Slip and Fall Accidents on New Jersey Property

A Florida couple has filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia District Court against the Hyatt Hotel Corporation for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.  The plaintiffs claim that the woman named in the suit suffered multiple injuries after she slipped and fell on a wet walkway outside of the hotel.

In the lawsuit, Hyatt is being charged with negligence for not fixing a leaking air conditioning unit that created the hazard, failing to provide adequate lighting, and for not putting a non-slip mat over the wet walkway.

The plaintiffs are seeking in excess of $75,000 for slip and fall injuries to the woman’s right wrist and left foot as well as nerve, tissue, and tendon damage.  She is also claiming compensation for scarring and loss of function, which she claims have resulted in costly medical bills and the loss of her ability to attend to her everyday life functions.  Her husband is also listed in the lawsuit, claiming loss of consortium.

In Pennsylvania, a spouse whose partner is injured in an incident can sue for the loss of personal attention and help that the injured spouse is no longer able to provide them due to their injury.

Property Owner Liability

The owner of a facility is responsible to ensure their property is reasonably safe.  This includes providing adequate lighting, especially in stairwells, hallways, elevators, and outside walkways.  Loose carpets and debris on access ways can lead to falls if not properly maintained.

Wet walkways, like those cited at the Hyatt Place Hotel in this case, can cause serious slip and fall injuries.  The property owner can be held liable if the cause of the wet walkway is not remedied, or if caution signs or non-slip mats were not applied.

Injuries are common when people slip, trip, or fall, but when the incident occurs because of the negligence of a property owner or carelessness of another, the victim may be entitled to collect compensation by filing a premises liability lawsuit.

Head injuries, broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons, and nerve or tissue damage are some of the most common injuries resulting from falls.  Hospitalizations, medical bills, prescription medication, physical or cognitive therapy, as well as loss of wages can quickly devastate a family’s financial health.