Accidents in Hotels or B&Bs

A hotel or B&B should feel like a break from the usual routine—not the start of a painful setback. Whether it’s a fall on poorly lit stairs, an injury from faulty furniture, or a slip in a wet bathroom with no warning sign, these accidents can leave you shaken, sore, and unsure where to turn.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ve spent over 20 years supporting people in Tallaght and across Dublin who’ve been injured in places they thought were safe. We know the difference between a genuine accident and a preventable hazard, and we know how to handle these claims with care, precision, and respect for what you’ve been through.

You won’t be handed off or spoken down to. We’ll listen carefully, explain things clearly, and guide you through your options in plain English. Whether the incident happened in a large hotel chain, a family-run guesthouse, or self-catering accommodation, we’ll help you take the next step.

If you’ve been injured while staying away from home and feel it could have been avoided, contact John O’Leary Solicitors LLP today to speak with a solicitor who understands what needs to happen next and will see it through with you.

Where and How These Accidents Happen

Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, and self-catering accommodation are expected to meet basic safety standards. But when maintenance is overlooked or hazards are ignored, guests can be injured in everyday situations. Below, we identify the most common physical environments where these accidents occur, along with the types of hazards that typically lead to injury.

Common Locations of Hotel and Guesthouse Accidents

Types of Hazards Leading to Injury

Bedrooms and sleeping areas

Collapsing beds or unstable frames
Torn or uneven carpet causing trips
Broken furniture with sharp or exposed edges
Loose fixtures (e.g. wall lamps, curtain poles)

Bathrooms

Slippery tiles without anti-slip mats
Showers that overflow or drain poorly
Loose towel rails, broken toilet seats or fittings
Exposed pipework or broken tiles

Stairwells and corridors

Poor lighting or no lighting at all
Loose banisters or handrails
Uneven steps or worn carpeting
Inconsistent floor levels with no visual warnings

Dining rooms and lounges

Spills not cleaned promptly
Obstructed walkways
Chairs that collapse under normal use
Loose rugs or mats on tiled floors

Reception and entranceways

Marble or tiled surfaces without traction treatment
Rainwater tracked in without warning signs
Entrance mats that curl or shift position

Car parks, garden paths and outdoor areas

Potholes, loose paving or cracked concrete
Poor visibility due to inadequate lighting
Unmarked steps, ramps or elevation changes
Slippery moss or algae growth on hard surfaces

Slips and trips

Water, grease or food left on floors
Cleaning residue from mopping without signage
Loose carpets or mats
Uneven flooring or step transitions

Falls from poor access

High-sided baths with no handles
Step-in showers without non-slip bases
External steps with no railings or lighting

Furniture and fixture failure

Chairs collapsing due to wear
Tables with loose legs or splinters
Cupboards or wardrobes tipping forward
Windows that stick, fall shut or detach

Burns or scalds

Faulty kettles, irons or hairdryers provided by the premises
Excessively hot water from unregulated taps
Radiators or towel rails without covers

Electrical hazards

Exposed wiring behind appliances
Lamps or plug points overheating
Poorly secured plug sockets

Environmental and layout issues

Fire exits blocked or unmarked
Overcrowded shared spaces
Unmarked step-downs or sloped surfaces
Cleaning equipment left in public areas

Injury risk in these settings often arises from simple oversight—wet floors not marked, fixtures not inspected, or everyday areas left in disrepair.

Who May Be Held Liable for Hotel or B&B Injuries

Hotel or Guesthouse Owner/Operator

The primary responsibility for safety usually lies with the owner or operator of the premises. This includes:

Full-service hotels with permanent staff and in-house cleaning/maintenance
Family-run B&Bs where the owner manages the premises directly
Guesthouses, boutique hotels, or franchise locations with on-site management

Their responsibilities typically include:

Routine inspection of rooms, stairways, bathrooms, communal areas and external grounds
Prompt repair of any known issues
Ensuring safety signage is used where appropriate
Keeping lighting, flooring and fittings in a condition that’s safe for guests
Monitoring cleaning, equipment safety, and access control

Where hazards were obvious or had been reported, and no corrective action was taken, the operator may be held liable.

Contractors and Service Providers

Hotels and B&Bs frequently use third-party contractors for:

Cleaning services
Property maintenance
Catering or food delivery
Fire safety and electrical systems

If a hazard arises due to a contractor’s failure—such as leaving a wet floor unmarked or completing substandard repair work—they may share liability with the premises owner.

