Whenever we go away from home for a trip or a business meeting, we book a room in a good hotel or resort to rest. We assume that the facilities there will be completely safe and the hotel management will be responsible for our safety. But imagine what happens if you slip and fall inside the hotel room or in its bathroom and get seriously injured? Recently, one such shocking case has come to light where a person who slipped in the hotel bathroom got Rs 32,899 as compensation for his mistake and the negligence of the hotel. This unique case has not only created a stir in the hotel industry but has also sparked a new debate among the general public and travelers regarding their consumer rights. Most of the people do not know at all that if they suffer any kind of physical or mental harm while staying in a hotel, then by law they are entitled to get compensation from the hotel administration. Consumer rights on negligence in service and security during hotel stay: Under the Consumer Protection Act in India, many types of legal rights have been given to the customer staying in any hotel, guest house or resort. When you pay room rent to a hotel, it simply means that the hotel management is promising to provide you a safe, clean and safe environment from all kinds of accidents. Wet bathroom floor, absence of anti-skid mats or tiles, absence of grab bars or holding handles in the shower area directly fall in the category of negligence on the part of the hotel management. In such cases, if a customer slips and gets injured, he can file a case against the hotel in the consumer court. The courts are of the clear view that any kind of negligence in the safety of customers cannot be tolerated and the hotel owner or its management is held directly responsible for the same. Know the 5 main rights that every traveler and hotel guest has. It is very important that customers should be fully aware of their rights during their travel and hotel stay so that they can protect their interests if needed. The first right is the right to a safe and healthy environment, under which the hotel room and bathroom should be safe in every respect. The second right is to receive medical aid, that is, if any accident happens to a customer on the hotel premises, the hotel staff has a moral and legal responsibility to provide immediate first aid and medical help. The third right is to fair compensation, under which compensation can be sought from the hotel for the loss caused due to negligence, medical expenses and mental torture. The fourth right is to lodge a complaint against deficiency in service, and the fifth right is to express one's views and seek justice in the consumer forum. Any aggrieved person can plead for justice and fight his legal battle while remaining within the ambit of these five rights. If such an accident happens to you too, then what steps should you take and how to register your complaint? If unfortunately such an accident happens to you in a hotel room or its premises, then instead of panicking or sitting silent, you should act wisely. First of all, save pictures and videos of the accident site i.e. the part of the bathroom where you slipped in your phone as evidence. Immediately lodge a written complaint with the hotel manager or reception and keep a record of their response. If you have suffered a serious injury and gone to the hospital, keep the doctor's note, medical bills and X-ray reports safe. After this, you can take the advice of a good consumer lawyer and file a compensation claim against the hotel in the concerned consumer forum. Such legal awareness not only helps you in getting justice but also forces the hotel industry to improve its services and safety standards.
