Memphis personal injury firm, and we’re very good at it. It’s how we’ve received multiple awards for client satisfaction and 5-star ratings across the internet. We bring our expertise, compassion, and results to every case we consider.

If you need help, reach out to a Memphis wrongful death attorney today. Contact us online or give us a call at 901-327-2100. We’re here to listen, support you, and fight for the justice you deserve.