Liability depends on:

The contractor’s specific duties
Whether they were under the direction of the property owner or operating independently
Whether the owner failed to supervise or address known issues arising from the contractor’s work

Management Companies or Booking Platforms

Some guesthouses or holiday accommodation are operated under a management company or agent acting on behalf of the owner. These parties may be liable if they:

Control day-to-day operations
Handle bookings, complaints and maintenance
Are contractually responsible for inspecting or addressing hazards

Online platforms (e.g. Airbnb) are typically not liable unless they directly manage the premises. However, liability may arise in rare cases where platforms have ignored prior reports about unsafe conditions in properties they promote under their own brand.

Shared-use Facilities or Premises

In cases where the hotel or B&B is located within a mixed-use building—such as a complex with shared stairwells, entrances or car parks—liability for accidents in those spaces may rest with:

A management company for the building
A landlord for common areas
Another third-party facility operator

Establishing responsibility in these cases often depends on lease terms, management contracts, and who was in charge of inspecting or maintaining the space in question.

Split Liability Situations

It is common for more than one party to share responsibility. For example:

A cleaner leaves a spill unattended, but the hotel fails to supervise them
A maintenance contractor completes a faulty repair, but the owner ignores complaints
A guest is injured in a shared car park controlled by a separate facilities company

In these cases, liability may be divided between those involved, depending on their level of control and their failure to act.

Legal Tests That Make a Claim Viable

Not every injury in a hotel or B&B results in a valid claim. Under Irish law, specific legal conditions must be met for liability to arise. These are not technicalities—they are the essential tests that determine whether a property owner or operator may be held responsible.

Foreseeability and Preventability

The first test is whether the hazard was foreseeable—that is, whether the risk of harm could have been reasonably anticipated through normal inspection and upkeep. This applies to:

Visible defects (e.g. frayed carpet, broken tiles, collapsed furniture)
Ongoing issues that had been reported but not repaired
Common hazards where safety systems were missing (e.g. wet floors without warning signs)

The question is not whether someone foresaw this exact incident—but whether a reasonable operator in the same position should have identified the risk and dealt with it.

The second part of this test is preventability. If the issue could have been addressed through basic action—routine repair, signage, maintenance or supervision—this satisfies the standard.

Causation

It must be shown that the hazard caused the injury. This is known as causation.

For a claim to succeed, there must be a direct link between the defect and the injury. It is not enough to prove that the hazard existed—the claimant must also show that the injury wouldn’t have occurred without it.

Examples of evidence used to establish causation:

Medical records and GP reports
Accident report forms completed at the premises
Witness statements
Photographs of the scene or hazard
CCTV footage (if available)

Claims fail when there’s uncertainty about whether the hazard caused the injury—or if something else was to blame entirely.

Reasonable Use of the Area

The guest must have been using the space in a reasonable and expected way. This test is not about perfection—it’s about ordinary, responsible use. Claims are generally valid if the person was:

Walking through a corridor, reception or stairwell
Using a chair, bed or shower as intended
Entering or exiting the premises
Carrying bags, prams, or children in a reasonable way

Claims may be reduced or rejected where the injured person was:

Misusing furniture or equipment
Entering restricted or staff-only areas
Running or behaving recklessly indoors
Under the influence of alcohol to a level that impaired judgement

Reasonable use must be assessed against the context—time of day, lighting, layout, and the actions of others nearby.

Higher Duty of Care Owed to Paying Guests

Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs are considered commercial premises. Under Irish occupiers’ liability law, a higher standard of care is owed to guests who are there by invitation and paying for accommodation.

This includes:

Taking extra steps to inspect the property regularly
Reacting promptly to hazards, complaints or reports
Anticipating common risks like wet floors, worn steps, or loose fittings
Ensuring communal areas are well lit, clear and safe

Operators cannot discharge this duty simply by warning that hazards exist. In most cases, signage is not enough unless it is used alongside corrective action.

Contributory Negligence

Where the injured guest contributed in part to the incident, the claim may still proceed—but the final compensation may be reduced. This is known as contributory negligence.

Examples include:

Walking barefoot in communal areas where signage advised against it
Ignoring safety instructions posted by management
Climbing on furniture or opening windows unsafely
Entering roped-off or restricted areas

Where contributory negligence applies, courts may reduce awards proportionally. For example, if a guest is found to be 25% responsible, any award will be reduced by 25%.

If a hotel or B&B accident claim satisfies the tests of foreseeability, preventability, causation, reasonable use, and legal duty, it may proceed with strong prospects.

What to Do After an Accident in a Hotel or Guesthouse

Taking the right steps after an accident in a hotel, guesthouse, or B&B can protect your health and your ability to make a claim. This section outlines what to do, when to do it, and what to keep.

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Go to a GP, clinic, or A&E depending on the injury
Do not wait to see if the injury worsens—early records are critical
Ask for a full written diagnosis
Retain receipts for all treatments, medications, scans, and follow-up visits
Request copies of medical reports for your own records

2. Record Key Details as Soon as Possible

Write down the following while it’s still fresh:

Date and time of the incident
Exact location within the hotel or B&B
Description of how the injury occurred
Description of the hazard involved (e.g. wet floor, broken furniture)
Lighting and weather conditions (if relevant, e.g. outdoor areas or dark stairwells)
Immediate impact: pain, mobility issues, assistance needed

A short, accurate summary in your own words is far more useful than a vague memory days or weeks later.

3. Take Photographs of the Scene

If possible, use your phone or someone else’s to photograph:

The hazard (e.g. broken tile, spill, uneven surface)
The wider area, including lighting, signage (or lack thereof)
Your visible injuries or damaged clothing
Any warning signs that were or weren’t in place

Photographs should be timestamped and stored in a secure backup.

4. Notify Hotel or Guesthouse Management

Report the incident to the person in charge on the day
Request that the event be logged in the hotel’s incident report system
Ask for a copy or confirmation that the report was recorded
If the injury developed after you left the premises, contact the hotel by email with full details

Always follow up your verbal report in writing. Retain all replies and delivery confirmations.

5. Preserve Relevant Items and Documentation

Keep any clothing, footwear or luggage damaged in the incident
Do not wash or discard items—store them in their post-incident condition
Retain transport receipts (e.g. taxi to A&E, bus fare)
Store copies of prescriptions and receipts for over-the-counter treatments
Keep all correspondence with the hotel or B&B, including emails, complaint forms, and texts

6. Identify and Record Witness Information

If anyone witnessed the accident—other guests, staff, or contractors—ask for:

Their name and mobile number or email
A brief written statement if they’re willing
Confirmation that they saw the hazard or the moment of injury

Witnesses don’t need to provide statements immediately, but their recollection can be vital later.

7. Start Tracking the Impact

Create a timeline or written log showing:

Time off work (including unpaid leave, sick leave, or self-employment losses)
Physical limitations or pain levels over time
Appointments, medication, and treatment milestones
Additional expenses (e.g. childcare, cancelled bookings, taxis)

By following these steps, you’ll preserve vital evidence and strengthen the foundation for a potential claim.

Time Limits That Apply to Hotel or B&B Injury Claims

Under Irish law, hotel and guesthouse injury claims are subject to a strict two-year time limit. This is known as the statutory limitation period. If legal proceedings are not formally started within this time, the right to claim may be lost entirely.

The two-year clock typically begins on the date the injury occurred. This applies whether the accident happened in:

Where the injury was not immediately apparent—such as in cases involving infection, soft tissue damage, or complications that emerged later—the time limit may start from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. However, this is applied narrowly and should not be relied on without legal advice.

Special Rules for Children and Vulnerable Adults

If the person injured is under 18, the two-year limitation period does not begin until their 18th birthday. A parent or guardian may bring a claim at any point before that, or the individual may bring their own claim before turning 20.

If the injured person lacks mental capacity, the limitation period is paused until they regain legal capacity—or indefinitely, if that never happens.

Why Prompt Action Is Important

Hotels and B&Bs often conduct quick clean-ups or repairs. CCTV footage may be deleted within weeks. Staff may move on, and maintenance records may be overwritten.

Delaying your claim increases the risk that key evidence will disappear. Early legal advice helps preserve your position—even if you’re still deciding whether to proceed.

Contact a Solicitor Who Handles Hotel Injury Claims

If you were injured in a hotel, B&B, or guesthouse and believe it could have been avoided, John O’Leary Solicitors LLP can help. We offer clear, practical advice based on over 20 years’ experience. Contact us today to find out where you stand and what steps you should take next.