Please note: Triumph Attorney Connect is an attorney matching and referral service, not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different; talk with a licensed Nevada attorney about your specific case. No outcome is guaranteed.
Common hotel and casino injuries
- Slips and falls on spilled drinks, freshly mopped floors, wet entryways, and pool decks (see our slip and fall guide)
- Trips over torn carpet, cords, uneven flooring, and poorly marked steps
- Escalator, elevator, and moving walkway injuries
- Falling objects, including items from shelves, signage, and fixtures
- Pool and spa injuries, including drowning incidents and chemical exposure
- Parking garage incidents, such as vehicles backing into pedestrians or poorly lit areas
- Assaults and security failures involving other guests or outsiders
- Food poisoning and bed bug bites
How premises liability works in Nevada
In general, businesses that invite the public in must use reasonable care to keep their property reasonably safe. In a typical fall case, an injured guest generally needs to show that a dangerous condition existed, that the property caused it or knew or should have known about it, and that it wasn't fixed or warned about in time. Whether the property "should have known" often depends on how long the hazard was there and how the property inspects its floors, which is why surveillance video and cleaning logs can be so important.
Fault can be shared. Under Nevada's modified comparative negligence rule (NRS 41.141), an injured person generally may still recover if their share of fault isn't greater than the property's, with the recovery reduced by their share. Properties sometimes argue a guest was distracted or had been drinking, so the details matter.
Assaults and security at Las Vegas resorts
Nevada has a specific statute for injuries at hotels and similar properties caused by someone who isn't an employee, such as another guest. Under NRS 651.015, the owner is generally liable only if the wrongful act was foreseeable and the property failed to take reasonable precautions against it. The statute says an act isn't foreseeable unless the property failed to use due care for guests' safety or had notice of prior similar incidents on the premises, and the court decides foreseeability as a matter of law. These cases turn heavily on evidence like security staffing, prior incident reports, and video, so they're best reviewed by an attorney experienced with them.
Claims based on alcohol service are also limited in Nevada. NRS 41.1305 generally bars claims against those who serve alcohol to people 21 or older for harm the drinker later causes. Other theories, like inadequate security, may still apply depending on the facts.
What to do if you're hurt at a hotel or casino
- Get medical help. Ask for security or medical staff, or call 911 if needed.
- Report the incident before you leave the property and ask for a copy of the incident report, or at least the report number and the name of the person who took it.
- Photograph the hazard, the area, any warning signs or the lack of them, your shoes, and your injuries.
- Get witness contacts, including other guests.
- Ask about video. Casinos have extensive camera coverage, but footage may be kept for a limited time. An attorney can send a written request to preserve it.
- Be careful about what you sign. Don't sign a release or give a recorded statement to the property's insurer until you understand your rights.
- Keep receipts for medical care, changed flights, extra hotel nights, and other costs.
Hurt on vacation? You can still get help from home
Many people injured at Las Vegas resorts live out of state. A Nevada-licensed attorney can often handle much of the case remotely, and you can usually get treatment from your own doctors at home. The two-year Nevada deadline for most injury lawsuits (NRS 11.190(4)(e)) generally still applies, and video evidence can disappear much sooner, so it's best to act quickly. Read our statute of limitations guide for details.
How a lawyer can help
A premises injury attorney can request video and incident reports, identify the right parties (resorts often involve operators, contractors, and vendors), document your losses, and deal with the property's insurer or claims administrator. Most work on contingency under a written agreement. For tips on comparing attorneys, see how to choose a personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas.