Our client was staying at a prominent hotel in Boston when a routine exit from the building turned into a serious accident. As she walked out the side entrance onto Stuart Street, she encountered a hidden danger that the hotel had failed to address: a sheet of ice covering the entire sidewalk.
The dangerous conditions were caused by an architectural defect—an overhang from the building that caused water to unnaturally accumulate and freeze due to the extremely cold weather. This created a treacherous ice sheet that posed an unreasonable risk to hotel guests and pedestrians.
Immediate Fall and Shoulder Impact
The dangerous ice conditions caused our client to lose her footing and fall heavily, landing directly on her left hand and shoulder. The impact was severe enough to cause immediate pain and obvious injury that required prompt medical attention. Immediately after the fall, she promptly notified the hotel front desk of the dangerous conditions and her injury.
Some of the critical safety features at the accident scene included:
- No salt or ice-melting treatment was applied to the dangerous sidewalk
- No warning signs or notices alerting guests to the slippery conditions
- Failure to address the known accumulation of water from the building overhang
- No alternative safe exit route provided for guests
Serious Shoulder Injuries Requiring Extended Treatment
The fall on the icy sidewalk resulted in complex shoulder injuries that required months of specialized medical care. Advanced imaging revealed the full extent of the icefall injuries, including a nondisplaced fracture. These findings confirmed multiple serious injuries to both the bone and soft tissue structures of the shoulder, requiring comprehensive rehabilitation treatment.
The severity of the shoulder injuries required intensive and prolonged treatment, including physical therapy and advanced medical intervention. Our client had to endure skilled therapy sessions twice per week, for 6 weeks, and continued treatment extending over four months of rehabilitation. Additionally, our client had to have multiple follow-up evaluations, an ultrasound-guided intraarticular injection procedure, and recognition that conservative treatment alone was insufficient.
Hotel Guest Safety and Winter Weather Responsibilities
Hotels have a heightened duty of care to their guests, who rely on the property owner to provide safe conditions throughout their stay. This case highlights the importance of proactive winter weather maintenance and the serious consequences that can result from inadequate ice and snow removal.
Property owners must:
- Implement comprehensive winter weather safety protocols
- Address architectural features that create ice accumulation hazards
- Provide adequate warnings for temporary dangerous conditions
- Ensure all guest access areas are maintained in safe condition
- Train staff to respond appropriately to guest safety concerns
Hotel Liability and Premises Safety Obligations
This case demonstrates the serious legal responsibility hotels have to maintain safe conditions for their guests. Some of their duty of care violations include:
- Failure to address known dangerous ice accumulation from the building design
- Absence of warning signs or safety measures for hazardous conditions
- Inadequate snow and ice removal protocols for guest safety
- Creation of an unreasonable risk to hotel guests using normal building exits
Additionally, the hotel failed to address some serious architectural issues, which included:
- Building overhang design that created unnatural water accumulation
- Failure to install proper drainage or heating systems to prevent ice formation
- Inadequate maintenance protocols for winter weather conditions
- Lack of alternative safe exit routes during hazardous conditions
DiBella Law’s Successful $10,000 Settlement Recovery
Our legal team successfully negotiated a $10,000 settlement, providing fair compensation for our client’s hotel premises liability injuries. This result reflects the negligence in maintaining safe walking conditions and the documented medical treatment required for the complex shoulder injuries.
The settlement addressed:
- All medical expenses for orthopedic care and extended physical therapy
- Lost work productivity and wages from missed time
- Pain and suffering from fractures and soft tissue injuries
- Ongoing limitations affecting daily activities and work performance
- Compensation for the hotel’s failure to provide safe premises for guests
Protecting the Rights of Hotel Guests in Massachusetts
Hotel premises liability cases require prompt investigation to document dangerous conditions and establish the property owner’s knowledge of hazards. Our legal team understands the unique challenges faced by hotel guests who are injured on unfamiliar premises and may be far from their home medical providers.
We hold hotels accountable for maintaining safe conditions and ensuring injured guests receive appropriate compensation for injuries and related expenses. If you or a loved one has been injured due to dangerous conditions at a hotel, restaurant, or other commercial property, our experienced legal team is here to help. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your injury and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your premises liability case and learn about your legal rights.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and results depend on specific facts and circumstances. This case result is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.