Litigation Trends In Casino Premises Liability: Case Studies

What Is Premises Liability Law?

Under premises liability law, a person can bring legal claims against a property owner due to an injury caused by a dangerous condition within the property. Regardless of the specific cause of injury or the extent to which the victim is injured, to have a successful premises liability claim against a casino, it’s necessary to establish the elements of a premises liability claim. 

As with any personal injury lawsuit, the elements necessary for success encompass negligence. For a premises liability case, the elements that must be established include: 

• The plaintiff must prove that there was a dangerous condition on the property
• The plaintiff must establish that the property owner was negligent
• The plaintiff must demonstrate that their injury was sustained due to their negligence

The experienced premises liability lawyers at Adam S. Kutner can review your case to help you determine whether you can satisfy these necessary elements for a premises liability case against a casino. 

Common Causes Of Litigation Against Casinos

While there are plenty of different causes of litigation under the premises liability law umbrella, some common examples of injuries that occur on a casino’s property that result in a premises liability lawsuit include:

• Food poisoning: The casino could be liable if guests contract food poisoning from consuming contaminated food that was not handled or stored correctly
• Faulty equipment: When a guest is injured from equipment that is not maintained and the casino had knowledge it needed to be repaired or knew there was an issue with it, they could be responsible
• Slip-and-fall accidents: If a casino fails to maintain its premises properly or neglects to promptly clean up spills resulting in slip-and-fall accidents, it may be held liable
• Inadequate security measures: Casinos have a duty to provide reasonable safety and security for their guests. Failure to provide sufficient security where someone is injured could result in them being responsible. For instance, another guest assaults you on the casino floor. 
• Negligent actions of employees: Employees have a duty of care, just like the casino. If they do not do this, the liability for your injuries could be the responsibility of the casino. 

Casino Injury Case Studies

Casino lawsuit settlements can vary significantly depending on the specifics of the case, including the extent of the casino operator’s negligence and the plaintiff’s injury. 

A recent example of a casino fall premise liability case was settled in 2019. During a trip to a Cincinnati casino in 2016, the plaintiff slipped near a wet floor sign and subsequently sustained a broken kneecap. While it may seem unreasonable for a person to have a viable claim after falling next to a wet floor sign, let alone reach a settlement of $3 million, this case came down to the fact that the wet floor sign had been collapsed at the time of the incident, so the plaintiff had no way to be notified of the slipper conditions. 

Implications For Casinos

In Nevada, casinos are obligated to maintain a safe environment for their patrons and must take all reasonable measures to prevent anyone from sustaining injury while on the premises. The casino will be liable for damage if they fail to fulfill this duty for their guests. Increased awareness of premises liability law within the gambling industry means that casinos will likely be held to an even higher standard and analyzed under a microscope in terms of creating a safe gambling environment. 

Get Help From A Casino Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have sustained an injury during your most recent visit to a Las Vegas casino, seeking legal advice from an experienced casino injury lawyer will help you ensure you receive maximum compensation.